Yo-Kai Express, a California-based food-tech startup, is making waves in the global bubble tea market with the launch of its autonomous boba vending machines.
Known for its high-tech ramen kiosks, the company is now leveraging its patented freezing and storage technology to serve fresh, customizable bubble tea in minutes.
The brand has already introduced its smart beverage kiosks in Taipei’s Ximen MRT Station, featuring a Japanese-inspired aesthetic and a robotic arm capable of crafting drinks with toppings like mango jelly, lychee jelly, and fresh grapes.
With plans to deploy 20,000 bubble tea kiosks by 2030, Yo-Kai Express is aggressively expanding into key markets, including the US, Japan, and Taiwan.
Founder Andy Lin, a former semiconductor engineer, envisions Yo-Kai Express as a leader in autonomous food service technology. The company recently won the Qualcomm Innovate in Taiwan Challenge 2024 for integrating AI to enhance precision and efficiency.
As Yo-Kai gears up for a potential IPO within three years, its entry into the NT$165 billion (US$5 billion) bubble tea industry marks a bold new chapter in its global expansion strategy.
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