Phiar Raises $3M Seed Round for AI-Driven Augmented Reality Navigation System

Phiar (pronounced fire) is building an augmented reality navigation app for drivers, but the same tech it’s built to help drivers easily pinpoint where they need to make their next turn also helps them build up rich mapping data that can give partners like autonomous car startups the high-quality data they so deeply need. Watch the demo

The SF-based company has just closed a $3 million seed deal led by Norwest Venture Partners and The Venture Reality Fund. Other investors include Anorak Ventures, Mayfield Fund, Zeno Ventures, Cross Culture Ventures, GFR Fund, Y Combinator,  Innolinks Ventures and Half Court Ventures.

“I’ve been looking at the AR/VR space since 2013 and Phiar is the first AR company that I’ve been willing to back. The initial approach is practical, immediately useful and doesn’t require proprietary hardware. I’m most excited by the future application of Phiar’s power/processing efficient computer vision technology to help autonomous driving vehicles reduce the need for expensive hardware sensors and processors.”- Marlon Nichols, managing partner at Cross Culture VC.

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