Starship Technologies is a technology company that develops autonomous delivery robots. It was founded in 2014 by Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, the company conducts its engineering operations in Estonia and its research and development activities in Helsinki. Starship’s six-wheeled fully autonomous robots are designed for short-distance deliveries and are actively deployed in cities, university campuses, and industrial zones worldwide.
Foundation and Historical Development
Starship Technologies was established in July 2014, and the first robot prototype was built in August of the same year. Field trials began in 2015 across various European cities, leading to a fleet of robots that interacted with over one million people by 2016. In 2018, the company launched its first commercial service in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, and completed urban deliveries using SAE Level 4 autonomy in the same year. By 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Starship robots became widely adopted as a contactless delivery solution, completing more than half a million deliveries globally.
In 2021, the company surpassed one million deliveries and expanded its operations to 35 locations. In 2022, a partnership with Grubhub facilitated broader deployment on U.S. campuses. By 2023, Starship had expanded supermarket deliveries in Finland through its partnership with S-Group. In 2024, the company partnered with Bolt Food and reached over 100 service areas. As of 2025, Starship Technologies operates in more than 150 regions and has completed over eight million autonomous deliveries.
Technological Infrastructure and Autonomy
Starship robots operate with SAE Level 4 autonomous systems, though they can be remotely controlled when necessary. The robots are equipped with radar, ultrasonic sensors, stereo cameras, and time-of-flight sensors. Each robot can operate up to 18 hours per day and travel approximately 40 kilometers on a single charge. They are capable of wireless charging overnight. With six-wheel construction and winter-grade tires, the robots can navigate sidewalks and perform reliably under harsh weather conditions.
Application Areas
University Campuses: One of the primary deployment areas for Starship robots is university campuses. With active operations at more than 55 campuses in the U.S., the robots deliver food, beverages, and essential goods to students. This model helps digitize campus dining services, alleviate staffing pressure, and generate new revenue streams.
Starship Campus Delivery (Starship)
Retail and Grocery Delivery: In Finland, partnerships with chain stores such as S-Group enable robots to deliver groceries to homes over short distances, typically within 20 minutes. These services help reduce carbon emissions and contribute to sustainable urban logistics.
Industrial Zones: In manufacturing and industrial settings, robots are used for transporting spare parts, documents, and samples. Operating at Level 4 autonomy, they improve operational efficiency and prevent time loss. Annually, more than 17 tons of CO₂ emissions are reportedly avoided through these implementations.
Advertising and Brand Engagement
Starship Technologies also utilizes its robot fleet as a platform for outdoor advertising. Robots are customized with branded wraps, digital messages, and sample distribution features. These robots function as hyper-local marketing tools across campuses, neighborhoods, and city centers. Each robot generates an average of 1,700 visual impressions per mile traveled.
Financing and Investment
To date, Starship has raised over $230 million in investment funding. In 2022, the European Investment Bank provided $57 million, followed by an additional $42 million in private funding. Investors include Plural, Iconical, Morpheus Ventures, Goodyear Ventures, and TDK Ventures. The capital has been used to scale robot manufacturing, improve software infrastructure, and support market expansion.
Sustainability and Environmental Impact
Starship robots operate entirely on electricity and produce zero emissions. A typical delivery consumes only as much energy as required to boil a cup of tea. According to the company, over 500 tons of CO₂ emissions have been avoided in Europe. As a result, Starship offers a traffic-reducing, environmentally sustainable solution for urban delivery logistics.
Corporate Structure and Global Presence
Ahti Heinla, co-founder and CEO of Starship Technologies, also serves as the company’s technical lead. The management team includes experts in finance, human resources, software engineering, remote operations, and business development. The company maintains operations centers in San Francisco, Tallinn, Helsinki, and London. As of 2025, over 2,000 robots operate daily, conducting approximately 125,000 safe crossings of sidewalks, streets, and intersections.
Starship Technologies currently holds the highest delivery volume among companies in the autonomous delivery sector. For comparison, Zipline has completed 1.45 million drone deliveries, while Starship robots have surpassed 8 million deliveries as of 2025. With scalable infrastructure and mature technology, the company remains at the forefront of the industry.
