Applied Intuition's $15 Billion Valuation Highlights Unique Industry-Embedded Education Model

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – Applied Intuition, a leading software provider for autonomous vehicles, has recently secured $600 million in Series F funding, propelling its valuation to an impressive $15 billion. This significant financial milestone, more than doubling its $6 billion valuation from just over a year ago, underscores the company's rapid growth and the increasing demand for its specialized AI-powered vehicle intelligence solutions. The success of co-founder Qasar Younis, an alumnus of Kettering University (formerly General Motors Institute, GMI), has reignited discussions about the potential benefits of deeply integrated, industry-specific educational models for major technology firms.

The Series F round was co-led by BlackRock-managed funds and Kleiner Perkins, with new investors including Franklin Templeton and Qatar Investment Authority. This influx of capital is earmarked to accelerate Applied Intuition's development in vehicle intelligence, expand its product offerings, and grow its global team, further solidifying its position in the automotive, trucking, construction, mining, and defense sectors. The company's strategic partnerships, including a recent collaboration with OpenAI, aim to deliver advanced AI-powered automotive experiences.

Qasar Younis's educational journey at Kettering University, known for its distinctive cooperative education program, provides a compelling case study. As noted by social media commentator Deedy, who highlighted Younis's background in a recent tweet, Kettering's model historically involved students taking classes and interning exclusively at General Motors, often leading to subsequent employment within the company. This immersive approach, where students alternate between rigorous academic terms and paid, hands-on work experience with a single corporate partner, is a hallmark of Kettering's century-old legacy.

"The founder of Applied Intuition in this podcast talks about how he went to General Motors Institute (now called Kettering) for his undergrad. They took classes and interned only at GM and usually worked there after. Toyota (TTI) is the only other example I can think of that has this."

This model contrasts sharply with the broader academic landscape, where computer science curricula are often perceived as increasingly detached from industry needs. Deedy's tweet further questions why major technology companies, despite their proprietary internal technology and significant investment in talent acquisition, have not widely adopted similar deep integration educational programs.

"Given the depth of proprietary internal technology BigTech has and how much they pay for talent and recruiting, I wonder why they haven't at least tried something similar. More than just teaching tech, there are decades of fascinating case studies of business, product and strategy locked in the annals of some PRD or design doc which deserve to be taught and studied."

Kettering University's co-op program, which requires undergraduates to complete at least five co-op terms, ensures graduates enter the workforce with substantial practical experience. This integrated learning environment, where students apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings and bring industry best practices back to the classroom, has consistently positioned Kettering graduates for high starting salaries and leadership roles in their respective fields. The success of Applied Intuition, leveraging specialized knowledge in autonomous systems, exemplifies the potent outcome of such focused, industry-aligned education.