Investors and companies alike are trying to leverage developmental gains in AI to make leaps in technologies like robotics and autonomous vehicles — what’s being referred to now as “physical AI.” That means some of the billions of dollars flowing to AI startups is starting to spill toward suppliers doing behind-the-scenes work to make these technologies real.
The latest case is Ethernovia, which on Tuesday announced a $90 million Series B. The company, located in San Jose, makes Ethernet-based processors that help collect data from sensors scattered around a system — like in an autonomous vehicle — and quickly move it to a central computer.
The company was already backed by Porsche SE and Qualcomm Ventures, but this round was led by Maverick Silicon — an AI-focused fund created in 2024 by hedge fund Maverick Capital. It was the first sector-specific fund that Maverick Capital launched in its 30-year history. It’s that kind of attention and funding that we’ll likely see more of this year as investors look to boost more under-the-radar companies like Ethernovia.
Original Source: https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/ethernovia-raises-90m-as-investors-rush-to-fund-physical-ai/
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