# Ali Kashani on the Future of Last-Mile Logistics

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2025-03-28
- Length: 1h 03m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-03-28-ali-kashani-on-the-future-of-last-mile-logistics
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/ali-kashani-on-the-future-of-last-mile-logistics

## Summary

Ali Kashani, co-founder and CEO of Serve Robotics, discusses the company's rapid scaling from 100 to 2,000 delivery robots in 2025, driven by a 700% revenue increase and a strategic manufacturing partnership with Magna. He details the operational challenges of expanding from Los Angeles to Miami, the critical role of Uber Eats in driving fleet utilization, and the low-friction workflow designed for restaurant partners. Kashani also reflects on the transition from startup to public company, emphasizing how AI foundation models and hardware cost reductions are enabling the shift from hype to economic viability in last-mile logistics.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-03-28-ali-kashani-on-the-future-of-last-mile-logistics#t=0) Introduction and RBR 50 Awards
- [24:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-03-28-ali-kashani-on-the-future-of-last-mile-logistics#t=1440) Serve Robotics Growth and Magna Partnership
- [29:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-03-28-ali-kashani-on-the-future-of-last-mile-logistics#t=1757) Scaling Manufacturing and Supply Chain
- [30:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-03-28-ali-kashani-on-the-future-of-last-mile-logistics#t=1851) Expansion to Miami and Operational Differences
- [35:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-03-28-ali-kashani-on-the-future-of-last-mile-logistics#t=2145) Partnership Strategy with Uber and Restaurants
- [38:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-03-28-ali-kashani-on-the-future-of-last-mile-logistics#t=2307) Restaurant Workflow and Reliability
- [44:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-03-28-ali-kashani-on-the-future-of-last-mile-logistics#t=2689) AI, Hardware Costs, and Future Applications
- [49:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-03-28-ali-kashani-on-the-future-of-last-mile-logistics#t=2972) Startup to Public Company Journey

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Serve Robotics (company)
- Magna (company)
- Uber Eats (company)
- Wandelbots NOVA (tool)
- Waymo (company)
- Zoox (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- Hello Robot (company)
- Starship Technologies (company)
- Relay Robotics (company)
- The Bot Company (company)
- Symbiotics (company)
- Amazon Robotics (company)
- Psionic (company)
- Cruise (company)
- Twitch (company)
- DoorDash (company)
- ABB (company)
- Kuka (company)
- Fanuc (company)
- Yaskawa (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Deploying Intelligent Robots at Scale with Dexterity CEO Samir Menon](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-12-28-deploying-intelligent-robots-at-scale-with-dexterity-ceo-samir-menon) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Episode 158: Autonomous robot deliveries - Ahti Heinla](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-05-29-episode-158-autonomous-robot-deliveries-ahti-heinla) (Robot Talk)
- [Garrett McCurrach and Canon Reeves (Co-Founders, Pipedream Labs)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2025-12-17-garrett-mccurrach-and-canon-reeves-co-founders-pipedream-labs) (Just Gonna Send It)
- [The Future Of Food Automation: How Chef Robotics Tackles Labor Shortages With Ai Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-11-27-the-future-of-food-automation-how-chef-robotics-tackles-labor-shortages-with-ai) (Over the Air)
- [106. Last Meter Delivery Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-01-24-106-last-meter-delivery-robots) (The Next Byte Podcast)

## Citing this page

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