Semi Doped An Interview with Innoviz CEO Omer Keilaf about current LiDAR market dynamics
Jan 22, 2026
Omer Keilaf, CEO of Innoviz, shares insights on his company, a leader in the LIDAR market. He discusses how Innoviz secured partnerships with major players like BMW and Volkswagen within a year. The conversation dives into the drive for Level 3 and 4 autonomy, how the automotive-first strategy sets them apart, and the urgent need for LIDAR resilience. Omer also highlights innovative designs for behind-windshield solutions, along with untapped opportunities in non-automotive sectors. His unique perspective paints a vibrant picture of the future of LIDAR technology.
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Prototype At CES Won Early OEM Trust
- Innoviz demonstrated a working prototype within a year and demoed at CES, which drew BMW and Mercedes interest.
- BMW engaged deeply with Innoviz engineers through workshops before awarding the program.
Use Tier-2 Partnerships To Learn And Scale
- Use tier-two partnerships to learn OEM requirements and survive your first product launch before scaling to tier one.
- Become automotive-grade first, then expand into non-automotive markets using that credibility.
Go Public If Competitors Raise Big Capital
- Going public was necessary to compete as rivals raised capital via SPACs, despite being painful.
- Public status enabled Innoviz to capture NRE revenue and fund R&D while scaling production.