Latent Space AI Waabi Raises $1B from Uber and VCs
Jan 28, 2026
A deep dive into Waabi's $1B financing and a strategic $250M tie-up with Uber. Discussion of their shift from trucking into robo-taxis and the competitive landscape. Breakdown of a simulation-first approach that builds digital twins and generates rare edge cases. Exploration of claimed vehicle-type generalization, pilot timelines, and OEM partnerships.
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Massive Uber-Backed Expansion
- Waabi raised $1B including $250M from Uber to deploy robo-taxis and expand beyond trucking.
- The Uber deal targets exclusive deployment on Uber's platform and hints at 25,000+ vehicles.
One Stack Across Vehicle Types
- Waabi claims a generalized AI architecture that can run across vehicle types with one stack.
- Raquel Yuratsu positions this as a capital-efficient structural advantage over specialized rivals.
Founder’s Full-Circle Journey
- Raquel Yuratsu's career links Waabi and Uber: she was chief scientist at Uber ATG before founding Waabi.
- Uber sold ATG, she left, started Waabi, and now Uber invested $250M in her company.