Circus Group
"Redefining AI, Robotics & Automation"
Hamburg-based AI robotics firm producing the CA-1, the world's first fully autonomous food production robot, now in serial production for supermarkets.
Circus SE (traded as Circus Group) is a global AI robotics company headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, publicly listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the ticker CA1.DE. The company was founded in February 2022 by Nikolas Bullwinkel, Carsten Wille, and Helge Plehn. Nikolas Bullwinkel previously co-founded Flink, a European quick-commerce grocery delivery company.
Circus's core product is the CA-1, a patented fully autonomous food production robot now in serial production. The CA-1 can autonomously dispense ingredients, cook, clean, and pack meals without human intervention. The system can produce approximately 120 dishes per hour from a seven-square-meter footprint, completing one meal approximately every 30 seconds.
The CA-1 is powered by proprietary embodied AI, which the company develops in-house for real-time cooking process control and optimization. Circus initially piloted a ghost kitchen concept in Hamburg, Berlin, and Cologne, then transitioned to deploying the CA-1 as a product for third-party operators. In 2023, Circus acquired Berlin-based robotic kitchen startup Aitme, integrating Aitme's cooking robotics hardware into Circus's AI infrastructure.
In 2025, Circus acquired agentic AI company FullyAI, which became the cognitive engine of the Circus ecosystem. Circus completed production of its fourth-generation CA-1 robots in a newly established high-volume manufacturing facility in 2025. Commercial deployments include REWE, one of Germany's largest supermarket chains, where Circus launched the world's first integration of autonomous cooking robotics inside a supermarket through a Fresh & Smart concept.
Mercedes-Benz Gastronomie GmbH signed an agreement to deploy CA-1 units at its Sindelfingen plant canteen starting summer 2026. The company also secured contracts with clients in the automotive industry. Circus is a member of the German AI Association (KI Bundesverband) and was the first AI robotics company admitted to that body.
Earlier investors include BlackMars Capital, 2bX, WestTech Ventures, and private investors, with total early funding around EUR 18 million before the public listing.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
CA-1 Autonomous Food Production Robot
- Model: CA-1
- Launch Year: 2024
Fully autonomous food production robot producing 120 meals/hour from 7 sq m, with integrated embodied AI.
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Contact Circus Group
WEBSITE
https://circus-group.comHEADQUARTERS
Germany
Company Facts
Founded
2022
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
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Primary Region
Europe
Annual Sales
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Funding Stage
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Funding Total
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