黄仁勋投了个复旦学霸

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the rise and challenges of Nuro, an autonomous delivery vehicle company founded by Zhu Jiajun, highlighting its funding journey, product development, and strategic shifts in response to market conditions [6][10][21]. Group 1: Industry Context - In 2021, despite a 1% decrease in total vehicle miles driven in the U.S. compared to 2019, traffic fatalities reached 42,900, the highest since 2005, with a 10.5% increase from 2020 [6][8]. - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched a $6 billion "Road Safety for All" initiative to address rising traffic accidents, with $740 million allocated for safety technology improvements [9]. Group 2: Company Overview - Nuro, founded in 2016 by Zhu Jiajun and Dave Ferguson, focuses on autonomous delivery vehicles, differentiating itself by developing its own vehicles rather than retrofitting existing models [18][21]. - Nuro's third-generation delivery vehicle can carry 500 pounds and has a top speed of 45 mph, designed for temperature-controlled deliveries [23]. Group 3: Funding and Valuation - Nuro's funding history includes a $92 million Series A round in 2018, a $940 million investment from SoftBank in 2019, and a valuation increase to $8.6 billion by 2021 [20][21]. - The company's valuation has since dropped to $6 billion due to strategic shifts and challenges in finding a stable profit model [25][28]. Group 4: Strategic Shifts - Nuro faced difficulties in establishing a profitable business model, leading to layoffs and a pivot from vehicle production to a technology licensing model [25][28]. - Recent funding rounds included investments from Nvidia and Uber, indicating a shift towards partnerships with industry players rather than solely relying on traditional venture capital [27].