Intermode wants to bring their autonomous robot, dubbed The Modal, to the masses.
The Detroit-area startup offers a modestly priced but mighty delivery robot available for a multitude of uses as a monthly subscription service. Among the potential robot missions, the company’s website suggests snack and grocery delivery, security, snow removal, advertising, gathering data, testing vehicle controls, and developing autonomous driving policies.
“We’re at a pivotable point in history, no different than the one from horses to cars, to enable a new category of tools, everyday mobile robots,” said Arnold Kadiu, co-founder and CEO of Intermode. “Like cars, they only exist in applications that can afford their expensive prices. We need to produce them in high quantities and at low cost to bring them to everyone.”
Per the Intermode website, the company’s mission is to “Revolutionize the way businesses utilize robotics by offering a hassle-free mobility platform,” which allows them to “easily integrate robotics into their business with flexibility and minimal financial risk.”
The company is inspired by intermodal shipping containers, the ubiquitous brightly colored containers you see on ships, docks, trains, and trucks. Like these containers revolutionized the shipping industry to make it more efficient and less expensive, Intermode aspires to do the same with its inexpensive, adaptable robot.
Building connections in mobility
Kadiu was one of 10 founders to participate in the 2024 Capital One Accelerator, a 12- mobility-focused program that helps startups develop business plans, become capital-ready, build connections, and fine-tune their pitches.
Through the Accelerator, Kadiu said he had the opportunity to connect with others in the mobility sector.
“We’ve been exposed to a number of different techniques, mentors, and other founders to talk to,” he said. “It’s been great to share experiences and stories.”
From solar cars to car marketing to autonomous robots
The company’s founding members (Kadiu, Ann Larson, and Leda Daehler) met while working on the University of Michigan Solar Car Team, where the trio designed, built, and raced several solar-powered, street-legal electric vehicles. They had great success, winning championship titles nationally and internationally.
“Racing a 350lb handbuilt Solar Car at 70mph, 3000 Km across the Australian outback is no easy feat,” he said on LinkedIn. “Having done it twice myself, it remains one of the hardest and most testing experiences of my life.”
Following graduation, the trio pursued a startup within Ford Motor Company’s incubator FordX called Find Your Ford. They built a website to improve brand loyalty, offering an online marketplace for new and used Fords.
After moving to Ford R&D, Kadiu worked on new features for Ford EVs leading to six patents in EV and vehicle structures. Then he worked with Argo AI to design a new sensor mounting platform for their next-gen autonomous vehicle.
Up next for the startup, Intermode is looking to grow its team to accelerate the deployment of their robots.
Kadiu is active in the local startup community. This week, Kadiu joined select Detroit region innovators at the Detroit Month of Design panel to discuss Designing an Autonomous Robotic Pickup Platform. “I’m excited to share the stage with other innovators focused on building a better future for Detroit through tech,” he said on LinkedIn.
On his LinkedIn profile, he wrote about productivity as “the heart of human progress” and the importance of bringing robots into the equation to multiply humans’ most valuable resource: time.
“Delivery robots have the opportunity to give every person in the US another 140 hours a week for themselves while dramatically reducing congestion, noise, and pollution,” Kadiu said. “Intermode’s goal is to transform the world by offering cheap, reliable, and turn-key robotic delivery platforms. Every human has the right to do more with their day.”
Capital One is a Dallas Innovates Platinum partner. “ Transforming the World Through Robots: Intermode Aims to Provide Cheap, Reliable Robots so Humans Can ‘Do More With Their Day’” was written and edited by Dallas Innovates’ brand studio.
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Capital One Accelerator 2024 pitch finalists and stakeholders at Dallas Startup Week. [Photo: Tres Cox/Capital One]
Capital One Accelerator Program Fuels Founders to Drive the Future of Mobility
One of few mobility-focused accelerator programs in the country, the Capital One program empowers visionary founders to enhance their startup expertise, expand their networks, and attract investors. The program’s latest cohort concluded with standout pitches and notable wins.
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