Starship Technologies, a Tallinn-based company, has successfully raised €83.6 million in funding to further expand its robot delivery services. The funding round was co-led by Plural and Iconical and brings Starship’s total funding to €213.7 million since its establishment in 2014. The company plans to utilize the new investment to meet the growing demand for home deliveries and expand globally.
With its innovative AI-powered delivery robots, Starship Technologies has revolutionized last-mile delivery across Europe and the US. The company has already made over six million deliveries, with its robots efficiently transporting a variety of items, including takeaways, groceries, tools, and even corporate documents. Starship’s robots operate in 80 locations worldwide, including the UK, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, and the US.
The recent funding will allow Starship to further develop its AI technology, leveraging advancements in machine learning to enhance its delivery infrastructure. The company aims to integrate its robots into the delivery systems of its partners through its Delivery as a Service (DaaS) product. This expansion into more international markets will help Starship meet the rising demand for convenient, autonomous deliveries.
Starship’s CEO, Ahti Heinla, emphasized the significance of their achievements, stating that autonomous delivery is already a reality for hundreds of thousands of people. Heinla also highlighted the company’s commitment to perfecting the technology and streamlining operations to create a sustainable and viable last-mile autonomous delivery system at scale. Starship envisions becoming a dominating force, transforming the daily lives of millions worldwide.
The efficiency and sustainability of Starship’s delivery robots have been key drivers of their success. Each robot can operate for 18 hours on a single charge and consumes minimal energy comparable to boiling a single cup of tea. By utilizing robots instead of humans, Starship has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 1.8 million kilograms. Additionally, the company has established an ethical and sustainable business model that boasts an impressive client list including Bolt, Co-Op, Grubhub, and Sodexo.
Investor Taavet Hinrikus of Plural expressed excitement about Starship’s technological advancements and their commitment to reducing the impact of last-mile and on-demand delivery. Hinrikus described Starship as a global leader in autonomous technology and praised the company’s efforts in driving sustainable logistics.
Over the past decade, Starship has built a world-class team comprised of engineers, data scientists, designers, and operations specialists. Operating from their offices in Tallinn, Estonia, San Francisco, and various locations across the UK, US, Denmark, Finland, and Germany, the team has been at the forefront of developing autonomous logistics solutions.
Starship continues to evolve its technology, demonstrating its commitment to innovation. Recently, the company introduced groundbreaking wireless charging for its robots at George Mason University in the US. This world-first feature allows the robots to recharge autonomously and wirelessly between deliveries. Starship plans to expand the wireless charging infrastructure globally in the coming months, enhancing the efficiencies of last-mile deliveries and paving the way for a fully autonomous deployment on a larger scale.
As Starship Technologies secures substantial funding and advances its delivery robot capabilities, it is poised for rapid growth. The company’s ambition to dominate the autonomous delivery market is within reach thanks to its decade-long dedication to perfecting their technology and reducing costs. Starship is poised to bring about tangible changes in the daily lives of people worldwide, making autonomous delivery a common occurrence rather than a futuristic concept.
