Starship Technologies Secures $17M for Delivery Robot Expansion

Just over a year ago, Starship Technologies operated a few hundred self-driving robots that were providing food deliveries, such as burritos and pizzas, to university students and people living in select residential areas.

The organization – having recently secured $17 million in funding – has increased the number of robots in its service by a factor of five since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic across its European and North American operating areas. Despite the difficulties and disruptions caused by COVID-19, including challenges for Starship Technologies, the business has also seen a rise in requests for its services as eateries transitioned to models focused on takeout and delivery. Starship currently maintains a fleet of 1,000 autonomous delivery robots.

Starship Technologies communicated last year its intention to grow its presence to 100 universities by the late summer of 2021. This represents significant growth compared to the 15 campuses it was serving at the time. Nevertheless, the company is growing across numerous metrics, including the number of service locations, completed deliveries, the size of its robot fleet, and its employee base, which now consists of 400 individuals. The company stated that it is adding new university campuses each month and has a strong schedule for further expansion as academic sessions resume.

The company’s recent $17 million funding round, revealed on Tuesday, included participation from investors TDK Ventures and Goodyear Ventures. This latest investment increases Starship’s total funding to $102 million. Starship did not disclose its current valuation. The company also announced its expansion to UCLA and Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts.

Image Credits: Starship

Founded in 2014 by Skype’s co-founders, Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, Starship Technologies has evolved from a company that completed 5,000 deliveries in 2017 to surpassing 1 million deliveries by January of this year. It has also broadened its service areas beyond college campuses and communities such as Milton Keynes, UK, to include additional towns, like a 5,000-household region in Northampton, UK, and the California cities of Mountain View and Modesto.