Today, Estonian delivery robot company, Starship Technologies, has reached a substantial achievement by securing a remarkable $90 million in funding. This investment is the result of a collaboration between Plural and Iconical, demonstrating strong support for the company’s innovative approach to last-mile delivery.
Established in 2014, Starship’s delivery robots have become a common sight on streets across Europe and the US. The company has positioned itself as the leading autonomous delivery service globally, with over six million deliveries completed and a significant transformation in the last-mile delivery industry.
Operating in 80 locations across the world, including the US, UK, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, and Finland, Starship’s delivery robots have revolutionized the transportation of goods. The robots are designed to use less energy than traditional delivery methods, making them highly efficient in the delivery of takeaways, grocery orders, tools, and corporate documents.
One of the key advantages of the delivery robots is their ability to travel over 11 million miles and complete more than six million autonomous deliveries worldwide. Founded by Janus Friis, co-founder of Skype, and Ahti Heinla, Skype’s chief architect who also serves as the CEO, Starship has made considerable strides in addressing the challenges posed by last-mile and on-demand delivery.
Last-mile delivery has long been a costly and environmentally impactful aspect of the supply chain, prompting Starship to develop a more sustainable and cost-effective solution. The company’s delivery robots can operate for 18 hours on a full charge, with each delivery requiring the same amount of energy as boiling a kettle for a single cup of tea. This has enabled Starship to reduce nearly 1.8 million kg of carbon dioxide emissions since its inception.
The use of autonomous robots, as opposed to human delivery services, has also set a new standard for ethical and sustainable business practices. Starship’s approach has led to partnerships with prominent organizations, including Bolt, Co-Op, Grubhub, and Sodexo.
The effectiveness of the robots is evident in their 99 percent autonomy, allowing them to navigate challenging environments and handle obstacles with ease. In addition, the introduction of wireless charging at George Mason University in the US has propelled Starship’s robots to a new level of efficiency, with plans to expand this technology globally in the near future.
Starship’s success can be attributed to its world-class team, comprised of skilled engineers, data scientists, designers, and operations specialists. With a headquarters in Tallinn, Estonia, and global offices in San Francisco, the company is well-positioned for further expansion in the coming years.
Ahti Heinla, Co-founder and CEO of Starship Technologies, expressed confidence in the company’s ability to make a meaningful impact on a global scale, 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.”
The $90 million investment represents a significant milestone for Starship, bringing the total raised by the company to $230 million. This funding will be instrumental in advancing the company’s AI and machine learning capabilities and expanding its presence in international markets, particularly through its Delivery as a Service (DaaS) product.
The future looks promising for Starship Technologies, and with the unwavering support of its investors and partners, the company is poised to revolutionize the last-mile delivery industry on a global scale.
+ There are no comments
Add yours