Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick launches robotics startup Atoms

Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick has launched Atoms, a robotics startup aimed at building specialised robots for industrial sectors including food, mining and transportation.

According to TechCrunch, the new venture consolidates Kalanick’s existing ghost kitchen business CloudKitchens into a broader robotics-focused company. Atoms will develop a foundational “wheelbase” platform to power special large-scale industrial environments.

Kalanick said the company intends to focus on robots designed for specific operational tasks rather than humanoid machines.

“Humanoids have their place, but there’s a lot of room for specialised robots that do things in an efficient, industrial-scale way,” Kalanick said in a live interview with TBPN.

Focus on industrial automation

Atoms’ strategy appears centred on automation in sectors that require heavy logistics and operational efficiency.

The company’s website says its robotics systems will operate across industries such as food preparation, mining and transportation, though details about specific products or deployment timelines remain limited.

Kalanick indicated that industrial applications are likely to be the company’s primary focus, emphasising robotics platforms capable of operating in controlled environments such as warehouses, kitchens and industrial facilities.

“The industrial thing is probably our main focus,” Kalanick said during the interview.

The venture also reflects a broader trend across the technology industry, where companies are investing heavily in robotics and automation to address labour shortages and improve operational efficiency.

Possible acquisition of autonomous vehicle startup

As part of the expansion into industrial automation, Kalanick revealed that Atoms is close to acquiring Pronto, an autonomous vehicle startup specialising in driverless systems for mining and industrial sites.

Pronto was founded by Anthony Levandowski, a former Uber engineer who previously worked on the ride-hailing company’s autonomous driving programme.

Kalanick said he is already the largest investor in Pronto, suggesting the acquisition would strengthen Atoms’ capabilities in industrial mobility and robotics.

According to The Information, Kalanick has also told people close to the project that he wants to move aggressively in the self-driving technology space, potentially pushing deployment faster than competitors such as Waymo.

Uber did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding any involvement in the venture, the publication reported.

Return to automation technology

The launch of Atoms marks Kalanick’s most direct return to automation and robotics since his departure from Uber in 2017.

Kalanick stepped down as Uber’s chief executive following a series of internal controversies and governance challenges at the company, including allegations of workplace harassment and discrimination that triggered an external investigation.

Before leaving Uber, Kalanick had championed the company’s push into autonomous driving. The programme eventually became embroiled in legal disputes with Google’s self-driving unit, which later evolved into Waymo.

Uber ultimately sold its autonomous vehicle division to Aurora in 2020 under CEO Dara Khosrowshahi.

A new bet on robotics

With Atoms, Kalanick is betting that specialised robotics systems will play a major role in future industrial operations, particularly in sectors that rely on large-scale physical logistics.

The integration of CloudKitchens into the new venture also suggests the company could experiment with robotics-driven food production or automated kitchen operations.

While details about the company’s technology roadmap remain limited, Kalanick indicated that robots designed for specific industrial tasks could become more practical and scalable than humanoid systems in the near term.

If successful, Atoms could position Kalanick once again at the centre of a major technological shift — this time in the rapidly evolving robotics and automation industry.