Wayve Secures $2 Billion Funding Round Led By Microsoft And SoftBank Valuing Company At $8 Billion

UK-based autonomous vehicle startup Wayve, founded in 2017 by Alex Kendall, is nearing a $2 billion funding round led by Microsoft and SoftBank, potentially valuing the company at around $8 billion. Wayve’s “Embodied AI” technology teaches cars to learn and adapt like humans, rather than relying on pre-mapped environments or expensive sensors — a contrast to rivals like Waymo and Cruise. The investment would fuel Wayve’s global expansion, deepen partnerships with automakers like Nissan, and extend its reach beyond passenger vehicles into freight and logistics. FOUNDER: Alex Kendall INVESTORS: Microsoft & SoftBank AMOUNT: $2,000,000,000 VALUATION: $8,000,000,000 HQ: #UnitedKingdom #VentureCapital #Wayve #Microsoft #SoftBank #AlexKendall #TradedVC

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Barilla Acquires GOODLES For $88 Million Supported By Celebrity And Institutional InvestorsBarilla is acquiring GOODLES, the fast-growing better-for-you mac & cheese brand founded by Jen Zeszut and Paul Earle in 2020. Financial terms were not disclosed. GOODLES was last valued at $88M following its 2023 funding round. Built remotely during the pandemic after pitching 100+ investors and testing more than 1,000 product iterations, GOODLES launched in late 2021 with four flavors and sold through its initial inventory in just two weeks. The brand has since expanded across Target, Whole Foods, Walmart, Costco and other major retailers, growing from 0.8% to 7.8% of U.S. shelf-stable mac & cheese spending in three years and reaching profitability in 2024. GOODLES raised capital from an unusually deep mix of institutional, celebrity and athlete investors. Its publicly disclosed backers include L Catterton, Springdale Ventures, Third Craft Partners, Willow Growth Partners, Alumni Ventures, Purple Arch Ventures, 1st Course Capital, GingerBread Capital, Cosmic Venture Partners, Electric Feel Ventures and IMG-Endeavor, alongside Gal Gadot, David Grutman, Christina Aguilera, Matt Rutler, Klay Thompson, Khris Middleton, Domantas Sabonis, DK Metcalf, Weston McKennie, Sergio Garcia, Aaron Gordon, Marcus Smart, Ilana Muhlstein, Marissa Hermer, Mau y Ricky, The Montaners, Biz Stone and Allison Rose. Its $13M Series A was led by L Catterton in 2023, bringing GOODLES another step closer to becoming one of the biggest modern challengers to a category long dominated by legacy brands. Now, one of the world's largest pasta companies is buying it. From a pandemic-era idea to an acquisition by Barilla in six years. ACQUISITION: Undisclosed LAST VALUATION: $88M HQ: Santa Cruz, CA #VentureCapital #GOODLES #Barilla #CPG #TradedVC