TakeOff Technologies

Takeoff Technologies, founded in 2016, is a company that specializes in e-grocery technology and micro-fulfillment solutions. The company's core offering is an automated system that enables grocery retailers to fulfill online orders more efficiently and cost-effectively. Takeoff's technology uses robots in Micro Fulfillment Centers (MFCs) to process online grocery orders placed through retailers' existing ecommerce platforms or Takeoff's specialized user interface. The company's MFCs are designed to fit in small warehouses or the back of grocery stores, typically housing between 15,000 and 18,000 of the most popular items in the local market. Takeoff claims its automated MFCs can assemble an order in under 15 minutes, compared to at least an hour for manual picking methods. As of March 2022, Takeoff had 22 operational MFCs. The company's technology aims to address both the cost of assembling orders and the cost of last-mile delivery, operating at a lower cost-to-serve than other ecommerce platforms. Takeoff has an exclusivity agreement with Knapp, a global provider of automated warehousing solutions, for its robotics technology. In October 2023, Takeoff announced a partnership with Hy-Vee to develop MFCs in certain areas where the Midwestern supermarket chain operates, with plans to install up to 16.5 systems through 2026. However, Takeoff Technologies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2024, citing recent financial challenges and the absence of additional equity funding.