Starship Technologies, a leading autonomous delivery company, announced that it has raised $50 million in a Series C funding round led by Plural. Investors in the round include Plural, Karma.vc, Latitude, Coefficient Capital, SmartCap (funded by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU initiative), and Skaala.
The new investment brings Starship’s total funding to over $280 million and will accelerate the company’s expansion from European and university markets into major U.S. cities.
Founded in 2014 by Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, Starship has become the dominant player in autonomous delivery, completing more than nine million deliveries across seven countries—five times more than all U.S. competitors combined. The company operates over 2,700 robots worldwide and plans to scale its fleet to more than 12,000 by 2027. Its network has covered more than 12 million miles while maintaining zero-emission operations that have prevented over 650 tonnes of CO₂ emissions in Europe alone.
Starship’s robots operate at Level 4 autonomy, allowing them to navigate complex urban and campus environments without direct human control. This level of maturity, combined with its proven commercial success and positive gross margins, positions Starship ahead of competitors still struggling with pilot programs. The company’s autonomous units perform two road crossings every second globally, generating a data advantage that continually refines safety and navigation systems.
The company’s leadership in autonomy has translated into partnerships with some of the world’s largest delivery platforms, including Grubhub in the United States, and Bolt, Wolt, and Foodora in Europe. These alliances make Starship the underlying infrastructure enabling on-demand autonomous delivery through popular consumer-facing apps.
The funding will advance Starship’s entry into American urban markets at scale, where it intends to replicate its European success and set new standards for sub-30-minute autonomous delivery. The funds will also support growth in its robot fleet, the expansion of operational teams, and deeper collaboration with major retailers and delivery providers seeking cost-efficient, sustainable logistics solutions.
Starship Technologies’ combination of mature technology, commercial traction, and established partnerships distinguishes it as the first autonomous delivery company operating profitably at city scale. With this funding, the company is preparing to redefine last-mile logistics in American cities, expanding access to sustainable, autonomous delivery for millions of consumers.
KEY QUOTES:
“Delivery robotics is the next wave of urban logistics, shaping a once-in-a-generation shift in how goods move through cities. We own European urban markets, we own U.S. campuses. Now it’s time to replicate this proven success in American cities. Millions of U.S. consumers will soon experience sub-30-minute delivery by Starship robots as the new standard.”
Ahti Heinla, Co-founder and CEO, Starship Technologies
“Starship has quietly built the most successful autonomous technology company in the world. They’re already deployed, already profitable, and already changing how goods move through cities. We’ve doubled down on our investment because the team has proven they can scale globally, and the opportunity in American urban markets is enormous.”
Taavet Hinrikus, Partner, Plural
