Starship Technologies “prospers”: Company developing small self-driving delivery robots raises €14M

During the coronavirus pandemic, contactless delivery proved to be incredibly beneficial. It helped us receive our goods whilst staying safe and socially distant. This is where Estonia-born Starship Technologies has made its mark. 

Raises funding

The company providing autonomous delivery services has raised $17M (approx €14M) in a fresh round of funding from Goodyear Ventures – a Goodyear’s venture capital arm and TDK Ventures.

Prior to this, in August 2019, the company had last raised $40M (approx €33M) in funding. And this new investment brings Starship’s total funding to $102M (approx €84.2M) to date.

Launches service in 2 campuses

The company has also announced that it has added its services to two new campuses including the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Bridgewater State University (Massachusetts) in the US.

In UCLA campus, which is considered one of the top public schools in the US, the company delivers from restaurants including Blaze Pizza, Bruin Buzz, Lu Valle, and Southern Lights. And, Bridgewater State University (Massachusetts) is also now providing delivery from campus restaurants including Starbucks Cafe and Bears Den.

About Starship Technologies

The company was founded in 2014 by Skype co-founders, Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis. Starship Technologies claims to be revolutionising deliveries with autonomous robots that are designed to deliver food, groceries, and packages locally in minutes. 

Starship Technologies builds and operates a network of self-driving robots that carry and deliver packages, groceries and food directly to customers. The company’s electrically powered autonomous robots drive autonomously but are monitored by humans who can take control at any time.

Recent developments

The company has announced that it has reached one million autonomous deliveries, more than six years after founding the company. “We believe no other company in the world has completed this many autonomous deliveries – including self-driving taxi rides,” the company said in a blog post. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company’s service demand has increased five times in neighbourhoods. 

Last year, Starship claimed to have set delivery records within the company and expanded its services to more college campuses including Arizona State University (ASU), University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and UC Irvine. In addition to opening service in Mountain View, CA, it also began deliveries in Modesto, CA with a new partner, The Save Mart Companies.

About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It has 62,000 employees, with two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg. 

“Goodyear’s trusted services footprint combined with its custom solutions for autonomous vehicle companies comprise a solid platform to support Starship in the market,” claims Abhijit Ganguly, senior manager of Goodyear Ventures.

Goodyear Ventures claims to focus on several themes shaping mobility, including electric and autonomous technologies. The VC fund partners and invests in seed-to-growth-stage startups that have a shared vision of sustainable, safe and new mobility experiences.