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Skild AI vs Wayve

Side-by-side on valuation, funding, investors, founders & more

Comparison updated: April 2026

Two AI Robotics companies going head to head.

Head-to-Head Verdict

Wayve leads on 4 of 5 metrics

Skild AI

1 win

+Valuation
-Funding
-Awaira Score
-Team Size
-Experience

Wayve

4 wins

-Valuation
+Funding
+Awaira Score
+Team Size
+Experience

Key Numbers

Valuation
$14B
$8.6B
Total Funding
$1.9B
$2.8B
Awaira Score
90/100
95/100
Employees
75
100-500
Founded
2023
2017
Stage
Series C
Series D
Skild AIWayve
Skild AI logo
Skild AI

🇺🇸 United States · Deepak Pathak

Series CAI RoboticsEst. 2023

Valuation

$14B

Total Funding

$1.9B

Awaira Score90/100

75 employees

Full Skild AI Profile →
Winner
Wayve logo
Wayve

🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Amar Shah

Series DAI RoboticsEst. 2017

Valuation

$8.6B

Total Funding

$2.8B

Awaira Score95/100

100-500 employees

Full Wayve Profile →
Market Context

Both companies compete in the AI Robotics space, though from different geographies — Skild AI in United States and Wayve in United Kingdom. Different stages (Series C vs Series D) mean these companies face fundamentally different operational priorities.

🔬

Analyst Summary

Built from real data · Updated April 2026

Companies

Within AI Robotics, Skild AI and Wayve rank among the most closely watched rivals. Skild AI is a robotics company founded in 2023 that develops artificial intelligence systems for autonomous robots. Wayve builds embodied AI systems for autonomous driving, developing a data-driven approach that trains neural networks end-to-end from raw sensor inputs to vehicle controls.

Funding & Valuation

The two trade at comparable valuations — Skild AI at $14B versus Wayve at $8.6B. Both have attracted significant capital — Wayve with $2.8B and Skild AI with $1.9B.

Growth Stage

Skild AI is the younger company by 6 years, having launched in 2023 compared to Wayve's 2017 founding. Growth stages differ: Skild AI (Series C) versus Wayve (Series D), a distinction that matters for both deal structure and competitive positioning. Team sizes also differ: Skild AI employs 75 people versus Wayve's 100-500.

Geography & Outlook

Geography separates them: Skild AI in 🇺🇸 United States and Wayve in 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, each benefiting from local ecosystems. Awaira's composite score rates them neck-and-neck: Skild AI at 90 and Wayve at 95 out of 100. Under Deepak Pathak and Amar Shah respectively, both companies continue to chart aggressive growth paths.

Funding Velocity

Skild AI

Total Rounds1
Avg. Round Size$300M

Wayve

Total Rounds4
Avg. Round Size$423.3M
Funding Span6 yrs

Funding History

Skild AI has completed 1 funding round, while Wayve has gone through 4. Skild AI's most recent round was a Series A of $300M, compared to Wayve's Series C ($1.1B). Skild AI is at Series C while Wayve is at Series D — different points in their growth trajectory.

Team & Scale

Team sizes are in the same ballpark: Skild AI has about 75 people and Wayve has around 100-500. Wayve has a 6-year head start, founded in 2017 vs Skild AI's 2023. Geographically, they're in different markets — Skild AI operates out of United States and Wayve from United Kingdom.

Metrics Comparison

MetricSkild AIWayve
💰Valuation
$14BWINS
$8.6B
📈Total Funding
$1.9B
$2.8BWINS
📅Founded
2023WINS
2017
🚀Stage
Series C
Series D
👥Employees
75
100-500
🌍Country
United States
United Kingdom
🏷️Category
AI Robotics
AI Robotics
Awaira Score
90
95WINS

Key Differences

💰

Valuation gap: Skild AI is valued 1.6x higher ($14B vs $8.6B)

📈

Funding gap: Wayve has raised $900M more ($2.8B vs $1.9B)

📅

Market experience: Wayve has 6 years more (founded 2017 vs 2023)

🚀

Growth stage: Skild AI is at Series C vs Wayve at Series D

👥

Team size: Skild AI has 75 employees vs Wayve's 100-500

🌍

Market base: 🇺🇸 Skild AI (United States) vs 🇬🇧 Wayve (United Kingdom)

⚔️

Direct competitors: Both operate in the AI Robotics market segment

Awaira Score: Wayve scores 95/100 vs Skild AI's 90/100

Which Should You Choose?

Use these signals to make the right call

Skild AI logo

Choose Skild AI if…

  • More established by valuation ($14B)
  • United States-based for regional compliance or proximity
  • Skild AI is a robotics company founded in 2023 that develops artificial intelligence systems for autonomous robots
Wayve logo

Choose Wayve if…

Top Pick
  • Higher Awaira Score — 95/100 vs 90/100
  • Stronger investor backing — raised $2.8B
  • More market experience — founded in 2017
  • United Kingdom-based for regional compliance or proximity
  • Wayve builds embodied AI systems for autonomous driving, developing a data-driven approach that trains neural networks end-to-end from raw sensor inputs to vehicle controls

Funding History

Skild AI raised $1.9B across 1 round. Wayve raised $2.8B across 4 rounds.

Skild AI

Series A

Jul 2024

Lead: Lightspeed Venture Partners

$300M

Wayve

Series C

May 2024

Lead: SoftBank Vision Fund

$1.1B

Series B

Jan 2022

Lead: Eclipse Ventures

$200M

Series A

Jun 2020

Lead: Balderton Capital

$20M

Seed

May 2018

Lead: Compound VC

Investor Comparison

Shared Investors1
SoftBank Vision Fund

Unique to Skild AI

Lightspeed Venture PartnersCoatue ManagementJeff Bezos

Unique to Wayve

NvidiaMicrosoftEclipse VenturesBalderton CapitalCompound VC

Users Also Compare

FAQ — Skild AI vs Wayve

Is Skild AI bigger than Wayve?
By valuation, Skild AI is the larger company at $14B versus $8.6B — a 1.6x difference. Size can also be measured by team: Skild AI employs 75 people while Wayve has 100-500 employees.
Which company raised more funding — Skild AI or Wayve?
Wayve has raised more in total funding at $2.8B, compared to Skild AI's $1.9B — a gap of $900M. Combined, the two companies have completed 5 known funding rounds.
Which company has a higher Awaira Score?
Wayve leads with an Awaira Score of 95/100, while Skild AI sits at 90/100. That 5-point gap reflects real differences in funding, scale, and traction — it's not a vanity metric.
Who founded Skild AI vs Wayve?
Skild AI was founded by Deepak Pathak in 2023. Wayve was founded by Amar Shah in 2017. Visit each company's profile on Awaira for a full founder biography.
What does Skild AI do vs Wayve?
Skild AI: Skild AI is a robotics company founded in 2023 that develops artificial intelligence systems for autonomous robots. The company focuses on creating AI software that enables robots to perform complex, dexterous manipulation tasks in real-world environments. Skild AI's core technology centers on machine learning models designed to improve robotic perception, planning, and control capabilities, allowing robots to handle varied objects and adapt to dynamic conditions. The company operates in the growing intersection of AI and robotics, where demand for automation solutions continues to expand across manufacturing, logistics, and warehouse operations. Skild AI's approach emphasizes practical deployment of AI-powered robotic systems rather than theoretical research, positioning it within the applied robotics sector. As of its most recent funding round, Skild AI has raised $1.9 billion in total funding and holds a valuation of $14.0 billion, reflecting significant investor confidence in its market potential. The company operates at Series C stage, indicating maturation beyond early-stage development. Specific details about notable customers, deployed use cases, and competitive positioning relative to other robotics companies are not disclosed. The company's rapid valuation growth and substantial funding suggest strong market traction, though its exact revenue figures and growth trajectory remain proprietary information. Skild AI achieved a $14 billion valuation within approximately two years of founding, indicating exceptional investor confidence in its robotics-AI technology platform. Wayve: Wayve builds embodied AI systems for autonomous driving, developing a data-driven approach that trains neural networks end-to-end from raw sensor inputs to vehicle controls. Founded in Cambridge and headquartered in London, the company focuses on a generalist AI model that can adapt to new environments without hand-coded rules, distinguishing it from traditional autonomous vehicle stacks.\n\nThe company raised a $1 billion Series C round in 2024 led by SoftBank, with participation from Microsoft and NVIDIA, bringing total funding to approximately $1.3 billion. Wayve has deployed test vehicles across London and conducts large-scale data collection partnerships with commercial fleet operators including Asda and Ocado.\n\nWayve competes in a global autonomous vehicle market projected to exceed $500 billion by 2030, positioning itself against Waymo, Cruise, and Mobileye with a fundamentally different AI-first architecture. The company achieved a valuation of approximately $2.8 billion following its Series C and is considered one of the most significant autonomous vehicle startups outside the United States, with backing from some of the largest technology investors globally. Wayve operates in the AI Robotics sector and is headquartered in United Kingdom. Founded in 2017 by Amar Shah, Wayve has raised $2.8B in total funding, achieving a valuation of $8.6B as of its latest round. The company's funding journey includes a Series A of $20M in 2020, a Series B of $200M in 2022, a Series C of $1.1B in 2024. The most recent round was led by SoftBank Vision Fund. With approximately 100-500 employees, Wayve has established itself as a Series D-stage player in the AI Robotics market. The company holds an Awaira Score of 95/100, reflecting its strong position across valuation, funding trajectory, team scale, and market influence. Wayve competes in a rapidly evolving segment alongside other AI Robotics companies. Based in United Kingdom, Wayve is part of a growing international AI ecosystem attracting talent and investment. The AI Robotics space has attracted significant investment in recent years, with companies racing to capture enterprise and consumer demand for AI-powered solutions.
Which company was founded first?
Wayve got there first, launching in 2017 — that's 6 years of extra runway. Skild AI didn't arrive until 2023. In AI, that kind of head start means more training data, deeper customer relationships, and a bigger talent moat.
Which company has more employees?
Skild AI has about 75 employees; Wayve has about 100-500. A bigger team usually means more revenue or heavier VC backing, but in AI, small teams can build at massive scale.
Are Skild AI and Wayve competitors?
Yes — they're direct rivals. Both Skild AI and Wayve compete in AI Robotics, targeting many of the same buyers. If you're evaluating one, you should be looking at the other.

Bottom Line

It's close. Both Skild AI and Wayve are strong players, and picking a winner depends on what you're looking for. Check each profile for the full picture.

Who Should You Watch?

This one's genuinely too close to call. Both companies are competitive, and the winner will likely come down to execution over the next 12-18 months. Follow both profiles on Awaira to track funding rounds, team changes, and score updates.

Deep Dive