Ottonomy Fundraises, Zume Folds
Cibotica preview new automated makeline
Ottonomy, maker of the Ottobots family of delivery robots, announced it had raised fresh financing from ADR Ventures, the investment arm of Rome’s airport authority. The investment comes after the startup successfully completed ADR’s “Runway to the Future” pilot program, aimed at introducing new technologies to the travel-going public.
In an update to OttOmate, company CEO Ritukar Vijay added “After the success of Ottobots at CVG Cincinnati, we got into the innovation program at ADR. The ADR team worked with us to make the offering more compelling with multiple scenarios and a strong unit economics. This rooted not only with Rome airport but now its acting as an influencer to have more growth in Europe for airports and hyperlocal deliveries using our green and autonomous robots." Including this most recent investment, Ottonomy has now raised $5.6 million.
Meet Cibotica’s Automated Salad Makeline
British Columbia-based Cibotica previewed the latest version of its “Remy” system of automated salad and bowl makelines. The startup, which puts its own machines to work at a Vancouver food hall, also recently closed a round of investment from the Canadian Food Innovation Network. The automated makeline can make 120-150 bowls per hour, while human hands working up top can keep prepping salads as well. View more photos and details in OttOmate’s full coverage.
The Party’s Over for Zume
Zume Inc., a once high-profile startup known for its attempts to automate pizza-making, has ceased operations. Having raised approximately $450 million from SoftBank’s Vision Fund among others, the company now aims to sell its assets through Sherwood Partners, a restructuring firm. Launched in 2015, Zume struggled with technical challenges like preventing cheese from sliding off pizzas baked in moving trucks. The concept didn't gain traction, leading to layoffs of over half its workforce in January 2020. The company then pivoted to producing compostable packaging, leveraging the expertise of SoCal-based Pivot Packaging, a firm it had previously acquired. Robotic pizza ain’t easy!