Roundabout Technologies

What Roundabout Technologies does

Roundabout Technologies is a San Francisco-based, Y Combinator-backed startup founded in 2024 that builds AI-powered traffic signal software for municipal intersections. The system mounts cameras at intersections, constructs a real-time 3D map of all road users (vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, buses, and emergency vehicles) updating ten times per second, and uses a learned decision-making model to issue optimized signal-timing commands to existing traffic controllers without requiring hardware replacement. Safety features include dynamic green-phase extensions for pedestrians, all-red extensions for cyclists, dilemma-zone protection via vehicle position and approach-velocity tracking, and predictive red-light-running response; congestion features include per-intersection optimization and corridor harmonization.

The company targets city and town transportation authorities through a B2G field-sales motion, with the Town of San Anselmo (California) as its first deployment customer, funded by a Transportation Authority of Marin grant and reporting a 30%+ reduction in peak-hour wait times. The revenue model is described as subscription/recurring with quote-based enterprise pricing (no public price list), and the go-to-market leverages earned media in transportation and government outlets, a free searchable MUTCD tool, and NVIDIA Inception Program membership. The team is small (5 named members) with deep computer-vision and autonomy pedigree from Waymo, Zoox, Applied Intuition, Aurora Solar, Google, Verily, and NXP.

Roundabout has disclosed one funding round of $500,000 (December 2024) led by Y Combinator with participation from Unpopular Ventures; no further capital, contract values, or revenue figures have been publicly disclosed. The company is private, founder-led by CEO Collin Barnwell and CTO Sabeek Pradhan, and is in early commercialization following its first municipal pilot.

Name

Roundabout Technologies

Legal name

Roundabout Technologies

Website

https://roundabout.tech

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Roundabout Technologies builds AI-powered traffic signal software that uses computer vision to optimize signal timing at municipal intersections in real time, serving city and town transportation authorities through a B2G subscription model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intelligent Transportation Systems

NAICS

Other Support Activities for Road Transportation (488490)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Traffic Analytics, Prediction & Decision Support (AI/Optimization) (TLAJACAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Autonomous Driving & ADAS Perception (HDAAAEAI)

Keywords

• AI traffic signals
• Intelligent transportation systems
• Computer vision traffic
• Smart intersection control
• Traffic signal optimization

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Traffic Signal AI Systems: AI-powered traffic signal systems deployed at municipal intersections, likely through government contracts or infrastructure modernization programs

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Roundabout Technologies builds AI software for traffic signals: cameras at intersections build a real-time, comprehensive 3D map of all road users (vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, buses, emergency vehicles) updating 10 times per second, and an AI engine makes optimal signal change decisions for safety and traffic flow that are communicated to existing traffic signal controllers. The platform is sold to municipal and government transportation authorities and is offered with safety features (pedestrian/cyclist protection, dilemma-zone avoidance, red-light-running and speeding response) and congestion-reduction capabilities (intersection optimization, corridor harmonization, gridlock mitigation).

Product overview

Roundabout Technologies offers a core AI-powered traffic signal platform that combines real-time computer vision with autonomous AI decision-making. The system uses cameras to detect vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, buses, and emergency vehicles at 10Hz, creating a comprehensive world model that optimizes both safety and traffic flow. The platform is offered alongside sub-products for specific safety features (pedestrian protection, cyclist protection, dilemma zone avoidance, speeding response) and congestion reduction capabilities (intersection optimization, corridor harmonization, gridlock prevention). The company also provides a free public resource: a searchable, deep-linkable copy of the MUTCD federal traffic control device standards with multiple state editions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Roundabout AI-Powered Traffic Signal System AI-powered traffic signal software for municipal transportation authorities. Cameras at intersections build a real-time, updating 10 times per second, 3D map of all road users (vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, buses, emergency vehicles), and an AI engine ("Roundabout Brain") computes optimal signal change decisions for safety and traffic flow that are communicated to the customer's existing traffic signal controllers without requiring hardware replacement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30%+ reduction in traffic wait times during peak hours

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• TAM (Transportation Authority of Marin)coreOthers · 15 October 2025TAM provided the grant funding for San Anselmo's AI traffic signal implementation. This is a public agency providing infrastructure funding.
• Town of San AnselmocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2025San Anselmo implemented Roundabout's AI technology at its Hub intersection and all other traffic lights. The town is the first deployment customer and case study demonstrating 30%+ wait time reduction.
• NVIDIA Inception ProgramsupportingTechnology or IntegrationMember of NVIDIA Inception Program, which supports AI and deep learning startups with technology resources and ecosystem support.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Applied Information: Applied Information sells connected vehicle and smart traffic signal systems to municipalities and state DOTs, including AI-enhanced traffic controllers and emergency vehicle preemption. It overlaps with Roundabout's intersection safety and signal control features.
• Miovision: Miovision provides computer-vision-based traffic data collection and signal optimization for municipalities. While broader in scope (data + signals), it directly overlaps with Roundabout's CV-based intersection intelligence and serves the same municipal buyer.
• Surtrac (Rapid Flow AI): Surtrac, commercialized by Rapid Flow AI, is an AI-based adaptive traffic signal control system originally developed at Carnegie Mellon. It directly competes with Roundabout in selling adaptive signal control to municipalities using real-time sensing and optimization.
• NoTraffic: NoTraffic is the most directly comparable peer: an AI traffic management platform that uses computer vision and edge computing to optimize signal timing at intersections for municipalities. Operates in the same B2G sales motion with similar safety and congestion features and serves as the closest head-to-head competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Q-Free ASA: Q-Free is a Norwegian ITS provider offering adaptive signal control, traffic management, and connected vehicle solutions. It serves similar municipal transportation authorities as Roundabout with a broader portfolio.
• SWARCO: SWARCO is a large European traffic systems provider offering signals, V2X, and urban traffic management software. It serves the same municipal buyers as Roundabout but with a much broader hardware-software portfolio.
• Yunex Traffic: Yunex Traffic (formerly Siemens ITS) is a major global provider of traffic management hardware, software, and adaptive signal control. It competes broadly in the same municipal RFPs but as a full-portfolio incumbent rather than a focused AI startup.
• Kapsch TrafficCom: Kapsch TrafficCom provides intelligent transportation systems including tolling, traffic management, and connected vehicle solutions to public agencies globally. Overlaps with Roundabout in urban traffic management but at much larger scale.
• Iteris: Iteris provides smart mobility infrastructure management, including traffic signal coordination and CV-based intersection analytics, primarily to US state DOTs and municipalities. It directly overlaps with Roundabout's CV-driven signal optimization offering.
• Cubic Transportation Systems: Cubic provides traffic management and intelligent transportation systems to public agencies worldwide. It overlaps with Roundabout's urban traffic optimization use cases but operates as a large, diversified incumbent rather than a focused AI player.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aitrafficlights

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Roundabout Technologies