Serve Robotics has secured the top spot in Fast Company’s “Next Big Things in Tech” list for the Robotics and Automation category, highlighting its third-generation autonomous sidewalk delivery robot. The recognition validates Serve’s position in the expanding last-mile logistics market as the company scales toward its goal of deploying 2,000 robots across major U.S. cities by the end of 2025.
What you should know: Serve’s third-generation robot represents a significant leap in autonomous delivery capabilities compared to previous models.
- The Gen3 robot operates nearly twice as fast, travels double the distance, runs six additional hours per day, and carries larger cargo loads than earlier versions.
- Enhanced safety features include fail-safe mechanical brakes, autonomous collision avoidance, and an emergency braking system that stops 40% faster.
- Since production began in October 2024, Serve has deployed 1,000 Gen3 robots across Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, and Miami.
Strategic partnerships: Serve is expanding its reach through collaborations with major delivery platforms to optimize robot utilization and boost revenue.
- In October 2024, the company announced a partnership with DoorDash, a leading food delivery platform, to integrate autonomous delivery robots into DoorDash’s food delivery ecosystem, starting in Los Angeles.
- This builds on Serve’s existing years-long partnership with Uber Eats, broadening the company’s market presence and increasing order volumes for its robot fleet.
- The company also maintains delivery partnerships with enterprise clients including 7-Eleven.
The big picture: Serve Robotics, spun off from Uber in 2021, has positioned itself as a leader in AI-powered, low-emissions sidewalk delivery solutions.
- The company has completed tens of thousands of deliveries and holds scalable multi-year contracts for robot deployment across multiple U.S. markets.
- Serve trades on Nasdaq under the ticker SERV and is targeting sustainable and economical delivery solutions for the growing last-mile logistics sector.
What they’re saying: CEO Dr. Ali Kashani emphasized the recognition as validation of the team’s innovation efforts.
- “Receiving this prestigious award from Fast Company is a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of our team,” Kashani said.
- “Developing our third-generation robot required years of innovation and collaboration. This recognition validates our engineers, designers and operations teams for making autonomous delivery safer, more efficient and sustainable.”
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