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Serve Robotics Inc.(SERV) - 2024 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics - Total revenue for Q3 2024 was 222,000,withdeliveryandbrandingrevenuescontributing222,000, with delivery and branding revenues contributing 183,000, a 49% increase quarter-over-quarter and 108% increase year-over-year [28] - Daily active robots increased by 23% quarter-over-quarter and 97% year-over-year, reaching 59 robots, producing an average of 465 daily supply hours, a 21% increase quarter-over-quarter and 108% increase year-over-year [29] - Cost of revenue was 377,000,withadeclineingrossmarginduetoreducedhighermarginsoftwareservicesrevenue[31]NetlossforQ32024was377,000, with a decline in gross margin due to reduced higher-margin software services revenue [31] - Net loss for Q3 2024 was 8 million, compared to 9millioninthepriorquarter[33]Freecashflowwasnegative9 million in the prior quarter [33] - Free cash flow was negative 10.1 million, including 6.9millionrelatedtomanufacturingcosts,butthecompanyscashpositionwasbolsteredby6.9 million related to manufacturing costs, but the company's cash position was bolstered by 32.3 million from equity transactions [34] - The company ended Q3 with a strong cash balance of 50.9million,sufficienttosupportthe2,000robotrolloutin2025[35]BusinessLineDataandKeyMetricsDeliveryrevenueincreasedsignificantlyduetoimprovedfleetutilization,drivenbysoftwareenhancementsandoperationalimprovements[28]Softwareservicesrevenuecontributed50.9 million, sufficient to support the 2,000 robot rollout in 2025 [35] Business Line Data and Key Metrics - Delivery revenue increased significantly due to improved fleet utilization, driven by software enhancements and operational improvements [28] - Software services revenue contributed 39,000 in Q3, with expectations of a few hundred thousand dollars in additional revenue from the new Magna agreement in the first half of 2025 [30] - The company is on track to deploy 2,000 robots by the end of 2025, aiming for an annual run rate of 60millionto60 million to 80 million in revenue once fully utilized [6][11] - The third-gen robots, with 70% more battery and twice the speed, are expected to double the delivery fleet by the end of 2024 [8][45] Market Data and Key Metrics - The company is expanding its service area in Los Angeles to Downtown LA, Sawtelle, and Westwood, effectively doubling the number of restaurants served [9][10] - The first market outside of LA will be the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro, with plans to deploy robots there by Q2 2025 [11] - The partnership with Wing Aviation will enable multi-modal robotic and drone deliveries, covering distances up to six miles [13][14] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - The company is focusing on scaling its robot fleet, expanding into new markets, and deepening partnerships with national chains like Shake Shack and Wing Aviation [6][12][13] - The acquisition of Vebu, Inc. will allow the company to expand into kitchen automation, offering a more holistic solution to restaurant partners [18][22] - The company expects to be one of the largest autonomous vehicle fleets in North America by the end of 2025 [66] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The company is optimistic about the future, with plans to expand into new cities and deepen relationships with national chains [12][16] - The management expects full cost recovery for each robot within 12 months of deployment [11] - The company is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for automated delivery solutions [16][66] Other Important Information - The company has established a new ATM program for additional capital flexibility, though no immediate need for capital is anticipated [36] - The acquisition of Vebu is structured as an all-stock transaction, with no upfront cash consideration, and is expected to bring potential revenue growth and cash flow [22][38] Q&A Session Summary Question: Total robot deployment by end of 2025 - The company aims to have a total of 2,000 robots by the end of 2025, with a portion of the fleet used for maintenance and R&D [44] Question: Advantages of third-gen robots - The third-gen robots have 70% more battery, twice the speed, and five times more compute power, while manufacturing costs have been halved [45][46] Question: Number of stores using robot delivery - The company currently serves over 400 restaurants in LA, with plans to nearly double that number in the coming weeks [48] Question: Impact of recent elections - The company is monitoring regulatory and policy changes, with favorable legislation allowing robots to operate on sidewalks [49][50] Question: Scaling up plans - The company has an effective expansion playbook, starting with market selection, securing depots, and onboarding merchants and customers [51][52] Question: Utilization of robots - Full utilization of the 2,000 robots may take up to a year, with efficiency improving over time as the company gains more experience in new markets [54][55] Question: Revenue range for 2,000 robots - The 60millionto60 million to 80 million revenue range includes delivery and branding fees, with delivery services expected to contribute the majority of revenue [58] Question: Competitive landscape - The company is leading in urban environments, with competitors focusing more on campuses and bike lanes [61][62][63] Question: Vebu acquisition and Chipotle relationship - The Vebu acquisition will allow the company to offer a more holistic solution to restaurant partners, with Autocado currently in pilot at Chipotle [67][68]