9 million robot deliveries (!!!) - TechFirst with John Ko...

What this episode covers

What changes when robots deliver everything?Starship Technologies has already completed 9 million autonomous deliveries, crossed roads over 200 million times, and operates thousands of sidewalk delivery robots across Europe and the U.S. Now they’re scaling into American cities ... and they say they’re ready to change your worldIn this episode of TechFirst, I speak with Ahti Heinla, co-founder and CEO of Starship and co-founder of Skype, about: - How Starship’s robots navigate without GPS - What makes sidewalk delivery better than drones - Solving the last-mile problem in snow, darkness, and dense cities - How Starship is already profitable and fully autonomous - What it all means for the future of commerce and city lifeHeinla says:“Ten years ago we had a prototype. Now we have a commercial product that is doing millions of deliveries.”Watch to learn why the future of delivery might roll ... as well as fly.🔗 Learn more: https://www.starship.xyz🎧 Subscribe to TechFirst: https://www.youtube.com/@johnkoetsier00:00 - Intro: What changes when robots deliver everything?01:37 - Meet Starship: 9 million robot deliveries and counting02:45 - Why it took 10 years to go from prototype to product05:03 - When robot delivery becomes normal (and where it already is)08:30 - How Starship robots handle cities, traffic, and construction11:20 - Snow, darkness, and all-weather autonomy13:19 - Reliability, unit economics, and competing with human couriers16:23 - Inside the tech: sensors, AI, and why GPS isn’t enough18:03 - Real-time mapping, climbing curbs, and reaching your door19:54 - How Starship scales without local depots or chargers22:04 - How city life and commerce change with robot delivery25:53 - Do robots increase customer orders? (Short answer: yes)27:05 - Hot food, Grubhub integration, and thermal insulation28:26 - Will Starship use drones in the future?29:38 - What U.S. cities are next for robot delivery?

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of TechFirst with John Koetsier?

This episode is 28 minutes long.

When was this TechFirst with John Koetsier episode published?

This episode was published on October 15, 2025.

What is this episode about?

What changes when robots deliver everything?Starship Technologies has already completed 9 million autonomous deliveries, crossed roads over 200 million times, and operates thousands of sidewalk delivery robots across Europe and the U.S. Now they’re...

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