Apex.AI is a software company developing safety-certified, developer-friendly middleware for autonomous mobility systems, enabling software-defined vehicles and machines.[1][2][6] Its flagship product, Apex.Grace (formerly Apex.OS), is a certified runtime framework launched in 2020 and commercially certified in 2021, built by enhancing open-source tools like ROS and Eclipse iceoryx with functional safety, real-time performance, and certification support.[1][2] Apex.AI serves automotive OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and mobility firms in sectors like agriculture, defense, and industrial robotics, solving the challenge of deploying reliable, scalable AI software in safety-critical environments while cutting development time.[1][3][4] The company also offers engineering services for architecture, optimization, and certification, trusted by clients like MOIA and Brunswick, with strong growth in adoption for ADAS, autonomous driving, and beyond.[1][4]
Apex.AI was founded in 2017 in Palo Alto, California, by Jan Becker and Dejan Pangercic, both with deep expertise in software engineering and autonomous systems spanning over 20 years.[1][6][7] Becker and Pangercic identified a critical gap: open-source software like ROS excels in prototyping but lacks the safety, certification, and scalability for production mobility applications.[1] They launched Apex.Grace in 2020, achieving commercial certification in 2021, which marked early traction and positioned the company as a bridge from research to deployable systems.[1][2] This origin reflects their hands-on experience bringing autonomous products to market, evolving from a startup focused on middleware to a global provider with services for ROS migrations and safety compliance.[4][6]
Apex.AI rides the software-defined vehicle (SDV) wave, where autonomy demands certified middleware to handle AI-driven features like ADAS and full self-driving amid rising regulatory pressures for safety.[1][2][6] Timing is ideal as OEMs shift from hardware-centric to software-centric mobility, fueled by open-source momentum (e.g., ROS ecosystem) but bottlenecked by certification—market forces like ISO 26262 mandates and SDV projections (trillions in value) favor Apex.AI's pre-certified stack.[3][4] It influences the ecosystem by accelerating ROS-to-production transitions, enabling off-road autonomy in agriculture/construction, and partnering for hybrid solutions (e.g., with SYSGO), democratizing safe AI deployment beyond autos.[2][4]
Apex.AI is poised to expand as SDV adoption surges, with Apex.Grace scaling to more OEM integrations and sectors like defense/agriculture, potentially via deeper ROS 2 synergies and edge AI optimizations.[1][3][4] Trends like mixed-criticality computing, cybersecurity (ISO 21434), and real-time C++ on diverse hardware will shape its path, amplifying influence through services that de-risk migrations.[4] As autonomy matures, expect Apex.AI to evolve from middleware enabler to ecosystem orchestrator, powering the next wave of certified, software-defined mobility and solidifying its role in safe AI industrialization—bridging the gap it was born to fill.
Apex.AI has raised $72.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Apex.AI's investors include Canaan Partners, Momenta Ventures, Sequoia Capital.
Apex.AI has raised $72.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $56.0M Series B in December 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 2021 | $56.0M Series B | Canaan Partners, Momenta Ventures, Sequoia Capital | |
| Nov 1, 2018 | $16.0M Series A | Canaan Partners, Momenta Ventures, Sequoia Capital |
