Curbivore is Coming to Downtown LA!

Even though we’re known for covering Uber and Lyft here at The Rideshare Guy, there’s no doubt that we’ve seen an explosion of interest and demand in the last mile delivery space.

Last year, we put on a virtual conference called Curbivore that touched on topics concerning the curb and the community, more specifically how commerce is moving to the curb and what businesses can do to get in front of the changes.

And this year, we’re back with an in person event in downtown Los Angeles on January 28, 2022. Curbivore will be hosting panels, speeches and exhibits to bring together the world of restaurants and retail, civic tech, and mobility.

Quick summary:

  • Curbivore is an industry conference all about the curb and the community, specifically how commerce is moving to the curb and how businesses and government can embrace changing perceptions of the curb
  • Curbivore takes place once a year
  • Curbivore is for anyone interested in the intersection of food/delivery technology, restaurants and retailers and public policy.

What to Expect at Curbivore

At the Curbivore conference, you’ll be able to see, touch and feel the technology that’s reshaping the future, as well as meet with civic leaders and forward-thinking entrepreneurs as they band together to reshape our businesses and cities for the better.

We’re partnering with marquee companies, like the ones listed below,  to showcase the latest and greatest companies in this space.

And to keep things fun, we’ll have lots of cool technology on display – from mobile kitchens to sidewalk delivery robots.

Curbivore is a great opportunity for businesses and entrepreneurs in the fields of technology, government and more to gather and learn how to reshape the streets as well as celebrate organizations that are making this possible. Plus, there will be amazing cuisine and street food available throughout the conference! Ziki will be on site serving up Mexican Greek fusion to all conference attendees.

Speakers include but are not limited to:

Among dozens of other professionals that will bring unique perspectives to the conference in their fields of expertise.

Curbivore 2022

Senior Contributor Sergio Avedian attended the Curbivore 2022 event and here are his takeaways:

I am a huge fan of entrepreneurs who are constantly trying to evolve and change the way we order goods and services to our doorstep. There is definitely a massive shift taking place in the delivery of all sorts of items.

Food, groceries, alcohol, and even legalized cannabis are being delivered to us quicker than ever before. It is a convenience that consumers are clearly willing to pay extra for, and there is no shortage of companies taking advantage of this demand.

Four Themes from Curbivore

Last-Mile Delivery

From huge purpose-built warehouses to repurposed old industrial spaces, dark stores and cloud kitchens are bringing new options to consumers at breakneck speed. What does this mean for mom and pop shops and the cities that love them?

Competing Curb Users

The curb was already a hotly contested space, but it’s getting even more crowded now that it’s hosting diners and delivery workers. What does this mean for the world of startups also laying claim to the curb?

Restaurants and Retail

How can restaurants and retailers adapt in an era of takeout ordering and informal outdoor dining? How can businesses large and small harness new trends like pop-up kitchens and emerging platforms?

Civic Tech

As curbs get more congested, our leaders need to think big and reimagine what their cities can be. Do they have the data, tools, and vision to ensure equitable access to all users?

Here are some photos I took while I was at the conference.

Convenience Stores on Wheels!

A few standouts include delivery robots! Did you know delivery robots are driven by remote-controlled pilots all over our cities? I have in fact seen a few of them in Santa Monica, and their precise movements are nothing less than extraordinary.

I have hope for all the kids who are video game specialists, as this tech looks like they can earn a living now using nothing more than a game controller. My son wanted to send his resume to Coco, but he’s too young to be a Pilot.

Robots are coming, from left to right, COCO, Dax, Kiwibot and Serve.

Tortoise mobile smart stores loaded with goodies and point of sale capabilities roaming our neighborhoods.

I hope Curbivore becomes an annual event. If the first year in person is any indication, I could see Curbivore taking over the Los Angeles Convention Center one day, as this growth can’t be stopped.

-Harry @ RSG