Autonomous delivery robot developer Starship Technologies has announced the successful completion of a $90 million funding round, aimed at accelerating the expansion of its micro-logistics service to new territories worldwide.
Founded in 2014 by Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, Starship’s L4 autonomous delivery robots have achieved over six million trips, addressing last-mile delivery challenges by transporting meals, packages, groceries, and important documents.
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Having initially covered five million miles in 30 areas by August 2023, Starship’s robots have now expanded to 80 locations globally, including the US, UK, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, and Finland. The recent funding round, co-led by hedge fund Plural and UK venture capital firm Iconical, brings Starship’s total funding to $250 million over its decade-long existence.
The fresh capital infusion is earmarked for the continued global expansion of autonomous robot delivery operations and meeting the increasing demand for seamless home deliveries.
Starship plans to utilize the funds not only for entering new territories but also for enhancing machine learning capabilities, advancing AI technology, and developing wireless charging infrastructure.
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Starship Technologies CEO Ahti Heinla emphasized the practicality of autonomous delivery, stating, “Autonomous delivery isn’t some science fiction concept from Bladerunner for decades in the future; it’s a reality for hundreds of thousands of people every day.” Heinla highlighted the company’s decade-long journey in perfecting technology, streamlining operations, and reducing costs to make last-mile autonomous delivery viable and sustainable at scale.
Each autonomous delivery robot from Starship can operate for 18 hours on a full charge, navigating various terrains, including snow and rocky surfaces. The startup claims that the average delivery uses an amount of energy equivalent to boiling water for a single cup of tea. Starship’s robots have reportedly displaced nearly 1.8 million kilograms of carbon dioxide to date.
Watch the robots in action in Starship’s video demonstration below.
