Overview
Applied Intuition is a leading 'physical AI' software company that provides the development, testing and deployment infrastructure behind autonomous vehicles and machines. Founded in 2017 by former Y Combinator COO Qasar Younis and Peter Ludwig, the company offers simulation, sensor and scenario modeling, data management, validation toolchains and an embedded vehicle operating system used across automotive, trucking, defense, mining, construction and agriculture.
Customers and Scale
Applied Intuition works with most of the world's largest automakers, including Toyota, Porsche, Volkswagen and Nissan, as well as defense and off-road equipment manufacturers like Komatsu. The company has grown to roughly a thousand employees and reached a $15 billion valuation in its 2025 Series F, backed by BlackRock-managed funds and Kleiner Perkins.
Why It Matters
Safely shipping autonomy requires running billions of simulated miles and rigorous validation before real-world deployment. Applied Intuition has become foundational tooling for that process, positioning it as the software backbone for the broader shift toward physical AI across vehicles, defense and industrial machines.