Serve Robotics, known for its sidewalk delivery robots, is expanding into the healthcare sector through the acquisition of Diligent Robotics, a startup specializing in hospital assistant robots. Diligent Robotics’ robot, Moxi, aids hospital staff by handling tasks such as delivering lab samples and supplies. The acquisition deal, valued at $29 million, marks Serve’s strategic move into a new industry.
Founded in 2017 by Andrea Thomaz and Vivian Chu, Diligent Robotics has secured over $75 million in venture capital funding, with a recent $25 million investment in 2023. This acquisition aligns with Serve Robotics’ goal of adapting its technology for diverse settings beyond food delivery, emphasizing the potential for robots to function harmoniously alongside humans in various environments.
Serve Robotics, initially incubated within Postmates and later spun off post-Uber’s acquisition of Postmates, went public in 2024. Serve’s CEO, Ali Kashani, sees the acquisition as a natural progression in the company’s evolution, as the operational synergy between Diligent’s Moxi and Serve’s focus on last-mile delivery and human-friendly robot navigation fits well with Serve’s vision.
Source: TechCrunch