Luminar Revenue, Valuation, Funding & Investors

Luminar is valued at $900M as of July 2019, a 69.2x multiple on its last reported $13M revenue.

Last Luminar valuation

$900M

Undisclosed stage · Jul 2019

Last Luminar funding round

$100M

Undisclosed stage · Jul 2019

Luminar revenue

$13M

Undisclosed stage · Jul 2019

Key investors in Luminar

  • Invariantes Fund
  • Fernando Pontaza
  • Canvas Prime
  • 1517 Fund
  • Peter Thiel
  • G2 Venture Partners

Luminar Overview

About Luminar

Luminar is an automotive technology company developing lidar sensors and perception software for advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous vehicles. Orlando-headquartered and founded in 2012, it went public in 2020 via SPAC with a $3.4 billion valuation. Luminar supplies iris lidar units to OEMs including Volvo Trucks, Daimler Trucks, and Mobileye, enabling detection up to 500 meters for highway autonomy. Production ramps at its Florida factory support Level 3 and 4 capabilities, with deployments in commercial trucks across Europe and North America.


Founded

2012

HQ

United StatesOrlando, FL

Status

Privately held

Customer focus

B2B

Revenue model

Product sales, Subscription

Revenue

$13M (Jul 2019)

Valuation

$900M (Jul 2019)

Luminar Valuation

Luminar is currently valued at $900M, based on its undisclosed-stage round in July 2019.

The $100M round included Broadcom, Nicholas Woodman, Octave Ventures LLC, G2 Venture Partners, Fernando Pontaza and 7 other investors.

Luminar valuation by funding round

Luminar valuation by funding round
DateStageValuationRevenue Multiple
Jul 2019Undisclosed stage$900M69.2x

Luminar Revenue

Luminar's latest recorded revenue is $13M, as of its undisclosed-stage round in July 2019. At a $900M valuation, that implies a 69.2x revenue multiple.

Luminar revenue by funding round

Luminar revenue and valuation multiple by funding round
DateRevenue *ValuationRevenue MultipleStage
Jul 2019$13M$900M69.2xUndisclosed stage

* Revenue (or ARR) figures are the values recorded alongside each funding round. Typically run-rate revenue at the time of the deal, or a reported LTM (last 12 months) revenue.

Luminar Funding History

Luminar has raised a total of $252M across 4 funding rounds.

Luminar's first fundraising round was a $2M seed round in August 2015. The most recent completed round was a $100M undisclosed-stage round in July 2019.

Luminar funding rounds

Luminar funding rounds
DateStageInvestorsRaisedValuationDeal Summary
Jul 2019Undisclosed stageBroadcom; Nicholas Woodman; Octave Ventures LLC; G2 Venture Partners; Fernando Pontaza; Cornes Technology; Crescent Cove Advisors; Canvas Prime; 1517 Fund; Invariantes Fund; Moore Capital; Corning$100M$900MLuminar Technologies is a developer of lidar sensors and software for autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems, targeting passenger and commercial vehicle markets with a focus on L2+/L3 applications. The company went public via a SPAC merger in December 2020, prior to which it operated as Legacy Luminar. Financial data around 2019 shows Luminar generated annual revenue of $12.60 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, up 7.78% from $11.69 million in 2018. This preceded rapid revenue growth post-2019, reaching $13.95 million in 2020, $31.94 million in 2021, and scaling to $75.39 million by 2024. In September 2020, Luminar increased its target 2020 Order Book to approximately $1.3 billion based on new OEM deals and volume outlooks. The company has faced challenges including operating losses, with the Autonomy Solutions segment reporting a $56.7 million loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Recent traction includes 2024 revenue growth partly from the EM4 acquisition, though offset by declines in non-recurring engineering services. Luminar competes in a crowded lidar market amid pricing pressures, OEM cost reductions, and competition from established players with greater resources.
Jan 2018Undisclosed stageFernando Pontaza; Invariantes Fund$114M-Invariantes Fund, Guatemala's first early-stage venture capital fund led by Fernando Pontaza, closed its inaugural fund with $3.5 million in commitments from high-net-worth individuals and family offices in Central America and Mexico in May 2018. The fund targets early-stage technology startups in sectors including software, with a focus on transportation, shipping, logistics, and construction management. By that time, Invariantes had made 16 investments, including in Luminar, a company developing LiDAR sensors and software for autonomous vehicles. Luminar is highlighted as a key investment alongside others like Fleet (shipping and logistics platform) and Pillar Technologies (sensors and software for construction). Invariantes also pursued strategic investments in San Francisco-based funds for access to Silicon Valley dealflow, partners, and advisors. Fernando Pontaza and team actively sourced opportunities across Silicon Valley, New York, Miami, Mexico, Colombia, and Puerto Rico. Invariantes has since launched larger funds, including a $30 million fund in recent years for US and Latin American startups in fintech, AI, deep tech, and more, maintaining a hybrid model of direct startup investments and fund-of-funds allocations.
Apr 2017Undisclosed stagePeter Thiel; Fernando Pontaza; GVA Capital; Canvas Prime; 1517 Fund; Invariantes Fund$36M--
Aug 2015SeedARCHina Capital Partners; Thunder Future$2M--

Who has invested in Luminar?

16 investors have backed Luminar across its funding rounds, including Invariantes Fund, Fernando Pontaza, Canvas Prime, 1517 Fund, Peter Thiel and G2 Venture Partners.


Luminar Investors

Investors in Luminar by funding rounds participated
InvestorHQRoundsRoleFirst check
Fernando PontazaGuatemalaGuatemala City3ParticipantApr 2017
Invariantes FundGuatemalaGuatemala City3ParticipantApr 2017
Canvas PrimeUnited StatesSan Francisco, CA2ParticipantApr 2017
1517 FundUnited StatesUnited States2ParticipantApr 2017
ARCHina Capital PartnersHong KongHong Kong1ParticipantAug 2015
Thunder FutureUnited StatesWilmington, DE1ParticipantAug 2015
Peter ThielUnited StatesSan Francisco, CA1ParticipantApr 2017
BroadcomUnited StatesSan Jose, CA1ParticipantJul 2019
Nicholas WoodmanUnited StatesPescadero, CA1ParticipantJul 2019
Octave Ventures LLCUnited StatesLas Vegas, NV1ParticipantJul 2019
G2 Venture PartnersUnited StatesSan Francisco, CA1ParticipantJul 2019
GVA CapitalUnited StatesSan Francisco, CA1ParticipantApr 2017
Cornes TechnologyJapanTokyo1ParticipantJul 2019

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Benchmark 350K+ Funding Rounds and Disclosed VC Valuation Multiples

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Acquisitions by Luminar

Luminar has acquired 4 companies to date.

Last acquisition by Luminar was on July 31st 2024. Luminar acquired Gooch & Housego (optoelectronic components and laser modules unit) for undisclosed valuation.


Latest Acquisitions by Luminar

Gooch & Housego (optoelectronic components and laser modules unit)
Civil Maps
Freedom Photonics
OptoGration
Description
-
-
Freedom Photonics is a California-based photonics company developing semiconductor laser and photonic integrated circuit technologies for communications, sensing, and other applications.
OptoGration is a Richardson-headquartered designer of broadband photodiodes for visible-near infrared imaging and laser detection. The company fabricates InGaAs detectors on silicon for hyperspectral cameras and threat warning systems in drones. OptoGration's arrays cover 400 to 1700 nanometers with quantum efficiency over 80 percent. Established in 2014 in Texas, it supplies modules to defense contractors for chemical spectroscopy.
HQ CountryUnited KingdomUnited StatesUnited StatesUnited States
HQ City
-
-
Santa Barbara, CA
Wilmington, DE
Deal Date31 Jul 20244 Jan 202321 Mar 202219 Jul 2021
Valuationundisclosed$11M$35M$6M
EV/Revenue
EV/EBITDA

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Investments by Luminar

Luminar has invested in 2 companies to date.

Latest investment by Luminar was on May 26th 2022. Luminar invested in ECARX Group in their $45M Strategic investment round.


Latest Investments by Luminar

ECARX Group
Forterra
Description
ECARX Holdings Inc is engaged in the sales of system-on-chip core modules, automotive computing platform products, and software stacks as well as the provision of research and development services in the People’s Republic of China. The company’s core products include infotainment head units, digital cockpits, vehicle chip-set solutions, a core operating system, and an integrated software stack. Beyond this, ECARX is developing a full-stack automotive computing platform. It is engaged in automotive intelligence and networking.
Forterra is a St. Louis-headquartered defense technology firm building autonomy software for unmanned ground vehicles and robotic swarms. Launched in 2021, it supplies TerraMax platforms to U.S. Army programs, enabling leader-follower convoys and multi-domain operations. Forterra's stack integrates with ROS and integrates LiDAR, radar for off-road navigation in contested environments.
HQ CountryChinaUnited States
HQ City
-
Washington, DC
Deal Date26 May 20229 Dec 2021
RoundStrategic investmentSeries A
Raised$45M$243M
InvestorsLotus Technology; GeelySoftBank Group; Henry Crown and Company; Enlightenment Capital; Crescent Cove Advisors
Valuationundisclosedundisclosed
EV/Revenue
EV/EBITDA

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Luminar Competitors

Luminar competitors include listed companies like Aeva and WeRide, and private ones like Soterea, MAXIEYE, NASN Automotive Electronics and Motovis.

Public and private companies comparable to Luminar
CompanyHQStatusRevenueEBITDAValuationRevenue Multiple
AevaUnited StatesUnited StatesPublicly listed$18M($139M)$1.1B35.6x
SotereaChinaTianjinPrivate--$1.4B-
MAXIEYEChinaChinaPrivate--$447M-
WeRideChinaChinaPublicly listed$102M($257M)$1.9B8.3x
NASN Automotive ElectronicsChinaChinaPrivate--$400M-
MotovisChinaShanghaiPrivate--$315M-

Luminar Public Comps

Luminar is still privately-owned, but its public comps include Qiming Information, Robosense, Extreme Vision, Yonyou Auto Info Tech, Kodiak AI, Elsight, Vitec Software, Aeva, Red Cat Holdings and Pinewood Technologies.

Last FYEV/RevenueEV/EBITDA
RevenueEBITDALast FYLTM2027ELast FYLTM2027E
Qiming Information$115M$14M7.4x-62.4x-
Robosense$289M($19M)2.1x1.6x(31.9x)(52.9x)
Extreme Vision$44M($6M)22.8x11.6x(163.7x)-
Yonyou Auto Info Tech$76M$6M10.9x-150.4x-
Kodiak AI$4M($577M)233.9x98.7x(1.5x)(6.6x)
Elsight$23M$6M30.7x15.3x117.5x34.5x
Vitec Software$371M$151M3.7x3.5x9.1x9.0x
Aeva$18M($139M)54.7x35.6x(7.1x)(8.7x)

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Common questions about Luminar

When was Luminar founded?Luminar was founded in 2012.
Where is Luminar headquartered?Luminar is headquartered in Orlando, FL, United States.
Is Luminar publicly listed?No, Luminar is a private, VC-backed company.
What is Luminar's valuation?Luminar was last valued at $900M in its undisclosed-stage round in July 2019.
How much funding has Luminar raised?Luminar has raised $252M across 4 funding rounds.
What was Luminar's last funding round?Luminar's last funding round was a $100M undisclosed-stage round in July 2019.
Who are Luminar's investors?Luminar's investors include Fernando Pontaza, Invariantes Fund, Canvas Prime, 1517 Fund, ARCHina Capital Partners, Thunder Future, Peter Thiel, Broadcom, Nicholas Woodman, Octave Ventures LLC and 6 others.
What is Luminar's revenue?Luminar's latest recorded revenue is $13M (July 2019).
What is Luminar's revenue multiple?Luminar's latest valuation implies a 69.2x revenue multiple ($900M valuation on $13M of revenue).
Which companies are comparable to Luminar?Companies comparable to Luminar include Aeva, Soterea, MAXIEYE, WeRide, NASN Automotive Electronics and Motovis.
How many companies has Luminar acquired?Luminar has acquired 4 companies, including Gooch & Housego (optoelectronic components and laser modules unit), Civil Maps, Freedom Photonics and OptoGration.
What was the largest acquisition by Luminar?The $35M acquisition of Freedom Photonics in March 2022 is the largest acquisition Luminar has made to date.
How many companies has Luminar invested in?Luminar has invested in 2 companies, including ECARX Group and Forterra.
What was Luminar's last investment?In May 2022, Luminar invested in ECARX Group's $45M strategic investment round alongside Lotus Technology and Geely.

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