Dog‑inspired Rivr Robots Team Up With Veho Vans for 100‑Yard Parcel Delivery in Austin

Rivr & Veho: Taking Delivery From the Van to the Doorstep

If you thought delivery drones were the future, buckle up—Rivr’s four‑wheel robot is stepping in to tackle the last 100 yards of the journey. Think of it as a dog on roller skates with a mission: hugging the curb and then zipping right up to your front door.

First Day In Austin

• Tuesday marks the debut of Rivr’s pilot in the Live Music Capital.
• Only one robot will run daily, making five‑to‑six‑hour loops.
• In the next couple of weeks, it will swerve through the city like a seasoned commuter.

Why the 100 Yards Matter

It’s easy for a human to heel off the curb and walk to the door, but for a robot—especially one with four wheels, a bit of claw‑like armor, and a steady GPS—it’s a whole different level of challenge. Marko Bjelonic, the brain behind Rivr, knows that this tiny hurdle could be the giant leap for autonomous delivery.

“Robotism at the Last Mile”

Bjelonic says: “Robotics shines when it takes on tasks humans find trivial but robotic nightmares. By clearing that 100‑yard border, we’re planting the seed for a new evolution beyond sidewalk bots.”

Partnering With Veho

Veho already ships packages to 50 U.S. markets—from Sephora and Saks to HelloFresh. The collaboration allows Rivr to:

• Test its sidewalk‑to‑door tech in real‑city conditions.
• Collect data that would otherwise be missing in the robotics world.
• Build a flexible, “physical AI” framework based on real deliveries.

Data—The Missing Ingredient

Bjelonic explains the conundrum: “ChatGPT gets a ton of Internet data, autonomous cars have a highway of sensor data. Robots? Not so much. We need a real problem that lets us gather focused data so these guys can actually grow smarter.”

Future Prospects

When routes get congested and drivers struggle to walk door‑to‑door, Rivr can step in as a robotic sidekick. That means:

• More deliveries handled simultaneously in highly urban areas.
• Drivers off‑loading the heavy lifting, freeing them to navigate traffic instead.
• Potential for a faster, more efficient delivery network.

Bottom Line

Rivr and Veho’s partnership isn’t just about a robot hopping from van to door—it’s about proving that the “last mile” can be automated without breaking a sweat. If this pilot ticks as many boxes as it promises, we might see a wave of sidewalk‑friendly delivery assistants that make human drivers’ jobs less taxing and customers’ waiting times shorter. Cheers to the future of last‑mile delivery—one robot at a time!

Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda

Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $600+ before prices rise.

Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda

Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise.

Rivr & Veho Take on Austin’s Streets

Picture this: a sleek delivery robot glides through the winding streets of Northwest Austin, its human‑sidekick walking behind, keeping a watchful eye. That’s exactly what the new trial is all about – safety first, but also quality. “We’re giving our bots the freedom to roam solo, but when they hit a snag, a remote operator can hop in,” explained Bruce Bjelonic to TechCrunch.

Start‑up Strategy in the City

It’s a smart move to start small. The pilot kicks off in a low‑density residential area, before the squad moves on to the busier parts of town. Co‑founder & CTO Fred Cook sees bigger horizons: pairing these autonomous scooters with dedicated charging stations so a single bot can run all day without a refill.

Scaling Dreams

Not content with just a handful, Rivr aims for 100 bots next year, and a jaw‑dropping thousands by 2027. The company is already rolling out services in the UK, thanks to a partnership with Evri. Behind the scenes, Rivr has pooled more than $25 million, including a $100 million valuation from a round led by Jeff Bezos.

Key Takeaway

• One‑on‑one human escort keeps robots safe and on track.
• Remote ops can pop in if the bot gets stuck.
• Start in low‑density edges, then scale to the heart of the city.
• Future plans involve charging stations for full‑day endurance.
• Rivr’s goal: 100 bots next year, thousands by 2027.
• Investments: $25M+ raise, $100M valuation.