Innoviz Technologies
Israeli Nasdaq-listed maker of LiDAR sensors for self-driving cars, founded in 2016 by veterans of Unit 81, the technology unit of Israeli military intelligence
| Innoviz Technologies
| |
|---|---|
| Logo |  Innoviz logo |
| Type | Public company (Nasdaq: INVZ) |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founder(s) | Omer Keilaf, Oren Rosenzweig, Amit Steinberg, Oren Buskila; Zohar Zisapel is also named as a founder by Globes (2017) |
| Headquarters | 2 Amal Street, Afek Industrial Park, Rosh HaAyin 4809202, Israel |
| Industry | Automotive technology; sensors |
| Homepage | innoviz.tech |
Innoviz Technologies is an Israeli company that makes LiDAR (laser-based) sensors and perception software for self-driving vehicles, with registered principal offices at 2 Amal Street, Afek Industrial Park, Rosh HaAyin.[1] In its US securities filing the company said: "We were founded in 2016 by veterans of Unit 81, the elite technology unit of Israel's Intelligence Corps, one of the most prestigious multidisciplinary technological units in the Israeli Defense Forces" (Unit 81; Intelligence Corps).[1] It listed on Nasdaq in April 2021 through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company.[2]
History
Globes reported in October 2017 that Innoviz "was founded in 2016 by CEO Omer David Keilaf, chief business officer Oren Rosenzweig, CTO Amit Steinberg, VP R&D Oren Buskila and chairman Zohar Zisapel" (Zohar Zisapel). Its $73 million Series B round that year included Samsung Catalyst and SoftBank Ventures Korea, bringing the total raised by the company, then based in Kfar Saba, to $82 million.[3] In its 2021 filing the company said that it was "substantially dependent on our design win with BMW and our relationship with Magna" (BMW; Magna), and that its products could also be used for "drones, robotics ... Smart City, security" and other industries.[1]
Nasdaq listing
On 6 April 2021 Innoviz completed its merger with the US special purpose acquisition company Collective Growth Corporation and began trading on Nasdaq under the ticker INVZ, at a valuation of $1.4 billion, raising $350 million. Globes said it had raised $252 million before the listing, including a $170 million Series C round in 2019, from investors including Samsung, Harman, SoftBank, Phoenix and Harel.[2]
Founders and military service
The company's 2021 F-1 filing describes its founders as "veterans of Unit 81, the elite technology unit of Israel's Intelligence Corps", and says that "From our founding, our culture drew from Unit 81's core values of solving sophisticated technological problems through creativity and agile thinking" (Unit 81; Intelligence Corps; Israel Defense Forces).[1] The founders named by Globes are:[2][3]
- Omer Keilaf, chief executive
- Oren Rosenzweig, chief business officer (2017)
- Amit Steinberg, chief technology officer (2017)
- Oren Buskila, vice-president for research and development (2017)
See also
External links
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Innoviz Technologies Ltd, Form F-1 Registration Statement US Securities and Exchange Commission, July 2021, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Shiri Habib-Valdhorn, Innoviz completes SPAC merger, begins Nasdaq trading Globes, 6 April 2021, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Globes correspondent, Car sensor co Innoviz expands financing round to $73m Globes, 31 October 2017, accessed 10 November 2026.