Amazon acquired Rivr, a Zurich robotics startup that builds four-legged, wheeled robots able to climb stairs and carry parcels to the front door. The deal was first reported by The Information and confirmed on March 19, 2026. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Rivr co-founder and CEO Marko Bjelonic announced the acquisition on LinkedIn. He said it would speed up the company's plan to build what it calls general physical AI, starting with doorstep delivery, and that Amazon's resources would help put its robots in front of more homes.
An Amazon representative told The Information that the purchase reflected the company's commitment to continued investment in research, which it said could improve safety and the delivery experience for its delivery service partners and their drivers.
What Rivr built
Rivr's robot has four legs that end in wheels, which lets it drive on flat ground and step over curbs, stairs and uneven surfaces. Bjelonic has described it as a dog on roller skates. The company had recently released the second generation of the robot, Engadget reported.
According to The Robot Report, the machine can walk, drive and stand up on its two hind legs, and handles packages with its wheeled front feet. The founders first worked with ANYbotics' ANYmal quadruped during their research at ETH Zurich, and after incorporating the company they built their AI software on Unitree's B2 robot platform.
The company spun out of ETH Zurich's Robotic Systems Lab in 2023 and was originally called Swiss-Mile. Its founders are Bjelonic, Giorgio Valsecchi, Lorenz Wellhausen and Alexander Reske, according to Trending Topics. Earlier versions of its machine were tested for last-mile delivery and for security work at critical infrastructure sites.
In 2025 Rivr began a pilot in Austin, Texas, with the parcel delivery company Veho. Bjelonic had said he hoped to reach 100 robots by 2026. TechCrunch reported that it was not clear whether that target was met. The number of employees was not disclosed.
“This acquisition reflects our commitment to a continued investment in research.”
The founders and the funding
Rivr raised about $25 million in total, according to PitchBook data cited by TechCrunch. Most of that came from a $22.2 million seed round in 2024, led by Bezos Expeditions, Jeff Bezos's investment firm, and HongShan, with the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, Armada Investment and existing investor Linear Capital taking part, The Robot Report reported.
Reports differ on the company's last valuation. TechCrunch and Trending Topics put it at $100 million, while Engadget reported a $110 million valuation from the August 2024 round.
When the seed round was announced, Franziska Bossart, head of the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, said the team was building real-world solutions with embodied AI and robotics. Harry Wang, founder of Linear Capital, said at the time that he was drawn to the team's international and customer-focused approach.
Why Amazon is buying
Amazon has been automating more of its operations. It deployed its one millionth robot in 2025 and has set a goal of automating 75% of its operations, Engadget reported. Rivr's machines are built for the last stretch between a delivery vehicle and a customer's door.
Sifted said the deal showed Amazon's interest in automating doorstep delivery. Because Amazon's corporate venture fund was already a Rivr shareholder, the acquisition brings in-house a team it had backed since 2024.
Engadget said the purchase was likely to support Amazon's push for faster and more efficient package deliveries. Amazon did not say how it would use Rivr's robots, whether they would be deployed in its own delivery network, or what would happen to the Zurich team.
A busy market for robotics
Investment in European robotics has risen sharply. Equity funding for robotics companies in Europe increased 130% in 2025 to €1.6 billion (about $1.8 billion), according to Sifted data cited by Dealroom.
