Amazon has made a significant move in the robotics industry by acquiring Rivr, a Zurich-based startup known for its innovative stair-climbing delivery robot. The financial details of the deal remain undisclosed, but the acquisition underscores Amazon’s commitment to enhancing doorstep delivery services.
Rivr’s co-founder and CEO, Marko Bjelonic, announced the acquisition on LinkedIn, with The Information being the first to report the transaction. Bjelonic described their robot as a ‘dog on roller skates,’ expressing optimism about the acquisition’s impact on realizing their vision of advancing General Physical AI through doorstep delivery.
By tapping into Amazon’s vast resources, Rivr aims to expedite the deployment of its robots on a larger scale, facilitating real-world applications of robotics and AI. While Rivr had initiated a pilot program in Austin alongside Veho, a package delivery company, with plans to scale up to 100 robots by 2026, the current status of this goal remains unclear.
Amazon’s early interest in Rivr was evident through investments made by the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund and Bezos Expeditions during Rivr’s seed funding round in 2024, which totaled $22.2 million. With its total funding reaching $25 million, Rivr was last valued at $100 million.
The acquisition of Rivr not only highlights Amazon’s strategic focus on robotics and automation but also underscores the growing importance of efficient delivery solutions in the e-commerce landscape.
Source: TechCrunch