Luminar Technologies
US lidar company (NASDAQ: LAZR, now OTC Pink: LAZRQ) founded in 2012 by Austin Russell; participated in Robotic Research/Forterra's $228M Series A (Dec 2021) as its first strategic equity investment. Filed for Chapter 11 (Dec 2025) and sold lidar assets to MicroVision (closed Feb 2026).
Luminar Technologies is a US lidar hardware-and-software company founded in 2012 by Austin Russell (with co-founder Jason Eichenholz) and headquartered in Orlando, Florida. It listed on NASDAQ in December 2020 via a SPAC merger with Gores Metropoulos. Luminar made direct strategic equity investments tied to its technology rather than running a formal corporate venture arm. In December 2021 it participated in Robotic Research's $228M Series A — its first strategic equity investment — and was selected as that company's long-range lidar provider; Robotic Research was renamed Forterra in February 2024. Luminar filed for Chapter 11 protection in December 2025, was delisted from NASDAQ, and sold its lidar business to MicroVision for $33M (deal closed February 2026).
Overview
- Firm
- Luminar Technologies
- Headquarters
- Orlando, Florida, USA
- Founded
- 2012
- AUM
- Stages
- Thesis
Portfolio companies1
Partners0
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Sources & citations5
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- 1
Robotic Research (later Forterra) raised a $228M Series A (Dec 2021); Luminar Technologies was a strategic investor, its first strategic equity investment. SoftBank Vision Fund 2 led.
BusinessWire: Robotic Research Announces 28 Million Series A Funding Round to Scale Autonomous Technology CommerciallyVerified2021-12-08 - 2
Robotic Research (RRAI) rebranded as Forterra (Feb 2024)
PR Newswire: Driverless Tech Leader RRAI Rebrands as ForterraVerified2024-02-20 - 3
Luminar Technologies is headquartered in Orlando, Florida, and filed for Chapter 11 (Mar 2026 10-K, DIP)
SEC: Luminar Technologies 10-KVerified2026-03-27 - 4
MicroVision agreed to acquire Luminar's lidar assets for $33M (Jan 2026)
MicroVision: MicroVision Announces Agreement to Acquire Luminar Assets to Accelerate Commercial Strategy and Expand Product PortfolioVerified2026-01-27 - 5
MicroVision Form 8-K confirming the Luminar asset purchase agreement signed Jan 26 2026, court-approved Jan 27, closing ~Feb 3 2026; Luminar Semiconductor excluded
SEC: MicroVision Form 8-KVerified2026-01-30