Finnish self-driving tech startup Sensible 4 has increased its Series A funding, taking the total raise to €16.7 million. Previously, the company grabbed an €8 million loan granted by European Investment Bank (EIB).
The latest funding round saw the participation of a new investor Metaplanet VC and was co-led by Japanese NordicNinja VC (that invested in Starship Technologies) and further complemented by family offices and employees. Metaplanet VC, owned by Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn, is an early-stage investment firm that provides capital to deep tech startup founders. Metaplanet back mission-driven founders working on positively disruptive deep technologies.
“We’re proud to partner with Sensible 4 – a company that is shaping the future of transportation. Sensible 4’s product DAWN™ not only demonstrates how close we are to realising the benefit of autonomous mobility, but it also sets an unprecedented standard within the industry, due to its all-weather capability. Ultimately, we believe that autonomous mobility will play a huge part in helping our planet and addressing the transport issues of today, such as driver shortage. We’re excited to see our partnership vision with Sensible 4 become a reality”, said Rauno Miljand, Managing Partner at Metaplanet.
“Metaplanet has a fantastic investment track record with multiple large-scale automotive and robotic companies in their portfolio. Metaplanet’s expertise, paired with our expansion into international markets – where we are working with several OEMs to bring DAWN™ to Europe and Japan – means we’re able to start realising the benefit of autonomous mobility”, commented Harri Santamala, CEO of Sensible 4.
Releases autonomous driving software platform
Founded in 2017 by Harri Santamala, Jari Saarinen, Jussi Suomela, and Tommi Rimpilainen in Espoo, Finland, Sensible 4 has released its first autonomous driving software platform product DAWN™. Following extensive testing in simulators and open-road conditions across the world, DAWN™ is now ready to be utilised by Sensible 4’s OEM customers as they develop their future Level 4 automation offering. Sensible 4 is seeking to integrate DAWN™ into vehicles entering serial production starting from 2024 with its current and new OEM customers.
Autonomous driving software platform DAWN™ has the unique ability to allow automated operations to take place in locations that were previously considered unthinkable from the perspective of autonomous driving.
DAWN™ is SAE level 4 autonomous driving software platform that provides three solutions in one. It enables last mile transport of goods and people in the form of autonomous industrial transport, delivery vehicles, and shuttle buses. A vehicle with SAE Level 4 automation software and sensor stack is able to drive without human assistance in limited conditions, and it can be remotely operated.
One of the key features of DAWN™ is the Remote Operations, enabling a human remote operator to supervise and control the vehicle remotely from the control centre. A single remote operator is able to operate multiple vehicles, thus providing an efficient operation for commercial use.
Currently, it is being used in Bodø, Norway where Sensible 4 is carrying out the world’s first long-term autonomous driving service North of the Arctic Circle.