Starship Technologies Raises $90M After Completing 6 Million Deliveries

Introduction to Starship Technologies and Recent Funding

Starship Technologies, a leader in autonomous delivery robotics, has successfully raised $90 million in a funding round. This latest investment round was co-led by Plural and Iconical. Notably, Starship Technologies was co-founded by Janus Friis, who is also a co-founder of Skype and is backed by Iconical. This new funding boosts the total amount raised by Starship to $230 million.

Company Origins and Achievements

Founded in 2014 by Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, Starship Technologies has made significant strides in the field of autonomous deliveries. Their robots, which operate at Level 4 autonomy (very close to being fully autonomous), have collectively traveled 11 million miles and made 6 million deliveries across various neighborhoods and campuses in about 80 locations in the U.S. and Europe. These deliveries include a range of items such as meals, packages, groceries, and important documents. The company has partnered with businesses like Bolt, Co-Op, and food service companies like Aramark, Sodexo, Chartwells, and Grubhub.

Future Plans and Investment in Technology

The company plans to use the newly acquired funds for further geographic expansion. Additionally, they are set to launch a new robot manufacturing scheme with an as-yet unannounced partner, aimed at producing their vehicles more efficiently. The company will also continue investing in its software and logistics services. The robots, known for their efficiency, can operate for 18 hours on a single charge and are now getting upgraded to charge wirelessly.

Comparative Industry Success

The success of Starship Technologies is notable in a space where other companies have faced challenges. For instance, high-profile sidewalk delivery robot efforts from companies like FedEx and Amazon have been discontinued, and other businesses in this domain have encountered various issues.

Standing Out in the Autonomous Delivery Space

Overall, Starship Technologies stands out in the autonomous delivery space for its progress and resilience in the face of industry challenges. Their approach to solving last-mile delivery issues with their technology is gaining traction and recognition, as evidenced by their successful fundraising and expanding operations.