6 River Systems Company Profile: History, Owners and the Chuck Robot
Updated: 7 days ago
6 River Systems makes Chuck, a mobile robot that leads warehouse workers through their picking tasks. Founded in 2015, it was bought by Shopify in 2019 for USD 450 million and sold on to Ocado Group in 2023. This profile sets out its history, its owners and its product.
6 River Systems at a Glance
Fact | Detail |
Company | 6 River Systems |
Founded | 2015 |
Founders | Rylan Hamilton, Jerome Dubois and Chris Cacioppo |
Base | Massachusetts, USA |
Product | Chuck autonomous mobile robot |
Customers | More than 70 at the time of the Ocado deal |
Deployments | More than 100 warehouses worldwide |
Owner | Ocado Group, since 2023 |
History and Owners
Rylan Hamilton and Jerome Dubois had worked at Kiva Systems, the warehouse robot company Amazon bought in 2012 for USD 775 million, before starting 6 River Systems with Chris Cacioppo in 2015.
Year | Owner | Detail |
2019 | Shopify | Bought the company in September for USD 450 million, 60% in cash and 40% in shares |
2023 | Ocado Group | Agreed to buy it from Shopify in May; price not disclosed |
Shopify had wanted the robots for its own fulfillment network. When it gave up that plan, cut 20% of its workforce and sold its logistics arm to Flexport, 6 River Systems was sold to Ocado, the British grocery technology group, which used it to enter logistics and non-grocery retail.
Product
Chuck is a cart-like autonomous mobile robot. It travels to the right shelf, shows the worker what to pick and carries the goods onward, so that people walk less and pick faster. At the time of the Ocado deal the robots were working in more than 100 warehouses for more than 70 customers.
Can You Invest in 6 River Systems?
Not directly. Its owner, Ocado Group, is listed on the London Stock Exchange. This is general information, not investment advice.
Strengths and Challenges
Strengths
A proven product with a wide customer base.
Founders with experience from Kiva Systems.
A parent with deep warehouse automation expertise.
Challenges
Two changes of owner in four years.
A crowded market for collaborative picking robots.
6 River Systems FAQ
Who owns 6 River Systems?
Ocado Group, which agreed to buy it from Shopify in May 2023.
How much did Shopify pay for 6 River Systems?
USD 450 million, in September 2019.
Who founded 6 River Systems?
Rylan Hamilton, Jerome Dubois and Chris Cacioppo, in 2015.
What is Chuck?
6 River Systems' autonomous mobile robot, which guides warehouse workers through picking tasks.
How widely is Chuck used?
In more than 100 warehouses, for more than 70 customers, at the time of the Ocado deal.
