Robomart

Robomart, founded in 2017 by Ali Ahmed, Emad Suhail Rahim, and Tigran Shahverdyan, is a technology company focused on autonomous retail. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles and operates on a business-to-business model, providing retailers with fully autonomous, mobile smart shops. This white-label platform allows retailers such as cafes, grocers, and quick-service restaurants to expand their physical footprint at a lower cost compared to traditional brick-and-mortar stores.

The concept debuted at CES in 2018, with the first functional prototype of a driverless Robomart presented later that year. The company's founder and CEO, Ali Ahmed, has a background in on-demand delivery, having previously founded Dispatch Messenger in the UK. This experience with the economic challenges of human-based delivery models directly influenced Robomart's focus on automation to reduce costs. Ahmed's entrepreneurial history also includes roles at Unilever, GSK, and Groupon, along with mentorship positions at the Founder Institute and Singularity University.

Robomart's business model involves leasing its vehicles to retailers, who can brand them and stock them with their own products. Revenue is generated through multiple streams, including a monthly lease fee from retailers, a commission on each transaction, and a hailing fee paid by the end consumer. For consumers, the service is accessed via a mobile app where they can summon a mobile store to their location for a flat fee. The vehicles are equipped with a proprietary checkout-free system, utilizing RFID tags, which automatically calculates the order and charges the customer's card on file. The vehicles themselves are Level-4 autonomous electric vehicles, capable of traveling at up to 25 mph, and feature temperature-controlled compartments to keep goods fresh.

The company has launched several vehicle generations, including the 'Oasis' for restaurants and the 'Haven' for supermarkets and convenience stores. A newer model, the RM5, is designed for batch deliveries with 10 individual lockers and a 500-pound payload capacity. Robomart has established partnerships with major brands like Unilever and Mars, and launched its commercial service in 2021. To date, the company has raised just under $5 million from investors including W Ventures, Wasabi Ventures, SOSV, and HAX.

Keywords: autonomous retail, mobile storefront, self-driving store, retail technology, on-demand delivery, store-hailing, checkout-free shopping, last-mile delivery, robotics, white-label platform, autonomous vehicles, grocery delivery, convenience store delivery, mobile commerce, delivery robots, retail automation, smart shop, fleet management, autonomous marketplace, frictionless commerce, B2B retail solutions, mobile retail, automated retail