Why We Invested in Netradyne

Hitting the Trifecta with Netradyne

It’s exceptionally rare to find the perfect combination of founder trust, a large market opportunity, and the ability to invest across funds. We at Touring Capital hit the trifecta with Netradyne and are proud to share our investment in the AI-powered fleet safety leader transforming commercial transportation. This investment strengthens a decades-long partnership built on mutual respect and marks the third investment from Nagraj Kashyap in the company.

The transportation and logistics industries face increasing pressure to improve driver safety, optimize fleet performance, and mitigate risk as fleet drivers face high risks on the road on a daily basis. According to recent industry statistics, approximately one accident occurs for every nine commercial drivers annually (FMCSA, 2021). Additionally, the financial impact of these accidents has escalated significantly in recent years. A 2024 report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) highlights that the average cost of a large-truck crash is estimated at $120,000. For crashes involving tractor-trailers, costs rise sharply, averaging $382,000. When fatalities are involved, the average cost skyrockets to $4.8 million or more (FMCSA, 2024). These figures emphasize the critical need for businesses to address the risks associated with commercial vehicle operations. Beyond the devastating human toll, the financial consequences can be overwhelming, underscoring the importance of proactive safety measures. Implementing comprehensive safety programs is essential to reducing accident rates, protecting drivers, and safeguarding company assets.

Research has long confirmed the value of positive reinforcement. For fleet managers to effectively reward safe driving and encourage its continuation, they require a video safety system that captures these positive behaviors in real-time. Recognizing and acknowledging what drivers do well is the critical first step toward cultivating a robust safety culture. This recognition then lays the groundwork for more targeted coaching, customized training, and ultimately, improved overall safety performance.

Netradyne is tackling this challenge head-on with its platform, an AI-powered Video Telematics Platform that provides real-time insights, automated coaching, and proactive risk mitigation. By leveraging computer vision and deep learning, Netradyne delivers unparalleled visibility into driver behavior, reducing accidents, and enhancing fleet efficiency.

The results speak for themselves: fleets utilizing Netradyne’s AI-driven solutions report significant reductions in accident rates, lower insurance costs, increased driver productivity, and improved operational efficiency. It’s a game-changer for the industry, and we’re excited to be part of their journey.

We first met Avneesh Agrawal, Netradyne’s CEO, at Qualcomm, where he was Senior Vice President of Technology and led Qualcomm Research, and worked directly with Nagraj when Nagraj led Qualcomm Ventures. Nagraj built up Qualcomm Ventures into a 30 person, global investment team spanning seven regions while Avneesh transitioned to a business role to lead Qualcomm’s Wireless Connectivity Business and eventually rose to become President of Qualcomm India. After Avneesh left Qualcomm, Nagraj and Avneesh stayed close and iterated on the eventual business model for Netradyne. Nagraj went on to start M12 (Microsoft’s venture arm), and took the opportunity to lead Netradyne’s Series B in 2018. Nearly three years later, while Nagraj led Software for SoftBank Vision Fund II, their paths crossed again, this time with SoftBank’s Vision Fund II leading the company’s Series C. As Touring Capital’s co-founder and general partner, Nagraj had firsthand experience working with Avneesh and deeply respected his technical and business expertise. When the opportunity arose to invest in him again, we didn’t hesitate.

Moreover, Netradyne’s strategic evolution from a hardware-focused business to a scalable SaaS model aligns with our belief of investing in companies that leverage data moats and AI to create enduring value. Their ability to expand their TAM while maintaining their core mission of safety made this an easy decision for us.

Nagraj Kashyap, co-founder and general partner at Touring Capital, shared his perspective: “Backing Netradyne for a third time is a testament to my deep belief in Avneesh and his vision. Having known and worked with Avneesh since our days at Qualcomm, I’ve seen firsthand his ability to build transformational businesses. Netradyne has consistently pushed the boundaries of AI and computer vision to make commercial transportation safer, and I have no doubt they will continue to lead this industry.”

As AI continues to reshape industries, we believe Netradyne is at the forefront of an era where intelligent fleet management is not just a competitive advantage, but a necessity.

Priya Saiprasad

Co-Founder and General Partner

San Francisco, CA

Priya is a General Partner at Touring Capital.

Priya co-founded Touring after 13 years in venture capital, M&A and enterprise technology. She was most recently a Partner at SoftBank Vision Fund, where she led investments into category-defining software companies including Pixis, Vendr, Observe.ai, CommerceIQ, Sendoso and Skedulo. Previously, Priya was at Mayfield Fund focused on early-growth investments, and a founding member of M12 (Microsoft’s Venture Fund), where she led investments in Go1, Workboard, PandaDoc, Element AI (acquired by ServiceNow), and Bonsai (acquired by Microsoft). Prior to that, she was a Deal Lead in Square’s M&A team leading acquisitions at the intersection of software and machine learning.

Priya was recognized by Forbes in 2018 as part of their 30 under 30 in Venture Capital list. She is actively involved with All Raise, Neythri, and several prominent Women in Tech associations. Priya holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.

As a kid, Priya moved across 12 different countries before she turned 12 and has since developed a deep appreciation for entrepreneurs who are scrappy, highly adaptable, and voracious learners. In her free time, Priya is a passionate foodie with a penchant for sushi, a reformer Pilates instructor (to combat all the eating), and a proud mom of Gandalf, Katniss & Jax, two furry felines and a quick-witted pup!

Carol Yi

Business Manager, Founding Member

San Francisco, CA

Carol is Business Manager at Touring Capital, where she manages team operations and supports the fund’s general partners.

Prior to joining Touring, she spent 15 years at Microsoft and SoftBank Vision Fund, supporting various business functions and senior executives spanning Engineering, Marketing, Communications, and Venture Capital. Carol is a graduate of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies.

Originally from Guangzhou, China, Carol is fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

Outside of Touring, Carol enjoys traveling and exploring different cultures. She is a yoga enthusiast, a self-proclaimed Asian food expert and a tea lover.

Lee Feldman

Operating Partner, Founding Member

Miami, FL

Lee is an Operating Partner at Touring Capital, where he leads platform and operational efforts.

Lee joined Touring after spending his career in various technology operating and strategy roles. Prior to Touring, Lee led the thesis-driven investment strategies in emerging technology areas for M12 (Microsoft’s Venture Fund), including autonomous systems, national security technology, MLOps, gaming infrastructure and blockchain. Lee also built a machine learning tool for the fund to bolster data-driven sourcing and diligence strategies. Prior to M12, Lee led strategic initiatives for Corporate Strategy, Core Services Engineering and Operations, and was on the Corporate Strategy & Development team at Microsoft where he developed go-to-market and M&A strategies. Lee is a graduate of University of Michigan where he studied Economics and Entrepreneurship.

In his free time, Lee enjoys spending as much time as he can outdoors, especially with his Husky-Poodle named Uni, and tinkering with tech-enabled human performance. He’s an avid skier, golfer and aspiring tennis player. Lee is also involved in non-profit work, including as an Executive Board Member of Globally.Org, a public-policy organization with a mission to build communities of impact that solve global challenges

Evan Wijaya

Principal, Founding Member

San Francisco, CA

Evan is a Principal at Touring Capital, where he focuses on global software investing.

Prior to Touring, Evan was at SoftBank Vision Fund, where he primarily focused on growth-stage software investing. At SoftBank, Evan invested in companies including Pixis, CommerceIQ, Go1, Fountain, Cloudbeds, Observe.ai, Standard AI, Blockdaemon, Vuori, and Picsart. Before SoftBank, Evan worked in growth equity and investment banking at The Raine Group, a global TMT-focused merchant bank; at Raine, Evan’s investments included Foursquare, Voi Technology, and Robin.io (acq. Rakuten). Evan is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Outside of Touring, Evan enjoys surfing around California (although he much prefers the warmer waters of his native Indonesia) and searching for the best street food around the world. Evan spent many of his younger days on the rugby pitch and remains a massive rugby fan.

Samir Kumar

Co-Founder & General Partner

Menlo Park, CA

Samir is a General Partner at Touring Capital.

Before co-founding Touring, Samir was a Managing Partner at M12 (Microsoft’s Venture Fund), where he led investment activities in horizontal / vertical AI, deep tech, and hardware-enabled software companies. Samir’s notable investments include Applied Intuition, Psi Quantum, Wandelbots, Syntiant, D-Matrix, Regrow, and Netradyne. Samir previously held senior product and strategic business development roles at Qualcomm, Samsung, and Microsoft. He developed a strong passion for AI after delving deep into neural networks a decade ago; this ultimately paved his path to becoming a venture investor. Samir is a graduate of Cornell University.

Born in New Delhi and raised in New York, Samir has been inspired throughout his life by the future envisioned in Star Trek. This has been a driving force in shaping his technologist perspective throughout his career, both as an operator and a venture capitalist. At Touring, Samir is excited to partner with entrepreneurs building companies with a strong technical vision and potential to reshape our future.

When not with founders or reading up on the latest research trends in AI and the sciences, Samir enjoys his deep love for electronic music, which he can already see is shared by his 17-month-old daughter! Samir also dabbles in flight simulation and amateur astronomy.

Nagraj Kashyap

Co-Founder & General Partner

San Francisco, CA

Nagraj is a General Partner at Touring Capital.

Nagraj co-founded Touring after a 20+ year career in venture capital. Nagraj previously founded and served as Global Head at M12 (Microsoft’s Venture Fund), was a founding partner and Global Head of Qualcomm Ventures, and most recently a Managing Partner at SoftBank Vision Fund. Nagraj’s notable investments include Zoom, Outreach, Livongo, Kahoot!, Waze, Fitbit, Airvana, Loggi, and Innovaccer. Nagraj is a graduate of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the University of Texas, Austin.

Originally from New Delhi, Nagraj is an accidental venture capitalist who has still yet to receive formal training. Nagraj initially began his career as a software engineer, product manager, and management consultant before landing in venture capital in 2003. At Touring, Nagraj looks to partner with entrepreneurs who are highly adaptable, deeply people-oriented and product-obsessed.

Nagraj is active in the academic community, serving on the Advisory Council of the University of Texas Department of Computer Science and the Dean’s Advisory Board at SDSU Fowler College of Business. Nagraj was also formerly a board member of the National Venture Capital Association. In his free time, Nagraj enjoys meticulously planning family vacations (the most recent of which was a three-week long biking trip in the Balearic Islands), road biking, and studying political history.