Lyte, a physical AI startup focused on sensing and perception technology for robots, raised $165 million in a Series C funding round at a $1.6 billion post-money valuation. The financing round was led by Maverick Silicon and brings Lyte’s total funding to $272 million since its founding in 2021. The company is based in Sunnyvale, California, and was founded by former Apple engineers Alexander Shpunt, Arman Hajati, and Yuval Gerson.
The Series C round included participation from Fidelity Management And Research Co., which led Lyte’s Series B, as well as Atreides Management, Key1 Capital, Ora Global, and other existing and new investors. Lyte emerged from stealth earlier this year after raising $107 million in Series A and B rounds. The founders previously contributed to Apple’s advanced sensing technologies, including Face ID, and Shpunt co-founded PrimeSense, whose 3D sensing powered Microsoft Kinect before Apple acquired it in 2013.
Lyte develops custom silicon, 4D sensing, RGB, motion awareness, and AI software to enable robots to better understand their surroundings and detect movement. Its initial customers are primarily in warehousing and manufacturing sectors. The startup’s technology builds on the founders’ expertise in 3D perception, which has been foundational for mainstream applications in consumer electronics and robotics. The funding positions Lyte among notable physical AI companies advancing robotic sensing capabilities.
Lyte’s next milestone will be leveraging this capital to expand its technology deployment in industrial robotics. The company’s total $272 million funding to date underscores strong investor confidence in physical AI’s role in automating complex environments, particularly in warehousing and manufacturing operations.