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Autobon
Techstars '18Plug and Play VenturesChicago, US · Founded 2016 · 3 employees on LinkedIn · 2 known investors
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Autobon is a Chicago-based company developing advanced driver assistance technology for the commercial trucking sector. Its system functions as a virtual co-pilot, providing driving support to operators of freight and other commercial vehicles.
Also known as Autobon AI
Founders & leadership
Investors · 2
How we know: open dataset · Top 3000 Accelerator Startups (no YC) 2026-08 · plugandplaytechcenter.com · Not right? Tell us
How we know: the Techstars portfolio · open dataset · Top 3000 Accelerator Startups (no YC) 2026-08 · Not right? Tell us
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$1.3M disclosed across 5 rounds · 2016–2020
▶$50KraisedAug 2021 · 1 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Krystian GebisExecutive Officer, Director
- Robert GebisExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $50K
- Amount sold
- $50K
- First sale
- Jul 2020
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Illinois, 2016
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$30KraisedJul 2021 · 2 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Robert GebisExecutive Officer, Director
- Krystian GebisExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $30K
- Amount sold
- $30K
- First sale
- Jan 2019
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Illinois, 2016
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$565.7KraisedJul 2021 · 4 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Robert GebisExecutive Officer, Director
- Krystian GebisExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $565.7K
- Amount sold
- $565.7K
- First sale
- Apr 2019
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Illinois, 2016
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$425KraisedJul 2021 · 4 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Robert GebisExecutive Officer, Director
- Krystian GebisExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $425K
- Amount sold
- $425K
- First sale
- Jul 2016
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Illinois, 2016
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$265KraisedNov 2019 · 7 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Krystian GebisExecutive Officer, Director
- Robert GebisExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $500K
- Amount sold
- $265K
- Minimum investment
- $1
- First sale
- Oct 2019
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Illinois, 2016
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Company profile
researched Sep 2026Autobon (also referred to as Autobon AI) is an Illinois-based technology company working on partially automated driving systems for commercial semi-trucks. Its technology is designed to let a truck steer and brake on its own while a human driver remains behind the wheel, positioning the system as an assistance layer for professional freight drivers rather than a fully driverless replacement.
The company developed and validated the system through closed-course testing at the Chicagoland Speedway track in Joliet, Illinois, before moving to public highway operation on the Jane Addams Tollway under an arrangement with the Illinois Tollway. Company leadership has publicly framed the technology around efficiency gains and safety benefits for truck drivers.
Founding story
Krystian Gebis, a University of Illinois at Chicago graduate, co-founded the company and has described his decision to bring self-driving semi-truck technology to Chicago.
Latest developments
In late 2019, Autobon moved from closed-track testing to running its truck in regular traffic on the Jane Addams Tollway, with a safety driver present at all times.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography
Market position
Autobon operates in the emerging partially autonomous vehicle segment, where freight is expected to be among the earliest adopters of automation, in part because trucking companies have been unable to fill enough driver jobs, according to the University of Illinois at Chicago's Urban Transportation Center.
Technology
Autobon's system enables a semi-truck to handle steering and braking autonomously while a human operator supervises from the driver's seat. The capability was tested over a period of months on a closed track before being exercised in mixed traffic on a public tollway.
Go-to-market
Commercial freight trucking operators and their drivers.
Geography
Operations centered in the Chicago area of Illinois, including a company location in Lisle and testing at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet and on the Jane Addams Tollway.
Compiled by commissioned research from 3 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 1
launches, deals, and filingsAfter months of testing steering and braking capabilities at the Chicagoland Speedway track in Joliet, Autobon began operating its truck in regular traffic on the Jane Addams Tollway with the Illinois Tollway's permission and cooperation, with a driver behind the wheel at all times.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 3
primary sources listed
- Autobon AI Founder explains autopilot efficiency, safety benefits for truck drivers | WGN Radio 720 - Chicago's Very Ownwgnradio.com · web
3 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Autobon do?
- Autobon develops advanced driver-assistance technology that adds automated steering and braking to commercial trucks.
- Who are Autobon's investors?
- Autobon's investors include Plug and Play Ventures, Techstars.
- How much funding has Autobon raised?
- Autobon has disclosed $1.3M raised across 5 rounds.
- Where is Autobon headquartered?
- Autobon is headquartered in Chicago, US.