Hustler Words – Amazon has strategically acquired Rivr, a Zurich-based autonomous robotics innovator renowned for its distinctive stair-climbing delivery robots. This move, confirmed on March 19, 2026, unequivocally signals the e-commerce behemoth’s intensified focus on revolutionizing last-mile and doorstep delivery logistics. While the financial specifics of the transaction remain undisclosed, the implications for the future of automated package delivery are substantial.
Marko Bjelonic, Rivr’s co-founder and CEO, publicly announced the acquisition via a LinkedIn post. Bjelonic, who once colorfully described their four-legged, wheeled robot to Hustler Words as akin to a "dog on roller skates," highlighted the synergistic potential of the deal. The initial report of the acquisition came from The Information.
In his statement, Bjelonic articulated that joining forces with Amazon would "accelerate our vision of building General Physical AI through doorstep delivery, bringing robotics and AI closer to real-world deployment at scale." This translates to a clear objective: leveraging Amazon’s vast resources and operational reach to rapidly deploy Rivr’s advanced robotic solutions to a significantly broader customer base, thereby enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of package delivery, particularly in challenging urban and residential environments.
Rivr had previously embarked on a pilot program in Austin last year, collaborating with Veho, a package delivery service. At that time, Bjelonic expressed ambitions to learn from this partnership and scale their fleet to 100 robots by 2026. It remains unconfirmed whether the startup achieved this specific milestone prior to the acquisition.
Amazon’s interest in Rivr is not a recent development. The company had already demonstrated its belief in Rivr’s potential through significant early investments. Both the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund and Bezos Expeditions participated in Rivr’s $22.2 million seed funding round, which concluded in 2024, according to data from PitchBook. The startup had successfully raised a total of $25 million in funding and was last valued at $100 million, underscoring the perceived value of its innovative technology.
This acquisition positions Amazon to further solidify its leadership in logistics automation, potentially overcoming one of the most persistent challenges in delivery: navigating varied terrains and vertical obstacles like stairs. By integrating Rivr’s unique capabilities, Amazon is poised to redefine convenience and efficiency in the final stages of package delivery, bringing autonomous solutions directly to customers’ doorsteps with unprecedented agility.
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