🕺 Staying Active This Summer: Reconnecting with the People Driving the Future of Mobility and Expanding Our Market Map

From the WEX Summit in Maine to gatherings with startups, this summer was all about meaningful conversations, fresh insights, and strengthening the ties that drive our ecosystem forward.

Jul 24, 2025

Welcome to The Paddock, your go-to place for the latest insights and trends revolutionizing the mobility sector globally. 🚗

— Curated by Rodolfo, Enrique, Gastón, Cecy, Bernardo and Rodrigo: the Proeza Ventures team. 💪

📌 Do you know a startup reshaping mobility by being more efficient, safer and environmentally friendly? We want to meet them! 📩

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🪩 Proeza Ventures Spotlight

Highlights from the 2025 WEX Venture Summit

We were excited to join the second annual WEX VC Summit at their HQ in Portland, Maine — a dynamic gathering of over 70 attendees from around the world, including 20 venture capital funds, 30 founders, 10 corporations, and 8 insightful sessions led by industry experts.

Several interesting startups from the WEX portfolio were there, sharing their stories about powering WEX’s commercial EV solutions — and contributing to the next generation of electric mobility infrastructure. From fleet electrification platforms to charging optimization tools, these startups are not just solving today’s challenges, they’re building the digital backbone for a cleaner, smarter, and more efficient transportation future.

At the summit, we had the chance to reconnect with longtime friends and leaders like Quincy Lee from Electric Era and Anna Demeo, Managing Partner at Clean Tech Strategy Advisors, whose work is shaping the future of fast charging and smart energy.

We’re proud to stand alongside WEX VC in their mission to be a strong player driving the energy transition and the future of mobility — as fellow energy VC investors, we’re both committed to reshaping how electricity is managed, moved, and monetized across next-generation transportation systems.

Proeza Ventures LATAM Mobility Lanscape

Since 2023, the Latin American mobility, logistics and supply chain startup ecosystem has seen rapid growth, driven by rising e-commerce demand, infrastructure gaps, and the push toward digitalization. Our landscape captures over 70 startups operating across last-mile delivery, freight platforms, B2B logistics, warehousing, and supply chain automation. These companies are solving pain points from route inefficiencies and lack of transparency to payment delays and cross-border complexity.

Startups like 99minutos, Skydropx, Nowports, Moova, and our portfolio companies such as Solvento, miituo, Autolab and Kigo are emblematic of the broader shift: combining fintech, automation, and AI to rebuild logistics infrastructure from the ground up.

Across the region, we estimate that this category alone represents a cumulative market capitalization of over $3.5–4 billion USD as of mid-2025, based on disclosed and inferred valuations from rounds raised since 2023. While early-stage dominance is still prevalent, a handful of scale-ups are emerging as category leaders—often with pan-LATAM ambitions or strong cross-border operations.

🏆 Our PortCos News

🚀 Busup Levels Up: €2M Extension Fuels Global Growth

Thrilled to share that BUSUP has secured an additional €2M in funding, led by Bonsai Partners — bringing its total 2025 round to €5M! This extension fuels Busup’s continued global expansion across Europe and the Americas. Already EBITDA-profitable and with 20M+ passengers served, they’re on track to hit 30M+ in the next year. We are very proud to continue supporting this category-defining team alongside an outstanding group of co-investors.

If you want to learn more about BusUp’s journey, click here for the full note.

👏 An incredible summer for Ridepanda connecting with HR leaders and professionals across multiple events!

From hosting amazing HR teams at the San Diego Zoo — where meaningful conversations about improving employee commutes and workplace experience took center stage — to energizing the crowd at SHRM25, offering solutions on retention, wellness, and commuting challenges (and even giving away a Priority e-bike!), Ridepanda is truly making an impact.

It’s inspiring to see how Ridepanda champions smarter, healthier employee mobility, creating positive change one event at a time. Looking forward to what’s next on their journey!

🚀 Culture in Motion: Kigo Celebrates Teamwork and Vision at Their Latest Town Hall

A few weeks ago, our portfolio company Kigo held their latest Town Hall — a moment to share progress, align on strategy, and recognize the incredible work of their team. With a clear focus on innovation, user experience, and service expansion, Kigo continues to build a culture where every idea counts and every team member plays a vital role.

We're proud to back companies like Kigo that are not only transforming mobility, but doing so with purpose, collaboration, and a strong sense of shared vision.

👏 Congrats to the entire Kigo team for the momentum and the mission you’re building — one thoughtful step at a time.

📯 Hot Deals

At Proeza VC we check many deals weekly. Here are the Top deals that caught our attention recently!

🚀 AirGarage, a San Francisco-based parking real estate company, raised $23 million in Series B funding led by Headline and joined by existing investors Founders Fund and Fourthline Capital Management. (10.Jul.2025)

🚀 AssetCool, a UK-based deeptech company pioneering advanced robotics and coatings for power lines, raised a £10 million Series A funding round to scale its proprietary robotics technology globally. (03.Jul.2025)

🚀 Beep, a FL-based provider of autonomous shared mobility solutions, raised $52.7 million in funding, bringing the rounds total funding to $97.7 million, co-led by Intel Capital and Blue Lagoon Capital. (26.Jun.2025)

🚀 Bidbus, a Los Angeles-based pre-owned car marketplace, raised $3.3 million in Sede funding led by Mucker Capital (15.Jul.2025)

🚀 BackOps AI, a one-year-old San Francisco startup that builds software that helps warehouse operators monitor and improve productivity by using AI to track worker performance and identify bottlenecks, raised a $6 million seed round led by Construct Capital, with previous investors Gradient and 10VC also reupping. (23.Jun.2025)

🚀 Cariqa, a Berlin startup that helps electric vehicle charging providers manage payments, pricing, and user access across different charging networks, raised a $4.7 million seed round co-led by Anthemis Group and Contrarian Ventures. (08.Jul.2025)

🚀 CarOnSale, a Berlin-based B2B marketplace for used car trading, raised €70 million ($82 million) in Series C funding. Northzone led the round and was joined by existing investors HV Capital, Insight Partners, Stripes, and Creandum. (07.Jul.2025)

🚀 DejaBlue, a French electrification startup building a platform to optimize flexible energy loads, including EV charging and on-site solar, today announced a €7.2 million Seed round to fuel commercial expansion across France and select European markets, and develop an AI-powered automation for site management. (26.Jun.2025)

🚀 Dockware, a Tulsa-based AI-powered transportation and logistics company, raised $2.5 million in seed funding. Zenda VC led the round and was joined by Four More Capital, Karman Ventures, Hustle Fund, Starframe Capital, Cortado Ventures, and Operator Stack. (15.Jul.2025)

🚀 Donut Lab, a Helsinki-based e-mobility tech innovator has completed its Seed funding round with €25 million raised – following the successful launch of its five-motor lineup. (08.Jul.2025)

🚀 Ekho, a three-year-old New York startup that builds an end-to-end online platform for OEMs and auto dealers that lets consumers browse, finance, register, and purchase cars and other vehicles online, raised a $17.3 million Series A round led by Activant Capital, with J.P. Morgan andWinnebago Industries as well as previous investors Y Combinator, RiverPark, and Westcott Investment Group also anteing up. (08.Jul.2025)

🚀 Filics, six-year-old Munich startup that builds autonomous robots that help warehouses and factories move pallets and goods more efficiently, raised a $15.8 million round. Sandwater, Alven, F-Log Ventures, Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, Bayern Kapital, Capnamic, and 10x Founders invested in the deal. (07.Jul.2025)

🚀 Gridserve, a ten-year-old UK company that builds and operates electric vehicle charging stations and solar-powered service centers for drivers and fleet operators across the UK, raised a $116.4 million round. Investors included TPG, Infracapital, and Mitsubishi. (15.Jul.2025)

🚀 Hived, a four-year-old London startup that uses a fleet of electric vehicles and bike couriers to offer lower-emission delivery services for retailers, raised a $42 million Series B round led by NordicNinja, with investors including Planet A, Wex Venture Capital, Marunouchi Innovation Partners, Elemental Impact, Yamato Holdings, Future Back Ventures, andRocketship VC also piling on. (03.Jul.2025)

🚀 Laka, a London-based insurtech pioneer has secured $10.4 million in Series B funding to accelerate its path to profitability and cement its position as Europe’s leading green mobility insurer. The round was co-led by sustainability-focused fund Shift4Good and MS&AD Ventures. (16.Jul.2025)

🚀 MOTOR AI, a Berlin-based autonomous vehicle company, raised $20 million in seed funding. Segenia Capital and eCAPITAL led the round. (14.Jul.2025)

🚀 Nascent Materials, a new startup developing cathode materials to drive down the cost of LFP batteries, raised $2.3 million in a seed round led by SOSV. The New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Fund and UM6P Ventures also participated. (30.Jun.2025)

🚀 ServiceUp, a platform that automates and manages the vehicle repair process, has raised $55 million in a Series B round of funding led by PeakSpan Capital. (09.Jul.2025)

🚀 VokBikes, a Estonia-based electric four-wheeler company secured $6 million led by SQM Lithium Ventures with participation from Metaplanet, SmartCap, and others to expand its cargo bikes across Europe. (02.Jul.2025)

🚀 Zeelo, a nine-year-old London startup that uses AI-powered software and a network of bus operators to plan, run, and monitor shared shuttle services for companies, schools, and campuses, raised a $23 million Series B round led by Blue Earth Capital, with Direttissima Growth Partners and Peter Bauer's family office also pitching in. (24.Jun.2025)

📗 Interesting Reads

🤖 From Reactive to Predictive: How AI Is Rewriting the Rules of the Supply Chain

AI is no longer a futuristic vision—it’s quietly becoming the operating system of global supply chains. What were once manual, reactive processes are now transforming into intelligent, self-correcting systems powered by real-time data, machine learning, and autonomous decision-making.

Across every link of the chain—from warehouses to highways—AI is optimizing operations: predicting demand with precision, flagging equipment failures before they happen, rerouting deliveries in real time, and coordinating fleets of autonomous trucks. These technologies aren’t just streamlining workflows—they’re driving measurable business impact: lower costs, faster responses, and more resilient operations in the face of constant disruption.

This transformation marks a deeper shift in how we define the supply chain. The traditional model—built for stability and efficiency—is being replaced by systems engineered for agility. Labor shortages, geopolitical shifts, and evolving customer expectations demand a new approach. Tools like generative AI, digital twins, and AI-powered robotics are no longer experimental; they’re fast becoming essential infrastructure.

At Proeza Ventures, we see AI not as a passing trend, but as a foundational force reshaping the movement of goods and the decisions that guide them. The momentum is real—but we’re still early. The companies that act now, especially those that collaborate with startups at the forefront of innovation, won’t just keep up—they’ll define the next decade of competitive advantage.

The future of supply chains won’t be driven by spreadsheets or instinct—it will be powered by sensors, algorithms, and intelligent systems that adapt in real time. And that future is already underway.

For more on what we’re seeing in the AI space, read the full report we put together here.

🏍️ Mexico’s Motorcycle Market Accelerates: Projected 15% Growth in 2025

Mexico is speeding ahead as one of the world’s most dynamic motorcycle markets, ranking sixth globally with over 60 brands competing locally. In Q1 2025 alone, 440,518 motorcycles were sold — a 4.8% increase compared to last year. Leading brands like Italika, Bajaj, Honda, BMW Motorrad, Indian Motorcycle, Vespa, and several Asian newcomers are fueling this growth.

Industry experts anticipate up to 15% growth by the end of 2025, driven by rising demand for personal and delivery transport, new investments in assembly plants, and the influx of innovative Asian brands. Despite economic uncertainties and new labor regulations for delivery riders, motorcycle sales are expected to outpace the automotive sector’s performance — reflecting a shift in Mexico’s mobility landscape.

At Proeza Ventures, we’re excited to watch this booming segment evolve and continue to explore opportunities in micromobility and sustainable urban transport solutions.

👉 Check the full note here.

🚗From Phoenix to Atlanta: Waymo's Robotaxis Are Scaling Fast

It started in the desert — with slow, silent test vehicles crawling through the streets of Phoenix, watched skeptically by industry veterans and curious pedestrians. That was nearly a decade ago. Today, Waymo’s robotaxis are not only a fixture in Phoenix, but a paid, 24/7 service operating in rain or shine, no safety driver required. What once felt like a moonshot is now moving at city speed. With commercial operations already live in San Francisco and Los Angeles — and new deployments underway in Austin and Atlanta — Waymo’s playbook is clear: test, iterate, scale.

What took five years in one market is now unfolding in under two elsewhere. This isn’t just a story about better AI or sensor suites — it’s about a company quietly building trust, regulatory buy-in, and operational muscle to make autonomous mobility real. The era of the robotaxi has arrived — not with a bang, but with a hum of electric motors and a growing list of cities going driverless.

At Proeza Ventures we see Waymo’s rapid growth as a key milestone in the energy and mobility transition. Beyond technology, it shows how building trust and partnerships is driving the future of autonomous, electric transportation—quietly transforming how cities move and manage energy.