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Serve Robotics and DoorDash launch Australia's First Footpath Delivery Robots on the Gold Coast

Serve Robotics

Key Facts:

• Serve Robotics and DoorDash have launched Australia's first footpath robot delivery service, beginning in the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, with Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers as the first participating restaurant.
• The Serve robots travel at walking pace, give way to pedestrians, and are supported by trained remote supervisors, with customers able to opt in or out of robot delivery via the DoorDash app.
• The pilot is part of DoorDash's broader multi-modal delivery strategy, with robots handling short, local trips while human drivers cover longer-distance orders.
• The Gold Coast marks Serve Robotics' first operation outside the United States, with the City of Gold Coast, Griffith University, and the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct all providing support for the initiative.
• Serve Robotics and Griffith University are exploring internship and early-career opportunities for students in robotics, autonomy operations, and field engineering, with the university hosting Serve's operations depot.

UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 6:30AM AEST THURSDAY, 29 OCTOBER

GOLD COAST, Queensland, 29 October 2026 —  Serve Robotics (Nasdaq: SERV) and DoorDash (Nasdaq: DASH) today launched Australia's first footpath robot delivery service with an initial launch in the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct. Starting today, DoorDash customers ordering from Gnocchi Gnocchi, Southport - the pilot’s first participating restaurant, can choose to have their order delivered by a Serve robot. More local restaurants will join the launch in the coming weeks, with any future expansion informed by feedback from the community.

Serve robots travel at walking pace, give way to pedestrians and are designed to safely navigate footpaths. They are supported by trained remote supervisors who can assist where needed and each robot displays a contact number for members of the public with questions.

“This is the first time we've taken Serve beyond the United States, and the Gold Coast is the right place to start. It has the walkable neighbourhoods this technology is built for and a city that has shown it welcomes innovation. After delivering for more than 4,500 restaurants at home, we're here to give local restaurants a new way to reach customers and to earn community trust one delivery at a time," said Ali Kashani, CEO and Co-founder of Serve Robotics. "The City of Gold Coast opened the door, DoorDash brought the restaurants and customers, and Griffith University in the Health and Knowledge Precinct gave our fleet a home. It all leads to the moment I'm most looking forward to, when a Gold Coast family opens their door and finds a robot has arrived with dinner.”

The project is part of DoorDash’s broader multi-modal delivery strategy, which brings together a range of delivery technologies to create more flexible and efficient ways to serve consumers and local businesses. These deliveries typically fulfil orders within short distances, in relatively dense, urban areas, while drivers take on longer-distance orders.

“DoorDash is focused on building a delivery platform that gives customers and merchants more choice, while continuing to support the Dashers who are central to our platform,” said Simon Rossi, Vice President DoorDash APAC. “This pilot program will help us understand how footpath robots can complement existing delivery options for short, local trips creating another convenient way for Gold Coast customers to access the neighbourhood businesses they love.”

Customers can opt-in or out of robot deliveries. The partnership is intended to give local restaurants another way to reach nearby customers, particularly during busy periods. What Serve and DoorDash learn during the pilot program will shape how the service grows, and any changes to delivery zones.

City of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said he welcomed the Australia-first robot food delivery service on the Gold Coast.

“We know that the Gold Coast’s future economy will be shaped by technologies like robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, and we want our city to be a place where those technologies are developed, tested and put to work,” said City of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. “Having Serve Robotics choose the Gold Coast for its first operation outside the United States is a strong vote of confidence in our city and the innovation ecosystem we are building. Invest Gold Coast is helping drive that future economy by attracting global technology companies, connecting them with local partners and creating opportunities that translate into investment, skills and jobs for our city.”

At the end of each shift, robots will return to Serve’s operations depot at Griffith University, the first university to host a Serve operations team. Serve and Griffith are exploring internship and early-career opportunities for Griffith students and graduates in robotics, autonomy operations and field engineering.

“Griffith University's world-first university partnership with Serve Robotics moves autonomous delivery technology from possibility to practical application for food delivery,” said Professor Bronwyn Harch, Vice-President of Industry and External Engagement at Griffith University. “Our partnership will explore how emerging technology can support safer, greener and more inclusive communities, while giving Griffith students practical experience and future-ready skills."

“It is fitting that the first robotic food deliveries in Australia will be made within one of the country’s leading innovation districts in the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, home to over 3,000 residents and 20,000 students. Serve Robotics joins other global technology companies basing operations in our Precinct,” said Craig Rowsell, Director Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct.

“We’re incredibly excited to be the first restaurant in Australia to offer robot deliveries through this partnership with Serve Robotics and DoorDash. At Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers, we’ve always embraced technology and innovation to make great food more accessible and convenient for our customers. We see this as an exciting glimpse into the future of food delivery and customer service, particularly for our Pronto takeaway-focused stores. Whether someone is enjoying our gnocchi for the first time or ordering their usual favourite, our goal remains the same: delicious food, warm Italian hospitality and a great customer experience. If a friendly robot can help us deliver on that, even better!” said Ben Cleary-Corradini, Co-founder of Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers.

Since Serve began operating, its robots have completed deliveries for thousands of restaurants across U.S. cities including Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta. The Gold Coast marks Serve’s first operation outside the United States.

Customers will continue to order through the DoorDash app. When a participating merchant is nearby and a robot is available, robot delivery will appear as an option at checkout. Once selected, the robot collects the order from the restaurant and travels along the footpath to the customer’s address. Customers receive a notification when it arrives, along with a unique code to open the robot’s secure compartment and collect their order.

Serve and DoorDash have worked together in the United States since 2025.

ENDS

 

 

About Serve Robotics

 

Serve Robotics (Nasdaq: SERV) designs and operates autonomous robots that navigate complex, human-centric environments. Since spinning off from Uber in 2021, Serve has deployed more than 2,000 robots across the U.S., reaching a population of approximately 3 million and supporting delivery for more than 4,000 restaurants. In 2026, Serve acquired Diligent Robotics, expanding its operations beyond sidewalk delivery into indoor service robots used in hospitals. Serve designs both the hardware and software behind its robots, enabling them to work safely in public and private environments at scale.

 

For more information, visit www.serverobotics.com or follow the company on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn @serverobotics.

About DoorDash

DoorDash (NASDAQ: DASH) is one of the world's leading local commerce platforms that helps businesses of all kinds grow and innovate, connects consumers to the best of their neighborhoods, and gives people fast, flexible ways to earn. Since its founding in 2013, DoorDash has expanded to more than 40 countries, using technology and logistics to shape the future of local commerce and broaden access to opportunity. With a growing international presence that now includes Deliveroo and Wolt, DoorDash combines global scale with local expertise to serve communities around the world.

About Griffith University

Griffith is a values-led university offering globally recognised degrees, award-winning educators and practical experiences that help students build a career with purpose. Ranked in the top 2 per cent of universities worldwide, Griffith focuses on the issues and challenges that matter today to help create a brighter future for all. Since its foundation, Griffith has championed inclusive education, social justice and sustainability. Its teaching and research are grounded in relevance and impact, driven by strong industry partnerships and a commitment to ethical, innovative leadership. The University works across sectors and communities to create meaningful outcomes through education, research and engagement.

About Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers

Founded in Brisbane by co-founders Ben Cleary-Corradini and Theo Roduner, Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers has grown from a humble two-person market stall serving fresh, handmade gnocchi into Australia's first dedicated Italian Gnoccheria brand. With 16 locations across Queensland and New South Wales, the business continues to bring authentic, homestyle Italian cuisine to communities across Australia. Built on a shared passion for great food, quality ingredients and genuine Italian hospitality, Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers is committed to making delicious, freshly made gnocchi accessible to everyone, with a vision to become the world's favourite destination for gnocchi lovers.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the context of the statement and generally arise when we or our management are discussing our beliefs, estimates or expectations. Such statements generally include the words “believes,” “plans,” “intends,” “targets,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “will,” “expects,” “estimates,” “suggests,” “anticipates,” “outlook,” “continues,” or similar expressions. These statements are not historical facts or guarantees of future performance, but represent management’s belief at the time the statements were made regarding future events which are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in such forward-looking statements.

 

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, as supplemented by the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, and in the Company’s subsequent SEC filings. The Company can give no assurance that the plans, intentions, expectations or strategies as reflected in or suggested by those forward-looking statements will be attained or achieved. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

 

Contact details:

Emily Curran  - 0437 672 586

Ellie McCarthy - 0499 355 439