Wayve, a UK autonomous driving startup, is offering employees $85 million（約140億円） in share-sale opportunities at an $8.5 billion（約1.4兆円） valuation. The tender offer reflects a growing trend among AI startups to provide early liquidity—rewarding and retaining talent before a full exit—while investors bet on future value growth.
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Wayve, a UK self-driving startup, is running an $85 million（約140億円） tender offer allowing employees to sell vested equity to existing and new investors at the company's $8.5 billion（約1.4兆円） valuation set in February. This is the company's second employee liquidity event; it previously held a tender alongside its $1.05 billion（約1700億円） Series C in May 2024.
Why it matters
Tender offers have become a retention tool for AI startups, letting employees access liquidity before an eventual exit—reducing the incentive to jump to competitors or start their own ventures. Other recent examples include Decagon, ElevenLabs, Linear, and Clay, all of which have run similar offers. Investors are willing to buy at premium valuations, betting these high-growth businesses will be worth more.
What to watch
Wayve is targeting robotaxi pilot launches with Uber later this year and plans to integrate its AI software into Nissan's next-generation driver-assist systems starting in 2027. The company has more than doubled its headcount to 1,200 employees over the past year.
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