Amazon acquires Rivr, maker of a stair-climbing delivery robot

Amazon has made a strategic move in the realm of delivery technology by acquiring Rivr, an innovative startup based in Zurich that specializes in autonomous robotics, particularly its stair-climbing delivery robot. While the financial details of the agreement remain undisclosed, this acquisition highlights Amazon's commitment to enhancing its doorstep delivery capabilities. Marko Bjelonic, co-founder and CEO of Rivr, took to LinkedIn to announce the acquisition, describing the company's unique robot as akin to a 'dog on roller skates.' He emphasized that this partnership would significantly accelerate Rivr's mission to develop General Physical AI through effective doorstep delivery solutions. Essentially, the resources provided by Amazon are expected to facilitate a faster rollout of Rivr's robotic technology to more customers. Previously, Rivr initiated a pilot program in Austin in collaboration with Veho, a package delivery service. Bjelonic expressed hopes of expanding their fleet to 100 robots by 2026 based on insights gained from the Veho partnership, although it's unclear if they have achieved this goal. Amazon's interest in Rivr dates back to earlier investments, with the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund and Bezos Expeditions participating in a $22.2 million seed funding round in 2024, as reported by Pitchbook. Rivr has garnered a total of $25 million in funding and was last valued at $100 million, indicating strong investor confidence in its potential to revolutionize delivery processes.