Autonomous mobility is a megatrend. However, Aitonomi-TeleRetail does not have much competition. The Valais-based startup focuses on larger delivery robots that can carry 35 kilos and can be used on company premises, for example. Several large companies are already working with Aitonomi.
Sion is known for the driverless shuttles of Postauto, which have been on the road there for over two years. This year, a second autonomous vehicle was tested in the city. Aitonomi AG (previously named TeleRetail) developed and tested a concept for an autonomous delivery robot service in a feasibility study together with HES-SO Valais and Swiss Post. Aitonomi, based in Sierre and founded by Torsten and Xenia Scholl has twelve employees working around the world. Its core competence is software for automated deliveries.
The objective of the study with ESA was to prepare Aitonomi’s automated urban courier service and technology for the specific needs of its targeted customers, thereby creating a foundation for a demo service and future roll-out. Swiss Post supported Aitonimi’s technology development and provided feedback on various aspects of the business case.
Xenia Scholl explains to Startupticker that the feasibility study work was very fruitful and provided valuable information for the planned demo phase. At the end of the feasibility study, the Aitonomi team tested a fully automated delivery service on the premises of Provins, a leading Swiss winery based in Sion, where a delivery robot carried wine boxes. This was no coincidence since the Aitonomi team focuses on robots for industrial outdoor and urban transport.
This sounds as if the start-up addresses a small niche market, however Aitonomi CEO Torsten Scholl is convinced that this market alone has a revenue potential of more than CHF1 billion. The long-term plan of the company is to offer an automated delivery service with self-driving transporters, which could be ordered by users on demand to deliver products, spare parts, etc. locally on the same day. A market that is even bigger.
Torsten Scholl has also an ambitious schedule for his start-up. “We plan to launch the first product next year”, Scholl explains to Startupticker. Products could be launched in Europe but also in the US. The start-ups is already preparing a pilot project with a US corporate too.
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