Serve Robotics to Acquire Autocado Robot Maker Vebu, Expanding Automation Offering

Rhea-AI Summary

Serve Robotics (Nasdaq: SERV) announced its agreement to acquire the assets of Vebu, a leader in full-stack automation for the restaurant industry. This all-stock transaction, with undisclosed financial terms, aims to enhance Serve's offerings by integrating Vebu's kitchen automation solutions, including the Autocado robot, which automates avocado processing. Vebu's founder, Buck Jordan, will join Serve as SVP of Kitchen Automation. This acquisition is expected to unlock key synergies, expand Serve's market opportunities, and strengthen partnerships with major restaurant chains like Chipotle.

Positive

• Expansion of Serve's automation offerings beyond delivery.
• Enhanced strategic positioning in the restaurant industry.
• Potential to address labor shortages with Vebu's technology.
• Strengthened partnerships with major restaurant chains like Chipotle.
• Increased market opportunities through comprehensive automation solutions.

Negative

• None.

Acquisition deepens Serve's offerings for the restaurant industry, helping partners improve efficiency and manage labor shortage challenges from kitchen to curb

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Serve Robotics Inc. ("Serve") (Nasdaq: SERV), a leading autonomous robotic delivery company, today announced its agreement to acquire the assets of Vebu Inc. ("Vebu"), a trailblazer in full-stack automation and robotics solutions for restaurant partners. Financial terms of the all-stock transaction were not disclosed.

The acquisition strengthens Serve's strategic positioning by providing its restaurant partners with a suite of automation solutions and expanding Serve's offering beyond delivery into back of house automation. Vebu will help Serve become a more integral partner to restaurants, accelerating partner adoption as Serve expands its geographic footprint in new cities across the U.S.

Vebu's signature robotic product is the Autocado, the pioneering avocado-processing robot which eliminates the need for restaurant workers to spend hours cutting, coring and scooping avocados to prepare guacamole. The Autocado allows employees to load up to 25 pounds of avocados into the device and walk away to focus on serving customers and preparing other items. It is now in pilot testing in Chipotle's Huntington Beach, Calif. restaurant.

In addition, the transaction is expected to unlock key synergies:

• Expanding Partnerships: Vebu's partnership with leading restaurant companies such as Chipotle will extend Serve's existing business relationships, which include Shake Shack and 7-Eleven, among others.
• Expanding Serve's Market Opportunity: This acquisition complements Serve's recent expansion into delivery over all distances through its partnership with Alphabet's Wing Aviation subsidiary, making Serve one of the most comprehensive automation providers in the restaurant industry.

Vebu's founder and CEO Buck Jordan will join Serve Robotics as SVP of Kitchen Automation. He will continue to lead the Vebu team, overseeing Autocado's continued development and driving additional innovations on the product roadmap. Mr. Jordan, a serial entrepreneur who previously founded Miso Robotics, brings deep expertise and connections in kitchen automation. His experience in the sector, combined with Vebu's innovation, will bolster Serve's ability to address the labor shortages faced by the restaurant industry.

"By adding Vebu's pioneering kitchen automation capabilities to our autonomous delivery offering, we are uniquely positioned to utilize robotics and AI to solve the labor shortages plaguing the restaurant industry. This acquisition underscores our commitment to helping our partners operate more efficiently and to expanding our partnerships with national chain restaurants like Chipotle. We are thrilled to be joined by an accomplished team pioneering an innovative technology, operating as a separate business unit within our organization," said Dr. Ali Kashani, CEO and co-founder of Serve Robotics.

Buck Jordan, founder and CEO of Vebu, commented, "I am thrilled to join the Serve Robotics team, which I have known and supported since the early days as an investor. This is an exciting opportunity to merge our expertise and bring groundbreaking automation to a wider audience. Together, we will provide a suite of automation solutions that will change the future of restaurant operations."

Vebu joins Serve with a balance sheet that supports its operations to complete its pilot with Chipotle. This acquisition strengthens Serve's core business and long-term strategy to be a leader in restaurant automation.

About Serve Robotics

Serve develops advanced, AI-powered, low-emissions sidewalk delivery robots that endeavor to make delivery sustainable and economical. Spun off from Uber in 2021 as an independent company, Serve has completed tens of thousands of deliveries for enterprise partners such as Uber Eats and 7-Eleven. The company has scalable multi-year contracts, including a signed agreement to deploy up to 2,000 delivery robots on the Uber Eats platform across multiple U.S. markets.

For further information about Serve Robotics (Nasdaq:SERV), visit www.serverobotics.com or follow us on social media via X (Twitter), Instagram, or LinkedIn @serverobotics.

About Vebu Inc.

Vebu is a full stack Automation, Robotics, and Intelligence company focused on building technology solutions for and with the broad food industry. With a partner driven team of experts spanning engineering, robotics, artificial intelligence, and product development, Vebu is building products to help humans do more. For further information, visit vebulabs.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Serve intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements can be about future events, including statements regarding Serve's intentions, objectives, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events, including Serve's expectations with respect to the financial and operating performance of its business, its capital position, and future growth. The words "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "project", "predict", "will", "forecast", "estimate", "likely", "intend", "outlook", "should", "could", "may", "target", "plan" and other similar expressions can generally be used to identify forward-looking statements. Indications of, and guidance or outlook on, future earnings or financial position, performance, or outcomes from our planned acquisition described in this press release are also forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include those risks and uncertainties set forth in Serve's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and in its subsequent filings filed with the SEC. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Serve undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Contact

Media
Aduke Thelwell, Head of Communications & Investor Relations
Serve Robotics
press@serverobotics.com

Investor Relations
investor.relations@serverobotics.com

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SOURCE Serve Robotics Inc.

FAQ

What is the purpose of Serve Robotics acquiring Vebu?

The acquisition aims to enhance Serve's automation offerings for the restaurant industry, addressing labor shortages and improving efficiency.

What key product does Vebu bring to Serve Robotics?

Vebu brings the Autocado, an avocado-processing robot that automates tasks like cutting, coring, and scooping avocados.

Will Vebu's founder join Serve Robotics?

Yes, Vebu's founder Buck Jordan will join Serve Robotics as SVP of Kitchen Automation.

How will the acquisition impact Serve Robotics' market opportunities?

The acquisition will expand Serve's market opportunities by offering comprehensive automation solutions, enhancing partnerships with major restaurant chains.

What are the expected synergies from the acquisition of Vebu?

The acquisition is expected to expand partnerships, improve Serve's market positioning, and address labor shortages in the restaurant industry.