Starship Technologies
Starship Technologies offers autonomous robot food delivery services and has completed over 6 million deliveries globally since its launch in 2014 by Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis.
Services
Starship Technologies provides autonomous robot food delivery services. The company uses a food delivery mobile app and integrates directly with retail and restaurant partners. Their robots make food and package deliveries more efficient, convenient, and sustainable. Delivery by Starship is a delivery-as-a-service solution for partners, enabling stores and restaurants to offer cost-efficient and energy-efficient last mile deliveries.
Founders
Starship Technologies was launched in 2014 by Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis. The duo aimed to revolutionize last mile delivery with their autonomous robots, leveraging their expertise and experience from their prior venture.
History
Since its inception in 2014, Starship Technologies has pioneered autonomous delivery. The company completed the world’s first commercial L4 autonomous driving in cities in March 2018. Over the years, Starship has raised substantial funding, including $17.2 million in January 2017, $25 million in June 2018, $40 million in August 2019, $17 million in January 2021, €50 million from the European Investment Bank in January 2022, and $100 million in March 2022. The company has also announced significant partnerships with Grubhub in October 2022 and Bolt in June 2023.
Technology and Innovation
Starship Technologies' robots are equipped with a suite of sensors and 12 cameras to enable navigation and obstacle avoidance. The robots are GPS tracked to the nearest inch and have a lockable lid that can only be opened by the customer at the delivery destination. Their travel speed is approximately 4 mph, akin to a fast pedestrian's walking speed. Additionally, Starship installed Europe's first wireless charging station for delivery robots in March 2024.
Global Presence
Starship Technologies operates in over 60 locations globally, including the USA, UK, Finland, and Estonia. The company boasts engineering offices in Estonia and Helsinki, and a presence in the UK, including London and Milton Keynes. Thousands of Starship delivery robots are in operation daily worldwide, completing over 6 million autonomous deliveries.