Insider Brief
- Amazon has acquired Zurich-based RIVR Technologies, a legged delivery robotics startup spun out of ETH Zurich, as it expands its investment in physical AI and last-mile automation, according to Swiss Global Enterprise.
- RIVR’s robots use a combination of AI, sensors and actuators to autonomously navigate complex environments, climb stairs and carry payloads of up to 60 kilograms for doorstep delivery.
- The deal follows prior investment from Amazon and Jeff Bezos and builds on pilot deployments in Zurich, with the acquisition expected to further strengthen Switzerland’s role as a robotics hub.
Amazon has acquired Zurich-based RIVR Technologies, a developer of legged delivery robots, as the company looks to expand its efforts in physical AI and last-mile automation.
“This step will accelerate our vision of building General Physical AI through doorstep delivery, bringing robotics and AI closer to real-world deployment at scale,” Marko Bjelonic, CEO of what is now Amazon RIVR, said in a statement.
According to Swiss Global Enterprise, RIVR, a spin-off from the ETH Zurich founded in 2023, builds four-legged, wheeled robots designed for doorstep delivery. The systems are capable of navigating autonomously, climbing stairs and carrying payloads of up to 60 kilograms, combining sensors, cameras and AI-driven control systems to operate in real-world environments.
The company rebranded from Swiss-Mile to RIVR Technologies in January 2025 and began pilot food deliveries in Zurich later that year in partnership with Just Eat Takeaway.com. Additional field testing was conducted with Swiss Post and Migros Online in Regensdorf.
Swiss Global Enterprose noted that Amazon had previously invested in RIVR through its Industrial Innovation Fund, alongside Jeff Bezos, as part of a 2024 funding round. The acquisition marks a continuation of that relationship and signals Amazon’s interest in scaling robotics systems for delivery applications.
Swiss Global Enterprise said the deal could further strengthen Switzerland’s position as a robotics hub, particularly as Amazon has also backed other local startups including Algorized, which develops perception systems that allow robots to operate in low-visibility conditions.
Image credit: Swiss Global Enterprise/RIVR
