Founder Spotlight: Marko Bjelonic

Marko Bjelonic is co-founder and CEO of RIVR, a Swiss robotics company at the forefront of using General Physical AI to transform last-mile delivery. Before earning his Ph.D. at ETH Zurich, Marko pioneered a patented technology combining wheels and legs for quadrupeds and contributed to the first use of an artificial neural network on a legged robot, advancing Physical AI.

What inspired you to launch RIVR, and what specific challenges were you aiming to address?

We launched RIVR to solve a critical challenge: the lack of meaningful real-world data for training General Physical AI to navigate alongside humans. Unlike autonomous cars and chatbots, which benefit from millions of vehicles generating expert-labeled driving data or the internet, legged robots lack a scalable way to gather the necessary training data.

The idea stemmed from my and my three other co-founders’ Ph.D. research at ETH Zurich in 2019, where we used artificial neural networks to significantly enhance the intelligence of legged robots. This breakthrough made real-world applications feasible, but meaningful data for deployment at scale was still missing.

To address this, we identified last-mile delivery as the ideal use case. With millions of potential deployments in the U.S. alone, delivery robots can generate the large-scale data needed to train a General Physical AI model. This data enables robots to navigate sidewalks, interact with humans, and manipulate real-world objects like gates and packages to pave the way for a broader urban autonomy solution.

What has been the most surprising lesson you’ve learned as a founder?

One of the most surprising lessons I’ve learned as a first-time founder is that the biggest breakthroughs don’t come from just having the best technology—they come from deeply understanding the market and especially the timing. Early on, I believed that if we built the most advanced-legged robots, adoption would naturally follow. But in reality, even groundbreaking technology needs the right problem, the right moment, and the right strategy.

For example, in robotics, we saw that while the technology was improving rapidly, the real bottleneck was data—something that other industries, like autonomous cars, had solved through sheer scale. That realization prompted us to refine our approach, centering on a vertical use case that generates vast, high-impact real-world data to drive General Physical AI. To identify the right use case, it’s essential to target a market large enough to create an impact with a clear value proposition that makes the customer love the product.

Ultimately, I’ve learned that success is not just about solving hard problems—it’s about choosing the right problem to solve at the right time.

What makes RIVR’s approach different?

RIVR stands out by tackling not just the last mile but the last 100 yards, and our goal is to ensure deliveries reach the customer’s doorstep. This requires a solution beyond traditional wheeled robots, legged robots, or drones.

Our approach combines wheels and legs, leveraging the speed and efficiency of wheels for long distances while using legs to navigate obstacles like steps and stairs in the final stretch. We also integrate a robotic arm to open gates, enabling fully autonomous, end-to-end deliveries.

By reaching customers directly, we unlock unattended deliveries, which account for most package, food, and grocery shipments. Our system can also integrate with both traditional and autonomous vehicles to maximize efficiency. This not only enhances delivery speed and accessibility but also ensures strong returns for our customers and, in turn, for RIVR as a company.

What was a pivotal moment in RIVR’s journey that shaped its trajectory?

In 2024, we took an open-minded approach, carefully studying the market by engaging with numerous companies and observing their processes firsthand. Then, following our $22M Seed round, co-led by HSG and Jeff Bezos at the end of 2024, we distilled our learnings and made a deliberate decision to focus on the massive opportunity in last-mile delivery.

This focus has been rocket fuel for the company. Everyone is aligned, knowing exactly what needs to be done, which has supercharged our speed in solving robotic delivery. We see tangible progress almost daily, with continuous product improvements.

Having this clarity also strengthens our hiring process. We know precisely what roles to fill, and new team members enter with well-defined expectations, enabling them to contribute effectively from day one.

Ultimately, the startups that win are not just those that raise the most money but those that use capital most efficiently. True efficiency is measured by how well funding translates into increased valuation, which is directly tied to the revenue generated by customers and the expected further returns in the future.

If you could give one piece of advice to first-time entrepreneurs, what would it be?

Since I’m just now entering the growth phase, I can only offer advice for the early stages. Start by assembling a small team of exceptional, talented people who align with the culture you want to build. Keep an open mind about your focus. Immerse yourself in the field, explore different market segments, and gain hands-on expertise until you develop a strong conviction about the right path.

However, speed requires making decisions amid uncertainty. The key is to strike a balance between knowing and not knowing—gathering enough insight to move forward while accepting that perfect clarity will come later.

The most crucial factor is timing. You can be too early or too late, and this is where uncertainty naturally arises. If you feel absolutely certain about an opportunity, you’re probably too late. If there’s overwhelming uncertainty, you might be too early. The challenge is navigating this uncertainty and making bold yet informed decisions at the right moment.

What’s one book, podcast, or mentor that has had a profound impact on you as a leader?

Many books, podcasts, and mentors have shaped me as a leader and had a significant impact:

My parents instilled in me the importance of hard work and maintaining a positive outlook, even in the toughest situations. Prof. Dr. Marco Hutter guided me through my PhD at ETH Zurich, teaching me all the essential aspects of robotics—from software and hardware to real-world deployment. Harry Wang, founder of Linear Capital and the lead investor in our pre-seed round, taught me the art of fundraising. Dr. Zhaopeng Cheng, founder of a leading robotics company in Germany and a co-investor in our pre-seed round, helped me understand the importance of focusing on problems backed by large markets. Neil Shen, founder of HSG and co-lead in our seed round, emphasized the critical role of sales and how to close deals with large enterprises. Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and many other ventures, and our co-lead in the seed round, reinforced the value of long-term thinking—making strategic decisions with a 10-year perspective, much like he did with Amazon.

Beyond mentors, I also draw inspiration from The Lex Fridman Podcast, which I appreciate for its open-minded approach to diverse perspectives, as well as Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker, a book that reinforces optimism by showing how humanity is progressing in all aspects of life, helping me maintain a positive outlook on the future.

What prompted RIVR’s partnership with HSG, and how has this collaboration advanced your company’s goals and mission?

HSG is one of the world’s most renowned investors and has a strong global reputation. Beyond their prestige, they bring exceptional resources, especially in Asia, which significantly enhances our supply chain in terms of speed and cost-effectiveness.

What stands out most to me, however, is the quality of their partners and the level of support they provide—not just financially but in every aspect of building and scaling a company. They exemplify what a top-tier VC should be: empowering motivated founders who are ready to work hard, think strategically, and aim big.

How do you see your industry evolving over the next five years, and where does RIVR fit into that future？

Our goal is to establish ourselves as the leading company in urban robotics, shaping this market with a variety of robotic form factors in the future. Today, we are starting with wheeled-legged robots, and if needed, we will integrate humanoids down the line.

Our competitive edge comes from the data we collect, creating a barrier that makes it difficult for others to enter this space. Ultimately, whenever a robot is needed to perform tasks in urban environments outside people’s homes, our vision is for that robot to be ours.