{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"These robots could cut delivery costs by 80% | Next Unicorns","description":"These robots could cut delivery costs by 80% | Next Unicorns This Week In Startups is made possible by: Squarespace https:\/\/squarespace.com\/twist Northwest Registered Agent https:\/\/northwestregisteredagent.com\/twist Agree https:\/\/agree.com &amp;nbsp;  &amp;nbsp;  Today\u2019s show: *Cytronic built a robotics-first fulfillment network, packing and shipping orders for cents instead of dollars, from small, city-adjacent micro-warehouses. Alex chats with CEO and co-founder Kevin Gibbon about how he can build a fulfillment warehouse for $1.2 million, and why it costs Amazon 50M-100M. PLUS Eyebot delivers low-cost doctor-reviewed eyeglass prescriptions following 90-second vision tests, conducted in everyday kiosks. We asked CEO and co-founder Matthias Hofmann how he\u2019s trying to simplify vision care and caught up with his Walmart and Sam\u2019s Club pilot programs. Guests Kevin Gibbon on X: https:\/\/x.com\/kevingibbon Cytronic: https:\/\/cytronic.ai\/ Matthias Hofmann on LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mchofmann\/ Eyebot: https:\/\/www.eyebot.co\/ Relevant Links Axios: Cytronic seed round: ****https:\/\/www.axios.com\/pro\/supply-chain-deals\/2026\/07\/15\/robotic-fulfillment-cytronic-13m Airhouse acquired by Syncware: https:\/\/www.airhouse.io\/ Amazon News: 10 Years of Robotics:  https:\/\/www.aboutamazon.com\/news\/operations\/10-years-of-amazon-robotics-how-robots-help-sort-packages-move-product-and-improve-safety Serve Robotics: https:\/\/www.serverobotics.com\/ Zipline: https:\/\/www.flyzipline.com TechCrunch: Manna plots major US expansion:  https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2026\/07\/08\/autonomous-drone-delivery-startup-manna-plots-major-u-s-expansion\/ TechCrunch: Eyebot Series A round:  https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2025\/08\/26\/eyebot-gets-20m-series-a-to-boost-to-expand-eye-care-access\/ CNET Eyebot coverage:  https:\/\/www.cnet.com\/health\/medical\/i-took-a-vision-test-in-90-seconds-with-a-robot-and-saw-the-future-of-vision-care\/ Walmart &amp;amp; Sam\u2019s Club announcement:  https:\/\/www.eyebot.co\/resources\/walmart-and-sams-club-pilot-fast-affordable-eyeglass-prescriptions-using-eyebots-technology\/ Formlabs: https:\/\/formlabs.com\/ Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses: https:\/\/www.meta.com\/ai-glasses\/ Google Android XR AI announcement:  https:\/\/blog.google\/products-and-platforms\/platforms\/android\/android-xr-gemini-glasses-headsets\/ World Health Organization: Blindness and vision impairment fact sheet:  https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/blindness-and-visual-impairment Timestamps: 0:00 Kevin Gibbons of Cytronic joins the show 5:29 How small is a micro fulfillment center? 9:59 Squarespace - Turn your idea into a beautiful website! Go to https:\/\/www.squarespace.com\/twist for a free trial. When you're ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. 11:33 Understanding the unit economics 20:24 Northwest Registered Agent - Get more when you start your business with Northwest. In 10 clicks and 10 minutes, you can form your company and walk away with a real business identity \u2014 Learn more at https:\/\/northwestregisteredagent.com\/twist 22:29 Why fulfillment costs rise as you scale 29:46 Automatons Roll Out 30:12 Matthias Hofmann of Eyebot joins the show 30:31 Agree.com - Stop chasing invoices and automate your entire contract-to-cash stack. Go to https:\/\/agree.com and tell them Jason sent you to get 50% off for life! 31:29 Vision tests vs. eye exams 42:28 The terrifying doctor shortage 47:22 Fundraising and partnerships 57:07 Will we always need human doctors in the loop? &amp;nbsp; Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https:\/\/ticker.thisweekinstartups.com Check out the TWIST500: https:\/\/www.twist500.com Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https:\/\/rb.gy\/v19fcp  &amp;nbsp;  Follow Alex: X: https\/\/x.com\/alex  &amp;nbsp;  Follow Lon: X: https:\/\/x.com\/lons  &amp;nbsp;  Follow Jason: X: https:\/\/twitter.com\/Jason LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jasoncalacanis  &amp;nbsp;  &amp;nbsp; Check out all our partner offers: https:\/\/partners.launch.co\/  &amp;nbsp;  Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe,  Steve Huffman,  Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta,  Aaron Levie,  Sophia Amoruso,  Reid Hoffman,  Frank Slootman,  Billy McFarland  &amp;nbsp;  Check out Jason\u2019s suite of newsletters: https:\/\/substack.com\/@calacanis  &amp;nbsp;  Follow TWiST: Twitter: https:\/\/twitter.com\/TWiStartups YouTube: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/thisweekin Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thisweekinstartups TikTok: https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@thisweekinstartups Substack: https:\/\/twistartups.substack.com ","author_name":"This Week in Startups","author_url":"https:\/\/thisweekinstartups.com","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/42414930\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/205042715"}