Starship Turns to Nickelytics for Bot-Based Ads
DroneUp launches Ecosystem, Viam closes Series B
The world of food robotics and delivery innovation came together last Friday at the 2024 edition of Curbivore. We’ve got big news from the event below, as well as other exciting industry updates.
Starship Selects Nickelytics for Robotic Advertising
Starship Technologies and Nickelytics are teaming up, in announcement timed with their presence at Curbivore, where they were both partners. The Florida-based adtech firm will handle on-robot advertising for the PDD giant, starting with the UCLA and University of Utah campuses. To kick off the collaboration, the two companies are launching a campaign called “Love, Your Mind,” aimed at combating mental health issues on college quads. "This … campaign aligns perfectly with our mission to leverage cutting-edge technology for socially impactful initiatives. By integrating our autonomous delivery services with Nickelytics' innovative advertising approach, we are setting a new standard for how technology can support mental health awareness and education in university communities. We believe this partnership will open up new possibilities for how brands can connect with their audiences in deeply resonant and responsible ways,” noted Starship VP of Business Development Chris Neider.
DroneUp Launches Ecosystem
Walmart-backed DroneUp is launching what it calls a new “ecosystem.” The components include DBX —nem da which enables autonomous pickup of packages from retailers, QSR, and other origination points, end-to-end autonomy, and its next-gen drones — which can hit up to 60 MPH and cruise for 30 miles. Besides Walmart, customers include Chick-fil-A and 7-Eleven.
Viam Closes $47M Series B
New York City-based Viam closed a $47 million Series B financing round, funded by strategic investors Union Square Ventures and Battery Ventures. This brings the startup’s total funding to $87M. As part of the capitalization, the company is broadening its focus. Company founder Elio Horowitz hopes his machine-focused software company can work with not just robotics, but also clients in the IoT, smart homes, and industrial automation spaces.
In Other News
Uber Eats brings DeliverZero partnership to California. OpenAI previews voice-cloning, warns of security concerns. Watch an Amazon drone take off.