Best Auto Tech Companies in Portland, United States
The 52 best Auto Tech companies in Portland, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: PreAct Tech.
Our analysis of 69 Auto Tech companies
$46.2b in tracked funding; 92% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2025.
Ranked: Best Auto Tech companies in Portland
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Stage | Founder | Founded | Tech stack | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PreAct Tech Tech-enabled crash detection and collison avoidance system | $50M | 39 mo ago | Series B | Kurt Brendley Chief Product Officer & Co-Founder | 2018 | — | — | — |
| 2 | OpConnect EV charging solutions | $14M | 17 mo ago | Series A | Dan Lulich Co-Founder & CTO | 2012 | WordPress Block EditorElementorWordPress+28 | — | — |
| 3 | Ride Report Cloud-based platform to manage urban micro-mobility | $13M | 76 mo ago | Acquired | William Henderson CEO | 2015 | HubSpot CMS HubBootstrapAmazon Web Services+20 | — | — |
| 4 | AVE Automedia Developing mobility applications for connected devices | $12M | 48 mo ago | Deadpooled | Ryan McManus Co-Founder & CEO | 2016 | — | — | — |
| 5 | DealerPeak Automotive CRM solutions provider empowering dealerships with data-driven insights and streamlined workflows | $5M | 56 mo ago | Series A | Jock Schowalter Co-Founder & Co-CEO | 1999 | WordPressMySQLPHP+24 | — | — |
| 6 | Global Energy Transmission Autonomous in-flight wireless charging solutions for drones, enabling limitless flight | $3M | 14 mo ago | Seed | Bill Kallman Co-Founder and U.S. Manager | 2015 | — | — | — |
| 7 | Lit Motors Developer of autonomous-balancing electric vehicles designed for efficient and safe transportation 37Patents top 36%Tech top 40%Moat top 41%Innovation top 42% All 10 signals ▾Patentstop 36% Techtop 40% Moattop 41% Innovationtop 42% Producttop 43% Growthtop 45% Talentbottom 49% Fundingbottom 42% Globalbottom 36% Marketbottom 29% Patents: 129 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 16 filings since 2022 vs 35 in 2017-21 Tech: 25 technologies across 5/8 capability areas · Cloud: Cloudflare, Google Cloud rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 37/100 | $2M | 14 mo ago | Seed | Danny Kim Founder & CEO & CTO | 2005 | Wix eCommerceWixSentry+20 | 129 patents Patents concentrated in transport & manufacturing processes | — |
| 8 | RYNO Motors Motorized Uni-cycle | $2M | 150 mo ago | Deadpooled | Chris Hoffmann Founder & CEO | 2007 | — | 11 patents Self-balancing electric one‑wheel personal transport vehicles | — |
| 9 | Polysync Technologies Vehicle control interface for advanced testing and development solutions | $790K | 121 mo ago | Seed | — | 2013 | — | — | — |
| 10 | Citifyd Find and buy parking easily and cost-effectively with contactless system | $600K | 135 mo ago | Acquired | — | 2014 | SentryZendeskTypeScript+21 | 48 patents Intelligent vehicle parking control and detection systems with access and beacon integration | — |
| 11 | Driver’s Seat App-based assistance for rideshare drivers | $300K | 71 mo ago | Seed | Hays Witt Co-Founder | 2019 | — | — | — |
| 12 | cargo Cargo is an open auto platform enabling developers to create apps for the car without worrying about… | $300K | 142 mo ago | Deadpooled | — | 2014 | — | 6 patents Truck cargo handling systems and insulated inflatable container liners. | — |
| 13 | Chargely App-based platform for locating EV charging stations | $150K | 28 mo ago | Seed | David Tse Founder & CEO | 2023 | — | — | — |
| 14 | Pilot Automotive Labs Automotive labs providing autonomy, safety, and connectivity solutions for vehicles | $150K | 121 mo ago | Deadpooled | — | 2016 | — | — | — |
| 15 | Apollo Provider of voice assistant for cars | $120K | 108 mo ago | Seed | Arnab Raychaudhuri Co-Founder & CEO | 2016 | — | 71 patents Patents concentrated in computing, sensing & instrumentation | — |
Top 12 Auto Tech companies in Portland
#1
Series A · Portland, Oregon · founded 2012 · 19 employees$14Mraised▾
EV charging solutions. It provides a a cloud-based software platform and support for EV charging needs.
- Feb 2025Series A$1.5M
- Sep 2024Series A$5.3M
- Jun 2023Series A$5.3M
- Oct 2022Series A$850K
#2
Seed · Portland, Oregon · founded 2015 · 7 employees$3.1Mraised▾
Autonomous in-flight wireless charging solutions for drones, enabling limitless flight. This innovative technology empowers battery-powered drones to recharge mid-air, extending flight time and enhancing autonomy. The solution includes ground stations for wireless power transmission and commercial-grade drones equipped with wireless power receiving systems and rapid battery charging packs. This technology disrupts wireless power standards, enabling continuous drone operation for various industrial applications like monitoring, security, and delivery. The company offers turnkey solutions and collaborates with strategic partners to build wireless power networks, providing charging as a service. This B2B model offers a technical reference design for leading tech companies, service providers, and drone manufacturers, accelerating market adoption. The wireless power transfer technology is patented, ensuring a safe and efficient solution for the drone industry, with potential applications in urban air transportation.
- May 2025Seed$400K
- Jun 2020Seed$600K
- May 2017Seed$2.5M
#3
Seed · Portland, Oregon · founded 2005 · 22 employees$2Mraised▾
Developer of autonomous-balancing electric vehicles designed for efficient and safe transportation. It focuses on combining the benefits of both cars and motorcycles into a two-wheeled vehicle. The company's AEV platform aims to reduce waste, emissions, and commute time through gyro-stabilization technology. The technology allows the vehicle to maintain stability, even in situations where motorcycles typically fail. The vehicle architecture is designed to be compact, spacious, and efficient, suitable for daily commutes and weekend trips.
- May 2025Seed$25K
- Mar 2014Seed$1M
#4
Series B · Portland, Oregon · founded 2018 · 40 employees$49.7Mraised▾
PreAct Tech offers tech-enabled crash detection and collision avoidance system. The system uses the near field sensor to detect and predict the crash. In case of crash, the system will automatically increase the safety of occupants by providing pre-crash airbags, tightening the seat belts, and more.
- Apr 2023Series B$20M
- Jan 2023Series B$14M
- Nov 2021Series A$13M
- Oct 2021Grant (prize money)$1M
#5
Deadpooled · Portland, Oregon · founded 2016$12Mraised▾
Developing mobility applications for connected devices. It works with OEMs and developers to provide connected car services to drivers and passengers. AVE AutoMedia is focused on in-vehicle infotainment technologies.
- Jul 2022Series B$12M
#6
Acquired · Portland, Oregon · founded 2015 · 18 employees$13.4Mraised▾
Ride Report provides a cloud-based platform to manage urban micro-mobility, such as bike and scooter share programs. The platform offers a set of tools for real-time data exchange, alerts, reporting, vehicle monitoring, and more. Enables city administration, planners, and mobility operators to cooperate and optimize mobility operations. The company has partnered with some several micro-mobility operators like Bird and Lime.
- Mar 2020Series A$10M
- May 2019Seed$3.4M
- Nov 2018Seed$3.4M
#7
Series A · Portland, Oregon · founded 1999 · 23 employees$4.7Mraised▾
Automotive CRM solutions provider empowering dealerships with data-driven insights and streamlined workflows. They offer an all-in-one CRM platform designed to manage customers, sales, and marketing across entire dealer groups or single locations. Their platform provides robust deal desking, proactive alerts, trade appraisals, credit pulls, equity mining, and inventory management. The CRM is built to match existing workflows with integrations to various tools, enabling reporting on trends across the entire auto group and drilling down to individual locations or associates. The platform aims to improve store efficiency, drive loyalty, generate more leads, close more deals, and provide a better customer experience. They offer features like API, data warehouse, white-label CRM, and mobility solutions. They provide customizable workflows, access levels, and white-glove support via chat, text, or phone. The platform is designed for BDC teams to manage internet and phone traffic easily. The goal is to bring joy back into the car buying and selling process by empowering dealerships with the information they need to find the right vehicle for each customer.
- Nov 2021Series A$1.6M
- Aug 2021Series A$3.1M
#8
Seed · Portland, Maine · founded 2023$150Kraised▾
App-based platform for locating EV charging stations. The app provides access to different charging stations and offers features such as checking charging tariffs and managing charging sessions. App is available for both Android and iOS devices.
- Mar 2024Seed$150K
#9
Deadpooled · Portland, Oregon · founded 2007 · 3 employees$1.8Mraised▾
RYNO Motors Inc offers cost competitive, energy efficient, personal transportation products allowing consumers to move in a highly efficient manner. RYNO’s Personal Micro-Cycle is lightweight, highly maneuverable, multi-purpose; has a small footprint, is customizable, and has a unique ONE-WHEEL design. The Micro-Cycle’s unique customizable design also allows for storage and related accessories to be added.
- Jan 2014Seed$500K
- Dec 2012Seed$1.2M
#10
Seed · Portland, Oregon · founded 2013 · 7 employees$790Kraised▾
Vehicle control interface for advanced testing and development solutions. They deliver products enabling safer mobility through advanced technology. Their DriveKit offers a vehicle control interface designed for advanced testing and development. It features a one-hour installation process with pre-configured hardware, quick-connect wiring, and step-by-step guides, eliminating permanent vehicle modifications. The system boasts automotive-grade components, machined aluminum enclosures, and native vehicle connectors for portability. It provides full-range vehicle control without altering factory safety features or spoofing CAN messages. With open-source software and hardware designs, it ensures complete engineering flexibility, commercially supported with email, web support, firmware, software updates, and a parts warranty. This is a B2B tech company offering software and hardware solutions.
- 2016Seed—
- Nov 2015Seed$790K
#11
Seed · Portland, Oregon · founded 2019 · 8 employees$300Kraised▾
Driver's Seat is app-based assistance for rideshare drivers. The platform provides rideshare analytics solutions. It enables on-demand drivers to track and share their data via the platform. The platform analyzes driving data to provide insights on shared mobility.
- Aug 2020Seed$300K
#12
Acquired · Portland, Oregon · founded 2014 · 11 employees$600Kraised▾
Find and buy parking easily and cost-effectively with contactless system. It offers an easy and cost-effective way to find and buy parking around town, even before you leave home. The platform provides options for events, reserved parking, monthly passes, and hourly parking. It is a tech company offering a contactless parking system, prioritizing user safety and health. The services include a mobile app for convenient access and management. It caters to both B2C and B2B segments, offering solutions for individual parkers and parking providers. The platform emphasizes security, adhering to the highest data security standards. It provides a user-friendly interface for finding, booking, and managing parking needs, with options for login and account management. The business model focuses on providing a seamless and secure parking experience through its software and technology solutions.
- Apr 2015Seed$600K
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Auto Tech coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
How research on Autonomous Vehicles is moving in the United States
A read on the academic research around Autonomous Vehicles — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 3,252 United States-affiliated papers.
- Carnegie Mellon University89
- Purdue University West Lafayette76
- University of California, Berkeley69
- Northeastern University64
- Stanford University55
- Computer vision12→111
- Human–computer interaction2→64
- Perception2→59
- Robustness (evolution)3→53
- Trajectory12→61
- Human–computer interaction3→65
- Transport engineering11→66
- Computer vision2→54
- Reinforcement learning3→46
- Automotive engineering5→48
- Humanities4→108
- Philosophy1→64
- Context (archaeology)1→54
- Computer security2→48
- Transport engineering4→30
Where autonomous vehicles is researched across United States
Location clusters by institution affiliation — each city's volume, stance tone, and a quick read on its hot topic, what's advancing, the opening opportunity, and the main concern.
Who's filing autonomous vehicles patents in the United States
United States autonomous vehicles patent filing is accelerating — 19,294 filings from 4,355 assignees (2016–2025), led by Waymo, Baidu USA, GM Cruise Holdings; annual filings 885→1348.
- Waymo1688
- Baidu USA1034
- GM Cruise Holdings767
- FORD Global TECH589
- Qualcomm565
- Tusimple547
- UBER Technologies527
- UATC507
Common questions
Rohit lives in the feed. He covers what's moving right now — the funding rounds, launches and shifts breaking across the trade press — and ties them back to where the sector is heading.