Luminar is a Lidar company founded by Austin Russell. ^[1]

Austin Russell set a 200 meter target to hit before publicly debuting the startup, since 200 meters is longer than most Lidar systems for self-driving cars can see. Seeing dark black objects reliably at that distance is even harder. ^[1]

During a press demonstration at the pier, Russell and Eichenholz's system zoomed in on the black billboard in the distance.

The Lidar was even able to pick up the pigeon walking in the middle of the fake deer on the floor, nearly 100 meters away from the car.

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The company raised $36 million from venture capitalists including GVA Capital, Canvas Ventures, and the 1517 Fund, a venture firm backed by Thiel.

With the money, Russell acquired one of Luminar's suppliers to lock up its supply chain from competitors, He also brought on Eichenholz's previous company, Open Photonics, and named him cofounder and CTO.

^[1]

While Russell oversees the company's Silicon Valley office, a converted tank repair facility in Portola Valley, the majority of the company's 150 employees are based in its Orlando, Florida office, which contains both R&D headquarters and 50,000 square foot manufacturing facility.

^[1]