Travis Kalanick kicks off another round of VC bashing: ‘1% are helpful’

Travis Kalanick says he has been reflecting on the role investors have played in his career after raising $1.7 billion for Atoms, his new robotics company. He renewed criticism of VCs, arguing that only a small fraction are genuinely helpful to founders.

Kalanick’s comments highlight a growing founder backlash against traditional venture capital dynamics, even as major startups still rely on large funding rounds. The remarks also signal continued investor appetite for robotics despite tensions over how much strategic value VCs actually provide.