Wayve, the UK-based self-driving tech startup, has rolled out an $85 million employee tender offer at its latest valuation of $8.5 billion. This move is part of Wayve’s strategy to provide liquidity to employees while maintaining their loyalty.

The tender offer comes as a growing trend among AI startups, which are increasingly using such financial mechanisms to retain talent instead of waiting for an uncertain exit. Other companies that have followed suit include Decagon and ElevenLabs, showcasing the increasing reliance on structured equity sales within tech firms.

Wayve’s self-learning approach in autonomous driving stands out—its software learns from data like a human driver would, rather than relying on pre-built maps. The company has doubled its headcount to 1,200 employees over the past year as it aims for both robotaxi pilots and integration with Nissan’s systems.

This liquidity event is more about retaining talent and aligning employee interests with those of investors, rather than an immediate exit strategy. It signals a new era where tech companies are increasingly using financial mechanisms to keep their best assets in the company for longer.