Travis Kalanick, co-founder of Uber, has re-emerged in the business world with the launch of a new robotics company named Atoms. This venture, which focuses on the food, mining, and transport industries, comes after eight years spent in stealth mode. Kalanick revealed details about Atoms during an interview on the TBPN show, where he explained that the company evolved from his real estate firm, City Storage Systems, which also operates CloudKitchens, a ghost kitchen service.
Kalanick emphasized the core mission of Atoms: “The whole idea was can you get a meal that’s prepared and delivered to you so efficiently that it starts to approach the cost of going to the grocery store,” he stated. He compared this innovation to what Uber accomplished in the transportation sector, aiming to revolutionize the kitchen experience.
In addition to launching Atoms, Kalanick is reportedly finalizing the acquisition of Pronto, a self-driving startup focused on industrial and mining applications. This company was founded by Anthony Levandowski, a former Uber colleague and official in the Trump administration. According to The Information, Pronto has also received backing from Uber, further intertwining Kalanick’s legacy with autonomous vehicle technology.
Kalanick’s departure from Uber was marked by controversy in 2017, following a shareholder revolt that stemmed from allegations concerning his handling of sexual harassment claims within the company. Additionally, Uber faced legal challenges from Google, which accused it of stealing trade secrets related to autonomous driving technologies. Levandowski, who was central to these disputes, was convicted but later received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump.
Reflecting on his time at Uber, Kalanick acknowledged the difficulties of leading the company under intense public scrutiny. “I had to wake up every day and sort of just get to work and build,” he recalled. This led him to operate away from the spotlight for several years, which created unique challenges for recruiting talent. Employees at City Storage Systems were not permitted to list the company on their LinkedIn profiles, which Kalanick described as a setback.
Despite the challenges, Kalanick believes that operating in stealth mode has its advantages. He noted that it attracts a specific type of employee, fostering a culture focused on progress rather than fame. “What you get when you create a culture around that is you build a culture of builders,” he explained. He pointed out that this environment encourages emotional intelligence among team members, allowing them to prioritize collective goals over individual recognition.
Kalanick’s transition from Uber to Atoms illustrates his readiness to apply lessons learned from his previous venture while embracing innovation in new fields. As Atoms prepares to enter the market, the impact of Kalanick’s vision on the food and transport industries remains to be seen.
