Lidwave secured $10 million in seed funding as 4D LiDAR technology continues to draw interest.

Lidwave, a three-year-old start-up based in Jerusalem that is developing “4D-lidar-on-chip sensors,” announced $10 million in seed funding led by Jumpspeed Ventures and Next Gear Ventures, with a strategic investment from an unnamed Swedish truck manufacturer.

While Intel’s Mobileye recently shuttered its internal development of 4D frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) lidar technology, 4D lidar continues to draw interest in automotive and other sectors, and is believed to have a bright future. For example, Aeva Technologies earlier this month announced a 4D lidar sensors deal with “a major European passenger vehicle OEM”, news which came after Germany Daimler Truck and TORC Robotics earlier this year chose Aeva’s 4D lidar for future autonomous vehicles in a deal that eventually could be worth $1 billion to the company.

Lidwave said its new funding highlights the significance of its technology and approach in advancing the future of machine vision. The company added that it will use the new funding to further develop its optical chip, launch a software-definable 4D lidar sensor, and expand its market presence.Lidar’s System-on-Chip lidar leverages the firm’s proprietary Finite Coherent Ranging (FCR) technology. which integrates all critical components, including lasers, amplifiers, receivers, and optical routing, onto a single chip. This “lidar 2.0” approach directly addresses the challenge presented by overly complex high-end lidar systems whose cost limits their appeal in the automotive sector and other industries, the company said.

The more integrated system-on-chip approach not only reduces production costs and makes 4D lidar more accessible, but also, unlike conventional lidar, Lidwave’s coherent sensing method “provides Doppler (velocity) data at the pixel level alongside depth information, enabling machines to perceive and understand their surroundings with unmatched clarity, leading to better-informed decisions,” the company stated.

"This investment marks a significant milestone for Lidwave, propelling us closer to our goal of revolutionizing machine vision," said Yehuda Vidal, Lidwave's CEO and Co-founder. "Our 4D lidar chip not only sets a new standard for sensor performance but also makes advanced perception technology accessible to the mass market. We are thrilled to have the support of visionary investors who share our mission to enhance safety and productivity across various industries."

Dr. Tal Cohen, Founding Partner at Next Gear Ventures, stated, "Over the last decade, we have witnessed significant progress in sensor technology. At the same time, we’ve encountered tremendous challenges in establishing sensor configurations that meet the right cost, quality, and reliability. We believe that Lidwave's on-chip novel technology presents significant breakthroughs and provides the maturing market with the solution it has been waiting for.”

Lidwave’s seed round also saw participation from additional investors, including Sapir Venture Partners, OurCrowd, Teramips Technologies, Beyond-Electronics, Howard Morgan (MFCIF), and the Israel Innovation Authority (non-dilutive). 

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