Atoms closes $1.7 billion equity round for industrial AI and physical automation

Atoms, the holding company controlled by Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick, has completed an equity financing of about $1.7 billion, according to BlockBeats. Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) led the round, with Bain Capital, Fifth Wall and Uber also participating. Ben Horowitz is set to join the company’s board. The new capital will be used for industrial AI and physical automation across sectors including mining, transportation and food. Within that push, Pronto has been identified as a core strategic focus for mining and transportation. Pronto, a heavy automation company founded by Anthony Levandowski, had previously been acquired by Atoms. The move is widely viewed as Kalanick’s return to the technology stage after leaving Uber.