DeepMap
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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | software, computer vision, cartography |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | James Wu, Mark Wheeloer |
| Headquarters | Palo Alto, California, United States |
| Products | High definition mapping for autonomous vehicles |
| Website | deepmap.ai |
DeepMap (formally DeepMap Inc.), is a Palo Alto, California-based software company that develops high definition (HD) maps for self-driving vehicles.[1]
The company was founded in 2016 by former Google Maps colleagues James Wu and Mark Wheeler, who serve as CEO and Chief Technology Office respectively.[1]
History
DeepMap was founded in Palo Alto, California in 2016 to create 3D mapping software to assist self-driving cars with navigation.[1] Founders James Wu and Mark Wheeler were co-workers on Google Maps, and before that at Apple and Baidu.[2] Wu became the company's CEO, and Wheeler became its Chief Technology Officer.[1] Also in 2016, the company raised $7 million in initial funding.[3]
In May 2017, the company raised $25 million in a Series A led by venture capital firm Accel, formerly Accel Partners, along with venture capital firms Andreessen Horowitz and GSR Ventures.[4]
By February 2018, Bloomberg reported that the company announced it was working with the Ford Motor Company and China’s SAIC Motor Corp.[5] The company was also working with Honda's Xcelerator innovation program, based in Mountain View, California.[6] In November, the company raised $60 million with a Series B, with returning investors along with German industrial firm Bosch's Robert Bosch Venture Capital, and US chipmaker Nvidia's GPU Ventures.[2]
In February 2019, the NY Times reported that research firm CB Insights included DeepMap on its list of companies on track for a $1 billion 'unicorn' valuation.[7]
Products
DeepMap develops HD maps with a level of precision that reflects changes in the road in real time. Digital camera images are combined with lidar (laser imaging) to build detailed 3D maps to represent real-time road network data.[3] By identifying the environment, including the locations of lanes and obstructions, robot drivers can localize their own and other vehicles’ positions in real time. The company provides hardware tools, software solutions and field data collection functions to allow customers to transfer their own fleet data into their own personalized HD maps.[8] The maps are integrated with other parts of a vehicle's self-driving system, handling large amounts of HD data while communicating between the vehicle and the cloud.
Operations
DeepMap is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.
References
- ^ a b c d "Google Maps veterans found Palo Alto startup to teach cars how to drive". Silicon Valley Business Journal. 2017-05-05. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
- ^ a b "DeepMap, a maker of HD maps for self-driving, raised at least $60M at a $450M valuation". TechCrunch. 2018-11-01. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
- ^ a b "Another Group of Google Veterans Starts a Self-Driving Technology Company". Bloomberg. 2017-05-04. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
- ^ "Google Maps veterans found Palo Alto startup to teach cars how to drive". VentureBeat. 2017-05-04. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
- ^ "Nobody Wants to Let Google Win the War for Maps All Over Again". Bloomberg. 2018-02-21. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
- ^ "Honda is looking for your energy or mobility startup". GrenBiz. 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
- ^ "These 50 Start-Ups May Be the Next 'Unicorns'". NY Times. 2019-02-10. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
- ^ "The DeepMap Approach: "Your Data, Your HD Map"". Synched. 2018-11-28. Retrieved 2019-12-11.