Bucket Robotics, a Y Combinator-backed startup focused on automating warehouse tasks, successfully navigated its inaugural appearance at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a critical step for the young company seeking to establish itself in the competitive robotics market.

The company's participation in CES was almost derailed by inclement weather, forcing CEO Matt Puchalski to undertake a 12-hour road trip from San Francisco to Las Vegas with the company's booth components packed into a rented Hyundai Santa Fe. Despite the challenges, Puchalski considered the investment worthwhile, citing valuable connections made and significant exposure gained. While specific sales figures or investment leads generated directly from CES were not disclosed, Puchalski emphasized the importance of the event for brand building and validating the company's technology in a real-world setting.

The warehouse automation market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by increasing e-commerce demand and labor shortages. Analysts project the global market to reach \$50 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 12%. Bucket Robotics aims to capture a significant share of this market by offering cost-effective and adaptable robotic solutions for tasks such as picking, packing, and sorting. The company's focus on leveraging existing infrastructure and minimizing disruption to existing warehouse operations positions it favorably against competitors requiring more extensive system overhauls.

Prior to founding Bucket Robotics, Puchalski spent a decade honing his expertise in autonomous vehicles at industry giants like Uber, Argo AI, Ford's Latitude AI, and SoftBank-backed Stack AV. This experience provided him with a deep understanding of robotics, artificial intelligence, and the challenges of deploying autonomous systems in complex environments. Bucket Robotics is leveraging this expertise to develop robots that are not only efficient but also safe and reliable, addressing key concerns for warehouse operators considering automation.

Looking ahead, Bucket Robotics plans to use the momentum gained at CES to secure further funding, expand its engineering team, and scale its production capabilities. The company is also focused on developing strategic partnerships with warehouse operators and technology integrators to accelerate market adoption. Puchalski envisions a future where robots seamlessly integrate into existing warehouse workflows, enabling businesses to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and meet the ever-increasing demands of the modern supply chain.