Kalanick’s Atoms Raises $1.7 Billion in a16z-Led Round

Uber co-founder and former CEO Travis Kalanick built Atoms from the businesses he pursued after leaving the ride-hailing company in 2017. Unveiled under its new name in March 2026, Atoms combines CloudKitchens’ food-automation operations with Pronto, the heavy-industry automation startup founded by former Uber engineer Anthony Levandowski. Its expansion into transportation, mining and food highlights growing investor interest in applying AI and robotics to labor-intensive physical industries.

Atoms said on July 22, 2026, that it raised $1.7 billion in a round led by Andreessen Horowitz, or a16z, with participation from Bain Capital, Fifth Wall, Uber and other investors. Ben Horowitz will join the board, reconnecting Kalanick with the company he co-founded. Atoms has not detailed a product roadmap, but Kalanick has outlined plans for vehicle automation, mining robotics and a shared “wheelbase for robots,” while indicating that some of the new capital will support hiring.