
Yondu is a robotics engineering firm that leverages AI and robotics to provide autonomous solutions for retail and warehouse operations. Their flagship product automates the picking, stocking, and inventory management processes, significantly increasing worker efficiency and improving customer experience. With a pricing model that includes a $50k investment per robot and a $5k annual fee, Yondu offers a quick return on investment and substantial savings in total cost of ownership. The company positions itself as a leader in retail automation, addressing the challenges of unfilled retail jobs and rising labor costs while enhancing operational efficiency.

Yondu is a robotics engineering firm that leverages AI and robotics to provide autonomous solutions for retail and warehouse operations. Their flagship product automates the picking, stocking, and inventory management processes, significantly increasing worker efficiency and improving customer experience. With a pricing model that includes a $50k investment per robot and a $5k annual fee, Yondu offers a quick return on investment and substantial savings in total cost of ownership. The company positions itself as a leader in retail automation, addressing the challenges of unfilled retail jobs and rising labor costs while enhancing operational efficiency.
Company: yondu — robotics startup building embodied AI robots for brownfield warehouse automation
Founded: 2023
Headquarters: Gardena / Los Angeles, California
Product focus: Bin-picking, pick-and-place, shelf navigation for 3PLs and mid-sized warehouses
Investors: Y Combinator, SBXi
Warehouse and retail automation—reducing manual picking and stocking labor in brownfield facilities.
2023
Robotics Engineering
500000
Crunchbase lists a Pre-Seed round on this date with two investors (Y Combinator, SBXi).
2100000
Dealroom records a Seed round of $2.1M dated September 2024 with investors including Y Combinator, Link Ventures, SBXi.
“YC-backed (Y Combinator participation and investment); investors named include Y Combinator and SBXi”
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At Yondu, we’re changing the way the world works- literally. Here, our aim is to build the robotic workforce of the future in a way that augments humans, makes people more productive, and enables anyone to pursue their passions.
We are starting by deploying autonomous mobile manipulation robots in logistics settings to do the task of bin picking. Our technology is developing at a rapid pace and our goal is to land major customer pilots. This role will play a major part in finding and executing on those partnerships to develop strong relationships with small and large 3PL companies.
If this journey sounds exciting, consider joining us to accelerate our customer acquisition through building on existing connections in the industry, media strategy, marketing, and b2b sales. You’ll work directly with the CEO and communicate with our top stakeholders and customers.
Compensation will be partly salary and partly commission based. Listed below is the base salary. You’ll receive a commission on each contract you’re able to secure.
You will need several years of experience selling within the logistics space.
In The Business Development Role, You Will
C-Suite Customer Relationship Building and Maintenance:
Working directly with executives from the top logistics companies. Build off your existing relationships in the industry.
Lead Generation & Outreach
Research potential medium sized 3PLs warehouses and larger sized logistics companies, use state of the art software tools to create quality lead lists, and do cold outreach. You’ll also go unicorn hunting and try and land us massive paid contracts.
Growth Hacking:
Leverage social media, traditional media, conferences, and gifting to help our company gain exposure and create effective targeted campaigns across platforms and irl
CRM & Sales Support
Maintain/update CRM systems, Track progress of partnerships, follow-ups, etc, Assist in preparing custom pitch decks, newsletters, and sales material
Market Research
Analyze competitors, industry trends, revenue predictions, customer segments- Summarize findings in slide decks or reports
Event Coordination
Help identify relevant conferences, hackathons, or webinars. Coordinate logistics or create supporting material
Partnership Development
Work with robot manufacturing partners and explore potential hardware and software collaborations
What We’re Looking For
Bonus Points