Key takeaways
- Top pick: Zipline, best for: Retailers and health systems offering fast home delivery. Zipline says it has completed more than 2 million commercial deliveries.
- Also near the top: Dexterity, best for: Parcel and logistics operators automating trailer unloading; and Exotec, best for: Retailers automating large e-commerce warehouses.
- How it was ranked: 10 startups compared. Each verdict is below.
Best Robotics Startups in Logistics: Top 10 Ranked. Zipline ranks first, with a Lister Score of 97.1.
Zipline leads logistics robotics globally for autonomous drone delivery, and
Dexterity is the most proven in AI robots that load and unload trucks.
Exotec and
Locus Robotics are the strongest choices for warehouse automation at scale, while
Starship Technologies has the longest record in sidewalk delivery.
Best Robotics Startups in Logistics in 2026, compared| RANK | ENTRY | BEST FOR | SCORE | FROM |
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| 1 |  ZiplineZipline says it has completed more than 2 million commercial deliveries. | Retailers and health systems offering fast home delivery | 97.1 | Custom |
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| 2 |  DexterityFedEx expanded its deployment of Dexterity's autonomous trailer loading at its Hagerstown hub, according to Dexterity. | Parcel and logistics operators automating trailer unloading | 95.8 | Custom |
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| 3 |  ExotecExotec reports its Skypod system automates warehouses at more than 100 customer sites worldwide. | Retailers automating large e-commerce warehouses | 94.5 | Custom |
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| 4 |  Locus RoboticsLocus raised a $41.6 million Series G in September 2026 from investors including Tiger Global and Goldman Sachs Asset Management. | Fulfilment and 3PL warehouses boosting picking rates | 93.2 | Custom |
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| 5 |  Starship TechnologiesStarship says it has passed 10 million autonomous deliveries. | Campuses, cities and food delivery platforms | 91.9 | Custom |
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| 6 |  Hai RoboticsHai Robotics refiled for a Hong Kong stock market listing in September 2026, with Goldman Sachs and CITIC Securities as joint sponsors. | Warehouses wanting dense tote storage without rebuilding | 90.6 | Custom |
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| 7 |  Nimble RoboticsNimble says it operates a network of robotic fulfilment warehouses in the United States and Canada. | Ecommerce brands outsourcing fulfilment | 89.3 | Custom |
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| 8 |  Pickle RobotUPS was reported to be investing about $120 million in roughly 400 Pickle systems, with deployments from late 2026. | Distribution centres with heavy inbound truck volume | 88.0 | Custom |
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| 9 |  OutriderOutrider raised a $62 million Series D in October 2024. | Distribution yards moving trailers around the clock | 86.7 | Custom |
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| 10 |  Plus One RoboticsPlus One says its systems have made more than 1.5 billion picks across 15 countries. | Parcel hubs automating induction and depalletising | 85.4 | Custom |
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How to choose
Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:
- Zipline (#1): Retailers and health systems offering fast home delivery
- Dexterity (#2): Parcel and logistics operators automating trailer unloading
- Exotec (#3): Retailers automating large e-commerce warehouses
- Locus Robotics (#4): Fulfilment and 3PL warehouses boosting picking rates
- Starship Technologies (#5): Campuses, cities and food delivery platforms
- Hai Robotics (#6): Warehouses wanting dense tote storage without rebuilding
- Nimble Robotics (#7): Ecommerce brands outsourcing fulfilment
- Pickle Robot (#8): Distribution centres with heavy inbound truck volume
- Outrider (#9): Distribution yards moving trailers around the clock
- Plus One Robotics (#10): Parcel hubs automating induction and depalletising
Each entry's full verdict is below.
The ranking, in detail
01
Autonomous drone delivery
Zipline, founded in 2014 in South San Francisco, runs autonomous delivery drones for health systems, retailers and restaurants, starting with medical deliveries in Africa and now expanding across US metro areas. It raised more than $600 million at a $7.6 billion valuation in January 2026, led by Valor Equity Partners.
PROS- Millions of commercial deliveries
- Very well funded for US expansion
CONS- Service limited to launched areas
- Airspace approvals shape rollout speed
- Best for
- Retailers and health systems offering fast home delivery
- Where it falls short
- Service is limited to launched areas.
- Pick something else if
- you need coverage outside launched areas.
97.1
02
AI robots for truck loading and unloading
Dexterity, founded in 2017 in Redwood City, California, builds AI-powered robots that load and unload trucks and handle parcels for carriers and warehouses. It raised $95 million at a $1.65 billion valuation in March 2025.
PROS- Named logistics customers
- Focused on a heavy, repetitive job
CONS- Narrow logistics focus
- Less funding than humanoid rivals
- Best for
- Parcel and logistics operators automating trailer unloading
- Where it falls short
- Narrow logistics focus.
- Pick something else if
- you need broader capabilities beyond logistics.
95.8
03
Skypod warehouse robots that climb racking
Exotec, founded in 2015 near Lille, France, makes the Skypod system, in which robots climb storage racks to bring goods to picking stations. Its $335 million Series D in January 2022 valued it at $2 billion, making it France's first industrial unicorn.
PROS- Large base of live warehouse sites
- Uses the full height of a building
CONS- Large, capital-intensive projects
- Best suited to big distribution centres
- Best for
- Retailers automating large e-commerce warehouses
- Where it falls short
- It is best suited to big distribution centers.
- Pick something else if
- you operate a small warehouse.
94.5
04
Autonomous mobile robots for picking
Locus Robotics, founded in 2014 in Wilmington, Massachusetts, makes autonomous mobile robots that work alongside warehouse staff to speed up order picking, sold on a robots-as-a-service basis. It raised a $41.6 million Series G in September 2026 from existing investors.
PROS- Robots-as-a-service lowers upfront cost
- Works in existing warehouse layouts
CONS- Still needs people to pick
- Competitive mobile robot market
- Best for
- Fulfilment and 3PL warehouses boosting picking rates
- Where it falls short
- It still requires human workers to perform the actual picking tasks.
- Pick something else if
- you want fully autonomous picking without staff involvement.
93.2
05
Sidewalk delivery robots
Starship Technologies, founded in 2014 by Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, runs six-wheeled autonomous robots that deliver food and groceries on campuses and city streets in Europe and the US. It raised a $50 million Series C in October 2025, taking total funding past $280 million.
PROS- Largest track record in sidewalk delivery
- Partnership with Uber Eats
CONS- Short-range deliveries only
- Depends on local rules for sidewalk robots
- Best for
- Campuses, cities and food delivery platforms
- Where it falls short
- It handles short-range deliveries only and depends on local rules for sidewalk robots.
- Pick something else if
- you need long-distance logistics or operate in unrestricted zones.
91.9
06
Case-handling robots for warehouses
Hai Robotics, founded in 2016 in Shenzhen, China, makes HaiPick autonomous case-handling robots that store and retrieve totes and cartons on tall racks. In May 2025 it launched HaiPick Climb, which climbs racks up to 12 metres high.
PROS- Large global customer base
- Fits into existing buildings
CONS- Plans a public listing
- Price not published
- Best for
- Warehouses wanting dense tote storage without rebuilding
- Where it falls short
- Price is not published, so you cannot determine costs upfront.
- Pick something else if
- you need transparent pricing before committing.
90.6
07
Autonomous fulfilment warehouses
Nimble Robotics, founded in 2019 in San Francisco, builds robots that pick, pack and ship ecommerce orders, and runs its own network of robotic fulfilment centres. It raised a $106 million Series C in October 2024.
PROS- Sells fulfilment as a service
- End-to-end picking and packing
CONS- Network still growing
- Competes with established 3PLs
- Best for
- Ecommerce brands outsourcing fulfilment
- Where it falls short
- Its network is still growing, which may limit coverage.
- Pick something else if
- you need immediate nationwide coverage.
89.3
08
Robots that unload trucks and containers
Pickle Robot, founded in 2018 in the Boston area, makes robots that unload loose, non-palletised boxes from trucks and shipping containers. It closed a $50 million Series B in November 2024 and took orders for more than 30 robots from six customers.
PROS- Automates a hard, injury-prone job
- Large reported order from UPS
CONS- Narrow task focus
- Price not published
- Best for
- Distribution centres with heavy inbound truck volume
- Where it falls short
- Narrow task focus.
- Pick something else if
- you need broad automation capabilities or transparent pricing.
88.0
09
Autonomous electric yard trucks
Outrider, a Colorado company founded in 2017, builds autonomous electric yard trucks, software and site infrastructure that move trailers around distribution yards. It raised a $62 million Series D in October 2024.
PROS- Automates the whole yard, not one task
- Electric vehicles cut yard emissions
CONS- Needs site infrastructure changes
- Early commercial stage
- Best for
- Distribution yards moving trailers around the clock
- Where it falls short
- It requires site infrastructure changes before deployment.
- Pick something else if
- you cannot modify your site infrastructure.
86.7
10
AI vision for parcel picking robots
Plus One Robotics, founded in 2016 in San Antonio, Texas, makes AI vision software and robots for parcel induction, depalletising and palletising, with remote human help when the robot is unsure. It raised a $50 million Series C in March 2023 led by Scale Venture Partners.
PROS- Large volume of real picks
- Human-in-the-loop handles exceptions
CONS- Smaller funding than peers
- Price not published
- Best for
- Parcel hubs automating induction and depalletising
- Where it falls short
- It does not publish its price, so you cannot assess cost upfront.
- Pick something else if
- you need transparent pricing before committing.
85.4
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best Robotics Startups in Logistics?
Zipline ranks first on Lister. Zipline, founded in 2014 in South San Francisco, runs autonomous delivery drones for health systems, retailers and restaurants, starting with medical deliveries in Africa and now expanding across US metro areas. It raised more than $600 million at a $7.6 billion valuation in January 2026, led by Valor Equity Partners.
What are the top 10 Robotics Startups in Logistics?
1. Zipline; 2. Dexterity; 3. Exotec; 4. Locus Robotics; 5. Starship Technologies; 6. Hai Robotics; 7. Nimble Robotics; 8. Pickle Robot; 9. Outrider; 10. Plus One Robotics.
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