Customers include Nvidia, Amazon, Tesla, robotaxi firm Waymo, and Wayve, a British multibillion-dollar maker of AI tech for driverless cars headed by another Kiwi, Alex Kendall.
“We’ve just raised US$40m to transform the infrastructure for physical AI,” Macneil said in a video posted to LinkedIn.
“AI is rapidly transforming critical industries like manufacturing, logistics, transportation, agriculture, construction, aerospace and defence.”
Foxglove lets companies “evaluate robot performance, and watch 3D frame-by-frame replays”.
Icehouse Ventures principal Mason Bleakley said, “We’ve known of Adrian for some time now as a New Zealander who had moved to the Valley and quickly become one of the most important emerging leaders in this space.
“For us, it’s not just a chance to back the best Kiwis, but for New Zealand investors to be able to share in the success of our brightest entrepreneurs, like Adrian, around the world.”
Icehouse chief executive Robbie Paul posted, “Yet another Kiwi is crushing it in the US.”
Icehouse did not immediately comment on the size of its investment.
Foxglove, which raised US$15m in a 2022 Series A round led by Eclipse, will use its new funds to speed product development.
After leaving the Treasury, Macneil worked for various start-ups before emigrating to the US as director of engineering for fast-growing crypto firm Coinbase.
Macneil co-founded Foxglove in 2021 with fellow Coinbase alumnus Roman Shtylman (today billed as Foxglove’s “computer whisperer”. The pair also worked together at Cruise Automation.
Chris Keall is an Auckland-based member of the Herald’s business team. He joined the Herald in 2018 and is the technology editor and a senior business writer.
