Serve Robotics To Serve Restaurants Better Automation With Vebu Acquisition

In the last few months, the drive across industries has been to introduce autonomous vehicles to streamline and simplify transportation and logistics.

This includes self-driving vehicles for personal use, ridesharing services AKA robotaxis for public transport, self-driving trucks to haul cargo across long distances or harsh terrains, and delivery robots for short-range food and beverage order deliveries.

This is where Serve Robotics shines.

The company is renowned for developing advanced, AI-powered, low-emissions sidewalk delivery robots that endeavor to make delivery sustainable and economical.

Spun off from Uber in 2021, Serve Robotics recently partnered with Uber Eats and Shake Shack to deliver Shake Shack orders through the Uber Eats desktop or mobile app. This added to its multi-year contract with Uber Eats to deploy up to 2,000 delivery robots on its platform.

Now, the autonomous delivery master is venturing out into a new industry—hospitality!

In a news release published on its website, Serve Robotics revealed that it reached an agreement with Vebu Inc., a trailblazer in full-stack automation and robotics solutions for restaurant partners, to acquire the company and its assets.

Vebu is known for its signature and pioneering robotic product—the Autocado—which automates the cutting, coring and scooping of up to 25 pounds of avocados. Currently, the Autocado is in pilot testing in Chipotle's Huntington Beach (California) restaurant outlet.

The deal is set to benefit Serve by strengthening its competitive position in the market by offering its partners a suite of automation solutions beyond delivery, expanding into back-of-house automation.

It will also open the door for Serve to enter new markets in new cities across the United States. It also builds on Serve’s partnership with Wing Aviation, making it one of the most comprehensive automation providers in the restaurant industry.

The move will also add Vebu’s existing partnerships with leading restaurant companies such as Chipotle to Serve’s customer portfolio, which currently includes Shake Shack, 7-Eleven and others. 

Ahead of this, Vebu’s Founder and CEO Buck Jordan will join Serve Robotics as SVP of Kitchen Automation, once the transaction is closed. Jordan will continue to lead the Vebu team while overseeing Autocado’s continued development, as well as drive additional innovations on the product roadmap.

What Did Serve Robotics And Vebu Executives Say?

Dr. Ali Kashani, CEO and co-founder of Serve Robotics, said, “By adding Vebu's pioneering kitchen automation capabilities to our autonomous delivery offering, we will be uniquely positioned to utilize robotics and AI to solve the labor shortages plaguing the restaurant industry.”

[Contd.] “This acquisition underscores our commitment to helping our partners operate more efficiently and to expanding our partnerships with national chain restaurants. We are thrilled to have Buck and his accomplished team pioneering an innovative technology join us once we close this transaction.”

Buck Jordan, founder and CEO of Vebu, said, “I am thrilled to join Serve Robotics once this transaction closes. I have known the Serve team and supported them since the early days as an investor.”

[Contd.] “This is an exciting opportunity to merge our efforts, experience, and expertise to bring groundbreaking automation to a wider audience. Together, we will strive to provide a suite of automation solutions that will change the future of restaurant operations.”

Do you think this move will provide Serve Robotics with a key entry point in restaurants as well as other avenues of the hospitality industry?

Let us know in the comments below!