Autonomous vehicle hype is back as Humble targets freight
Autonomous vehicle hype is back: the AV space is echoing the 2016 cycle as Travis Kalanick returns to robotics and talent wars heat up again. Humble Robotics emerged from stealth in April with $24 million to build a fully autonomous, cabless electric hauler for freight, led by CEO Eyal Cohen. TechCrunch says the money is flowing back—and the people who lived through the first wave are building the next one.
Cohen joined Kirsten Korosec on TechCrunch's Equity podcast to discuss AV déjà vu and lessons from 15 years building startups across electrification, solar, and robotics. His path runs through Otto when Uber came calling, then Anthony Levandowski to Pronto, after two decades of deep-tech bets in the Bay Area.
The July 2026 conversation lands as capital returns across future tech and AI wonders. The same day, Lime raised $167 million in its IPO and Venice AI closed a $65 million Series A at a $1 billion valuation.
Key Takeaways
- The autonomous vehicle space is drawing comparisons to the 2016 hype cycle as capital and talent wars heat up again.
- Travis Kalanick is back building a robotics company as veterans of the first AV wave lead the next push.
- Humble Robotics raised $24 million in April for a fully autonomous, cabless electric freight hauler.
- Founder Eyal Cohen discussed AV déjà vu on TechCrunch's Equity podcast with Kirsten Korosec.
- Parallel July funding included Lime's $167M IPO and Venice AI's $65M unicorn round.
Why does autonomous vehicle hype feel like 2016 again?
According to TechCrunch, the autonomous vehicle space is starting to feel like a repeat of the 2016 hype cycle. Travis Kalanick is back building a robotics company, and the talent wars and capital are heating up the same way they did the first time around.
The money is flowing back, and it is the people who lived through that first wave who are building the next one. That pattern is what makes Humble Robotics' latest move worth watching.
Who is Eyal Cohen and what is Humble building?
Humble Robotics founder and CEO Eyal Cohen was at Otto when Uber came calling, later followed Anthony Levandowski to Pronto. After two decades bouncing between deep tech bets in the Bay Area, his company came out of stealth in April with $24 million.
The funding backs a fully autonomous, cabless electric hauler for freight. Cohen is one of the operators who lived through the first autonomy wave and is now building the next one.
What did Cohen share on the Equity podcast?
On TechCrunch's Equity, Cohen talked about AV déjà vu and what he has learned from 15 years of building startups across electrification, solar, and robotics. Kirsten Korosec hosted the episode.
TechCrunch frames the moment as AV déjà vu—with veterans of electrification, solar, and robotics now steering the next push into freight.
How does this fit wider July 2026 tech funding?
Lime, the nine-year-old Uber-backed scooter and bike-share company, raised $167 million in its IPO. It sold 6.68 million shares at $25 each and began trading on Nasdaq under ticker LIME, jumping around 9% in its first hour.
Lime said it needs IPO proceeds to pay down around $1 billion in liabilities. Venice AI, meanwhile, raised $65 million at a $1 billion valuation and is already profitable with annualized run-rate revenues above $70 million, CEO Erik Voorhees told TechCrunch.