Nickelytics and Starship release robots at UCLA and Utah universities

Nickelytics, a venture-backed B2B adtech startup, announced a new partnership with Starship Technologies, the world’s leading provider of autonomous delivery services.

This new partnership expands the company’s work in robotics by launching a transformative advertising campaign on two campuses where Starship operates, the University of Utah and UCLA.

This alliance paves the way for brands and advertisers to connect directly with the student population, integrating seamlessly into their daily lives, with the goal of expanding to all 50 campuses that Starship serves.

Starship Technologies operates at 80 global locations and has completed more than 6 million deliveries.

To pilot this partnership, Nickelytics and Starship are supporting the national “Love, Your Mind” campaign with a six-week deployment of autonomous delivery vehicles.

“Love, Your Mind” was developed by Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the Ad Council to create a society that is more open, accepting, and proactive when it comes to mental health.

The campaign PSAs (public service advertisements) remind everyone to nurture their relationship with their mind, and direct to LoveYourMindToday.org for free mental health resources.

More than 60 percent of college students report experiencing mental health challenges, a significant increase since 2013.

The delivery of “Love, Your Mind” out-of-home (OOH) advertising through Nickelytics and Starship’s autonomous robots will reach students directly on campus to encourage them to prioritize their mental health.

Judah Longgrear, co-founder and CEO of Nickelytics, says: “Our partnership with Starship Technologies marks a thrilling advance into the future of advertising.

“This collaboration, especially with campaigns like ‘Love, Your Mind’, breaks the mold of traditional marketing. We’re not just delivering ads – we’re fostering meaningful connections and enhancing the student experience, particularly with such significant messages.”

Chris Neider, VP of business development at Starship Technologies, says: “We are excited to partner with Nickelytics on this important endeavor.

“This collaboration is about creating meaningful interactions in the daily lives of students. The ‘Love, Your Mind’ campaign aligns perfectly with our mission to leverage cutting-edge technology for socially impactful initiatives.

“By integrating our autonomous delivery services with Nickelytics’ innovative advertising approach, we are setting a new standard for how technology can support mental health awareness and education in university communities.

“We believe this partnership will open up new possibilities for how brands can connect with their audiences in deeply resonant and responsible ways.”

Dr William A. Smith, professor, University of Utah College of Education and Huntsman Mental Health Institute, says: “As part of the University of Utah, we are proud to share the resources of our ‘Love, Your Mind’ campaign with our university community.

“Whether we are students, faculty, or staff, our minds deserve our love and care, and this partnership will allow us to open up more conversations about mental health on campus and beyond.”

Laurie Keith, VP, emerging media and technology at the Ad Council, says: “This partnership is the perfect example of how the Ad Council taps the power of advertising, media and technology to take on the most critical issues facing our country.

“Through the innovative use of robotics, we’re supporting students’ mental health by reaching them where they are and sharing our message in a memorable and unmissable way.”