A robot kitchen firm whose flagship product is used by Chipotle has been snapped up by an Uber delivery spin-off eager to target the commercial kitchen automation market.
Autocado robot maker Vebu will now operate under the ownership of Serve Robotics, a Nasdaq-quoted autonomous robotic delivery company that was split out of Uber in 2021.
The deal will see Vebu’s founder and CEO Buck Jordan – a serial entrepreneur who previously founded Miso Robotics – will join Serve as SVP of kitchen automation upon closing the transaction.
He will continue to lead the Vebu team, overseeing Autocado’s continued development, and driving additional innovations on the product roadmap.
Vebu’s signature robotic product is the Autocado, a pioneering avocado-processing robot which eliminates the need for restaurant workers to cut, core and scoop avocados to prepare guacamole.
The Autocado allows employees to load up to 25 pounds of avocados into the device and walk away to focus on serving customers and preparing other items.
The acquisition is expected to strengthen Serve’s competitive position by providing its restaurant partners with a suite of automation solutions and expanding Serve’s offering beyond delivery into back-of-house automation.
By introducing Vebu’s back-of-house automation to Serve’s existing offering, the company intends to open up new market opportunities by addressing a broader range of operational needs for restaurants.
This aligns well with its recent expansion into delivery over all distances through its partnership with Wing Aviation, together making Serve one of the most comprehensive automation providers in the restaurant industry.
Vebu’s existing partnership with leading restaurant companies such as Chipotle, where it is currently carrying out a major test pilot, will extend Serve’s existing business relationships, which include Shake Shack and 7-Eleven among others.
Dr. Ali Kashani, CEO and co-founder of Serve Robotics, described Vebu as a “trailblazer in full-stack automation and robotics solutions for restaurant partners”.
He 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 labour shortages plaguing the restaurant industry.
“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.”
Upon closing, Vebu will join Serve with a balance sheet that supports its operations to complete its pilot with Chipotle. Serve does not anticipate undertaking additional financing to support this transaction.
Financial terms of the all-stock transaction were not disclosed and the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.
