Starship Technologies Secures $90 Million to Enhance Autonomous Delivery Services
Starship Technologies, a key player in autonomous delivery services, has successfully raised $90 million in funding for its innovative delivery robots. This investment marks a significant milestone, bringing the company's total funding to $230 million since its founding in 2014. The new capital will support Starship's global expansion and help meet the increasing demand for home deliveries.
Founded in 2014 by CEO Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis in Tallinn, Estonia, and San Francisco, Starship began with a vision inspired by Heinla's background in robotics. Previously, he proposed a design for an autonomous rough-terrain robot intended for NASA's Mars sample retrieval competition. Although the design was not selected, it sparked an idea: using robots for Earth-based deliveries. Heinla and Friis, both alumni of Skype, set out to revolutionize last-mile delivery.
In his statement, CEO Heinla expressed, “Now we’re ready to take on the world with ambitions to build a category-dominating company that can change the daily lives of millions globally.”
In October 2023, Starship Technologies suspended its autonomous food delivery service at Oregon State University due to a bomb scare. Despite this setback, the company has successfully completed over six million deliveries, making its distinctive robots a familiar sight on streets across Europe and the United States. With their efficient and sustainable delivery model, Starship is transforming last-mile logistics by reducing reliance on traditional vehicles and minimizing carbon emissions.
The funding round was led by Plural and Iconical. Taavet Hinrikus, partner at Plural, stated, “This new funding positions Starship for accelerated growth, and we’re excited to support Ahti and the team on their journey to becoming one of Europe’s leading global companies.”
Starship robots are currently operational in 80 locations worldwide, including the U.S., UK, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, and Finland. They deliver a variety of goods, from groceries to documents, while significantly cutting down on carbon emissions associated with traditional delivery methods.
Revolutionizing Last-Mile Delivery
Last-mile delivery presents challenges related to high costs and substantial carbon footprints. Starship Technologies addresses these issues by providing a sustainable, cost-effective delivery solution. The online food delivery market is projected to double by 2030, with an estimated 5.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in Europe alone predicted by 2032. Starship aims to mitigate these environmental concerns.
Each Starship robot operates autonomously for up to 18 hours on a single charge, consuming energy comparable to boiling water for one cup of tea during an average delivery. Since their launch, Starship robots have helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 1.8 million kilograms.
Advancing Autonomous Technology
Starship Technologies has raised $90 million in its latest funding round, which will further develop its AI, technology, and wireless charging capabilities. The company also focuses on expanding into new international markets, specifically advancing its delivery-as-a-service (DaaS) product. This service integrates Starship robots into the delivery infrastructure of its partners.
Top companies like Bolt, Co-Op, Aramark, Sodexo, Chartwells, and Grubhub rely on Starship’s robots to enhance their delivery capabilities, further solidifying Starship's position as a leader in autonomous delivery solutions.
Ranking
