Hippo Harvest Raises $21M to Automate Lettuce
Chef Robotics serves 10M meals, Tally heads to SpartanNash
We’re sending this week’s robotics and automation update a day late due to yesterday’s holiday; do you think the robots hard at work at Steve Ells’ Kernel got the day off as well?
Hippo Harvest Raises $21 Million
Hippo Harvest, an automated greenhouse startup, just closed a $21 million Series B, funded by Standard Investments, Congruent Ventures, Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund, Energy Impact Partners and Hawthorne Food Ventures. Founded in 2019, Hippo Harvest’s initial focus is lettuce, which it hopes to grow with less water and land than traditional farms. Amazon is more than an investor: the company also sells the robo-enhanced leafy greens at SF-area Fresh markets.
Chef Robotics Serves 10 Millionth Meal
Food automation startup Chef Robotics has been on a tear, managing to serve 10 million meals since its launch a bit over a year and a half ago. Founder Rajat Bhageria notes, “If Tesla’s core technology is batteries, our core technology is food manipulation.” Evidently investors like that comparison, given that the company just closed a $15 million funding round in January.
Tally Robots Head to SpartanNash
Simbe’s automated inventory tracking robot Tally just scored a big new customer: SpartanNash. The Midwestern grocer is bringing the bots to roughly half of its 144 company-owned stores, less than a year after launching a limited pilot. Tally roams the grocery aisles, ensuring that items are in stock, properly priced, and located on the right shelves.
Curbivore Tickets Going Fast
Our upcoming industry gathering, Curbivore, returns March 28th and 29th to Downtown LA. This is your chance to meet with the leaders pushing delivery, mobility and automation forward — and to try some of the coolest technology in person! OttOmate Pro paid subscribers can attend for free, while regular readers can claim discounted tickets while supplies last.
In Other News
Martie Founder Louise Fritjofsson Shares Grocery-Focused Expansion Plans. Top women in AI. Ikea pushes self-checkout in Amsterdam.