SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Global automotive supplier DENSO is making its director of Corporate Ventures, Tony Cannestra, available to meet with early-stage technology startups at the 2017 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. DENSO is in Booth #5431 in North Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

In the past two years, DENSO has invested in five technology startups to advance efforts in autonomous driving, connected vehicles, human machine interface (HMI), and artificial intelligence. DENSO is aggressively looking to invest in new partner companies working on technologies that benefit the automotive industry and ultimately, society as a whole.

"By continuing to build on our significant achievements in safety, autonomous drive systems, environmental technologies, and augmented reality, we are making great progress toward a smarter, safer and more convenient world," said Cannestra.

Cannestra will be available for 20-minute meetings at the DENSO booth from 12 – 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6. DENSO wants to talk with companies that focus on: autonomous driving, connected vehicle, auto cyber security, Internet of Things, industrial robotics and mobility as a service. Companies that meet DENSO's criteria will have the opportunity to pitch their products and technologies as well as seek insight from Cannestra based on his years of experience as a venture capitalist. Startups should plan on a brief, casual conversation and bring background on their company to explain their technologies.  To see if you meet the criteria and to schedule an appointment with Cannestra, please visit this site http://www.densocorp-na.com/CESstartups/

Examples of recent DENSO investments include ThinCI, a vision processing startup developing innovative deep learning technology; Trilumina, a semiconductor laser startup, and Peloton Technology, a connected and automated vehicle technology company dedicated to improving the safety and efficiency of the U.S. trucking industry and other global automotive markets.

About DENSO in North America
DENSO is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components in the areas of thermal, powertrain control, electronics and information and safety. With its North American headquarters located in Southfield, Michigan, DENSO employs more than 23,000 people at 30 consolidated companies and affiliates across the North American region. Of these, 28 are manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In the United States alone, DENSO employs more than 15,000 people in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Iowa, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. DENSO's North American consolidated sales totaled US$9.9 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016. For more information, go to www.densocorp-na.com. Connect with DENSO on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DENSOinNorthAmerica.

DENSO Worldwide
DENSO Corp., headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan has more than 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 38 countries and regions (including Japan) and employs more than 150,000 people worldwide. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, totaled US$40.2 billion. Last fiscal year, DENSO spent 8.8 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo and Nagoya stock exchanges. For more information, go to www.denso.com, or visit our media website at www.denso.com/global/en/news/media-center/  

SOURCE DENSO Corporation