
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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We’re looking for an intern to work hands-on with our robots. We deploy these robots autonomously in warehouses so there is a lot on the stack of things to get them working flawless. If you’re interested in autonomous navigation, motion planning, or control systems, please feel free to apply.
What you’ll do:
Contribute directly to our production codebase in C++ and Python.
Contribute fresh ideas and implementations.
Tackle projects that will directly help our team implement a new or improved feature
Build and test software for real robots!
Qualifications/Requirements
Currently pursuing a degree or recent grad in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
Strong grasp of C++ and Python.
Linux experience, comfortable working in a command-line environment (you know your way around Ubuntu).
You have an interest in how software interacts with physical hardware (sensors, motors, or embedded boards like Raspberry Pi/Jetson).
Experience with Git contributions and Git best practices in a team environment
Nice To Haves
Experience with ROS2
Experience using Docker
Past projects in computer vision, autonomous navigation, motion planning, or other robotics-related domains
What makes you an ideal fit
Contribute ideas and work with autonomy when on projects
Tenacity and desire to tackle problems others may see as ‘too difficult’
Creative problem solving
Passion for engineering