The seed fund extension will underpin innovation programs with global automotive manufacturers as momentum builds toward production-scale deployment.
- $2M CAD seed round extension
- Round includes returning partners Brightspark Ventures, Build Ventures and NBIF, joined by Farpointe. Existing backers include Marc Benioff’s TIME Ventures
- Funds will support new and ongoing innovation projects with automotive OEMs
- Terrain Intelligence, the company’s core technology, solves safety and performance problems both off and on road
FREDERICTON, NB, May 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Potential (Potential Motors Inc), a Canadian automotive technology company developing advanced driver assistance systems for off-road environments, has today announced that it has raised $2M CAD in a successful seed round extension. This builds on two previous seed round commitments, for a total of $8.5M raised since May 2020.
Investors in the extension include returning partners Brightspark Ventures, Build Ventures and NBIF (the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation), with Farpointe joining for the first time. They join existing investors, including Marc Benioff’s TIME Ventures.
The latest funding will be used to drive commercialization of Potential’s AI-powered perception solutions in automotive, powersports, mining and defense sectors, following years of intensive R&D.
Potential has already partnered with a major manufacturer of recreational off-road vehicles (CFMOTO Powersports Inc) and delivered its first innovation project for a global automotive brand. The company has another pilot project in the automotive sector underway in Q2, with further projects at scoping stage.
Potential’s core technology is branded Terrain Intelligence. This software platform uses forward-facing sensors (such as cameras) to interpret terrain shape, incline gradient, surface type, obstacles and more. The platform can deliver multiple outputs, from presenting data to drivers all the way through to self-selecting vehicle control adjustments such as drive mode, suspension and differential settings, torque levels and more.
Unlike today’s driver assistance systems, which rely on reactive technologies, Potential enables proactive control in advance of reaching hazards.
Sam Poirier, CEO at Potential: “Potential’s expertise in off-road terrain, computer vision and AI will make vehicles safer, faster, more agile and more comfortable in extreme environments. Our solutions can improve outcomes on the road too, so our technology could be used in all sorts of vehicles. I’m pleased to welcome back existing partners as well as new investors at this critical milestone in our journey.”
Mark Skapinker, Managing Partner at Brightspark Ventures: “When we first invested in Potential, we were excited by Sam’s vision of a future where AI and terrain perception technologies play key roles in performance, safety and efficiency. By renewing our investment, we’re also renewing our vote of confidence in Sam’s leadership and Potential’s technology.”
Jeff White, CEO at NBIF: “Sam has already built an impressive team and successful pilots; our new funding commitment demonstrates the continued confidence we have in Sam’s vision and Potential’s opportunities.”
Potential (Potential Motors Inc.) is an automotive technology company designing the future of advanced driver-assistance systems for off-road and extreme environments, combining computer vision and AI to read the path ahead.
Press contact: Jay Nickerson, [email protected]
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