A CA-1 Series 4 robotic food unit in a sleek, modern hallway with people walking past and a digital interface displaying menu options.
 Vision

Fueling humanity with AI robotics

Forging a future where technology serves humanity.

Our Mission

We want to create a future where automation technology intersects with one of humanity's most essential necessities – the need to nourish ourselves.

A reality where advanced robotics and AI systems autonomously craft quality meals on-demand, empowering equitable access to affordable sustenance anywhere.

The company

Imagine a future where automation technology intersects with one of humanity's most essential necessities – the need to nourish ourselves. A reality where advanced robotics and AI systems autonomously

Our Vision

Imagine a future where automation technology intersects with one of humanity's most essential necessities – the need to nourish ourselves. A reality where advanced robotics and AI systems autonomously

Our mission

Imagine a future where automation technology intersects with one of humanity's most essential necessities – the need to nourish ourselves. A reality where advanced robotics and AI systems autonomously

Two engineers standing in front of a CA-1 Series 4 unit, using a laptop with visible code to interface with the machine.
Company

Pioneering AI Robotics

At Circus Group, we are pioneering global developments in on-demand autonomous food production. Everything from creation to production and operation, enabled by seamlessly integrated cutting-edge robotics and transformative AI technology.

Employees

+80

2025
Nationalities

+20

Diverse Team
Locations

3

in Germany
Team & culture

A diverse Team driven by a Shared Vision

With over 80 talented individuals and counting, our team is built on collaboration, curiosity, and a passion for innovation. We combine deep technical expertise with a people-first culture — where ideas are shared freely, challenges are tackled together, and every voice has an impact. Always driven and  focused on building autonomous systems that bring our vision to life.

Two women smiling and collaborating while looking at a Circus-branded laptop in a bright office space.
Company Values

Our Guiding Principles

Innovation and Excellence

At Circus, we strive for the highest quality in everything we do – from robotics to user experience – driven by curiosity, bold thinking, and technical precision.

Purpose and Impact

We're building technology that matters. Every team at Circus contributes to creating solutions with real-world relevance and long-term impact.

Empowerment and Growth

We believe that great ideas come from empowered individuals. At Circus, everyone is encouraged to take initiative and grow – both personally and professionally.

Inclusivity and Collaboration

As a diverse and international team, we work together in a collaborative, inclusive environment where every perspective adds value and helps us move forward.

the circus story

What we have achieved so far and our way ahead

feb 2020

Circus wird gegründet

Initial Concept & Field Testing

Founded in February 2022, by serial entrepreneur Nikolas Bullwinkel we initially started with the ambition to revolutionize the food service industry, by piloting a new ghost kitchen concept in Hamburg, Berlin, and Cologne, gaining deep insights into real-world kitchen operations, workflows, and process optimization.

Jul 2023

First CA-1 Prototypes in the field

PRODUCT LAUNCH & Validation

Following the acquisition of Berlin-based robotics startup Aitme, we merged our intelligent kitchen infrastructure with Aitme’s robotics expertise. This enabled the launch of the first CA-1 prototypes in real-world environments, where firsthand operational data and user feedback fueled continuous product development.

JAN 2024

Public listing of Circus

IPO

In January 2024, we went public through our IPO—marking a major step forward in accelerating our mission to transform food service through robotics, software, and AI at scale.

Four executive board members of Circus seated in a minimalistic, modern white office space.
Circus CEO standing with two executive board members in front of the CA-1 product unit inside a modern facility.
Interior view of the Deutsche Börse trading floor in Germany with multiple traders at circular desks surrounded by digital stock tickers.
2021

Foundation of Circus SE

Initial Concept & Field Testing

Founded in 2021 by serial entrepreneur Nikolas Bullwinkel, Circus SE set out to rethink how food is prepared and served. Our mission: to simplify complex kitchen operations through intelligent technology and bring lasting change to the food service industry.


What started with a bold idea quickly turned into hands-on testing in real kitchen environments — always guided by our mission to build intelligent systems that make complex operations radically simpler.

Four executive board members of Circus seated in a minimalistic, modern white office space.
2021

Development of CircusOS

OS for Complex Kitchen Operations

Inspired by insights from Flink’s high-frequency operations and our hands-on experience in the food service industry, we began developing the first version of our CircusOS in 2021. Designed specifically to handle the complexity of modern kitchen workflows, the OS laid the foundation for intelligent process coordination, automation, and real-time kitchen orchestration.

Dashboard interface showing real-time temperature monitoring for Station A - Fridge with a current temperature of 3.35°C, alert thresholds set between 3°C and 12°C, and a temperature log with multiple alerts on April 10, 2024.
2022

Invention of the cooking robot

Research & Development

After years of intensive research and development by the Aitme team, the first prototype of a fully autonomous cooking robot was brought to life — capable of preparing fresh meals on demand, with consistent quality and highest food safety standards. This breakthrough marked a new era in food robotics and laid the technological foundation for what would later become the CA-1.

CA-1 Series unit in a research and development setting with tools, suitcases, and a technician nearby, located in a modern office with glass walls and wooden ceiling accents.
July 2023

First CA-1 Prototypes in the field

PRODUCT LAUNCH & Validation

Following the acquisition of Berlin-based robotics startup Aitme, we merged our intelligent kitchen infrastructure with Aitme’s robotics expertise. This enabled the launch of the first CA-1 prototypes in real-world environments, where firsthand operational data and user feedback fueled continuous product development.

First CA-1 prototype deployed in a field setting, fully assembled and active with robotic arms inside and a user interface kiosk on the left for order placement.
Q4 2023

Continuous Testing & Development

PRODUCT Improvements

After the successful launch of our first CA-1 prototypes, we entered a crucial phase of continuous testing and refinement. Real-world operations now serve as the foundation for improving performance, reliability, and user experience. Every insight from day-to-day usage feeds directly into product development, helping us optimize the system for large-scale deployment.

CA-1 unit in a controlled indoor environment undergoing continuous testing and development, featuring visible robotic arms and organized component bins in the background.
JAN 2024

Public listing of Circus

IPO

In January 2024, we went public through our IPO—marking a major step forward in accelerating our mission to transform food service through robotics, software, and AI at scale.

Interior view of the Deutsche Börse trading floor in Germany with multiple traders at circular desks surrounded by digital stock tickers.
2024

Global Production & Service Partnership with Celestica

Manufacturing Partnership

In 2024, we signed a manufacturing agreement with Celestica - a leading high-tech manufacturer with production sites in Europe, the US, and China. Enabling a rapid rollout and scalable operations. Celestica is trusted by global leaders such as Boeing, Nissan, Dell, IBM and Oracle.

Circus team and Celestica staff wearing cleanroom attire, posing together in front of a CA-1 unit, symbolizing a global production and service partnership.
May 2025

Acquisition of FULLY AI

Enhancing AI capabilities

With the acquisition of agentic AI startup Fully AI, we infuse intelligence into every layer of the Circus system—from guest interactions to operational workflows—enabling smarter, faster, and more personal experiences throughout.

Layered visual representation showing the Circus technology stack: AI Robotics at the base, Circus OS in the middle, and FULLY AI at the top, highlighting the system's architecture.
May 2025

Launch of the CA-1 Series 4 and the CA-M

Extending Circus Product Landscape

In 2025, we launched the CA-1 Series 4 with major upgrades in efficiency, precision, and quality - marking a critical step toward full-scale rollout. Alongside it, we introduced the CA-M: a fully autonomous, mobile kitchen built for outdoor and remote environments, ready for deployment in even the most demanding conditions.

Side-by-side view of Circus Automation's CA-M container kitchen and CA-1 Series 4 robotic cooking unit, showcasing the modular and advanced AI-driven food automation systems.
Sept 2025

CA-1 Series 4 Rollout with Flagship Clients

Product Rollout

We will deliver the first CA-1 units to flagship clients such as REWE – one of Germany’s largest supermarket chains – marking a key milestone in bringing our autonomous kitchen technology into real-world environments

Circus Group's CA-1 Series 4 robotic cooking system installed inside a REWE supermarket, integrated between grocery aisles for on-site fresh food preparation.
2026

2026 & beyond

SCALING, DEPLOYMENT & GLOBAL EXPANSION

We are aiming to ramping up mass production and scaling deployments across sectors such as defense, healthcare, mobility, and retail. Our focus is on continuously enhancing system capabilities while expanding internationally across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

A CA-1 Series 4 robotic food unit in a sleek, modern hallway with people walking past and a digital interface displaying menu options.

Foundation of Circus SE

Initial Concept & Field Testing

Founded in February 2022, by serial entrepreneur Nikolas Bullwinkel we initially started with the ambition to revolutionize the food service industry, by piloting a new ghost kitchen concept in Hamburg, Berlin, and Cologne, gaining deep insights into real-world kitchen operations, workflows, and process optimization.

First CA-1 Prototypes in the field

PRODUCT LAUNCH & Validation

Following the acquisition of Berlin-based robotics startup Aitme, we merged our intelligent kitchen infrastructure with Aitme’s robotics expertise. This enabled the launch of the first CA-1 prototypes in real-world environments, where firsthand operational data and user feedback fueled continuous product development.

+100.000
Meals Deliverd
4.3
Average Rating on Lieferando

Public listing of Circus

IPO

In January 2024, we went public through our IPO—marking a major step forward in accelerating our mission to transform food service through robotics, software, and AI at scale.

€ 500M
Company Evaluation

Production Capacity Secured with our Partner Celestica

Manufacturing Partnership

In XX 2024, we signed a manufacturing agreement with Celestica - a leading high-tech manufacturer with production sites in Europe, the US, and China. Enabling a rapid rollout and scalable operations. Celestica is trusted by global leaders such as Boeing, Nissan, Dell, IBM and Oracle.

6.000
Robots annual production capacity

Acquisition of FULLY AI

Enhancing AI capabilities

With the acquisition of agentic AI startup Fully AI, we infuse intelligence into every layer of the Circus system—from guest interactions to operational workflows—enabling smarter, faster, and more personal experiences throughout.

Launch of the CA-1 Series 4 and the CA-M

Extending Circus Product Landscape

In 2025, we launched the CA-1 Series 4 with major upgrades in efficiency, precision, and quality - marking a critical step toward full-scale rollout. Alongside it, we introduced the CA-M: a fully autonomous, mobile kitchen built for outdoor and remote environments, ready for deployment in even the most demanding conditions.

+8.500
pre-orders in place for the CA-1

2026 & beyond

Enhancing AI capabilities

With the acquisition of agentic AI startup Fully AI, we infuse intelligence into every layer of the Circus system—from guest interactions to operational workflows—enabling smarter, faster, and more personal experiences throughout.

Four executive board members of Circus seated in a minimalistic, modern white office space.
Circus CEO standing with two executive board members in front of the CA-1 product unit inside a modern facility.
Interior view of the Deutsche Börse trading floor in Germany with multiple traders at circular desks surrounded by digital stock tickers.
Circus team and Celestica staff wearing cleanroom attire, posing together in front of a CA-1 unit, symbolizing a global production and service partnership.
Layered visual representation showing the Circus technology stack: AI Robotics at the base, Circus OS in the middle, and FULLY AI at the top, highlighting the system's architecture.
Side-by-side view of Circus Automation's CA-M container kitchen and CA-1 Series 4 robotic cooking unit, showcasing the modular and advanced AI-driven food automation systems.
A CA-1 Series 4 robotic food unit in a sleek, modern hallway with people walking past and a digital interface displaying menu options.
Feb 2022

Foundation of Circus

July 2023

CA-1 Launch

JAN 2024

IPO

XX 2024

Celestica Partnership

May 2025

FULLY AI Acquisition

May 2025

CA-1 Series 4 & CA-M launch

2025
Scaling Phase
Rollout Phase
R&D and product validation
Circus Group meeting room with German and EU flags beside a concrete wall displaying the company logo, and a conference table set for a formal discussion.
Our Partner Ecosystem

We are proud to have great partners on our side

We are partnering with global leaders from the food service and high-tech manufacturing industries.

Production partner

Production Capacity

+6000

annually
Delivery Time

3-6

Months
Production
Facilities

40

Worldwide

Management and Board

Executive board

Nikolas Bullwinkel
CEO
Claus Holst-Gydesen
Co-CEO
Fabian Becker
CFO

Circus Locations

Commercial Functions

Hamburg Office

Hongkongstrasse 6
20457 Hamburg
Modern, bright white office space at the Circus Group Hamburg Office, with employees working on laptops while seated on tiered steps and bean bags.
HQ and R&D Lab

München Office

St.-Martin-Straße 112

81669 Munich
CA product unit in an industrial lab setting with exposed pipes, storage bins, and a worker moving equipment in the foreground.
Software Development

Berlin Office

Linienstraße 14

20119 Berlin
Modern reception area of the Circus Group Berlin office featuring a sleek black counter, bar stools, minimalist décor, and bold white company branding on a black wall.
OPEN

Showroom Munich

Aerial view of Munich’s Marienplatz at dusk during the Christmas season, with the New Town Hall, festive lights, market stalls, and the Frauenkirche in the background.
Opening Soon

Showroom Berlin

Panoramic view of Berlin at sunset featuring the Fernsehturm (TV Tower), Berlin Cathedral, and Spree River with historic and modern architecture.
Opening Soon

Showroom Hamburg

Aerial view of Hamburg's HafenCity with the iconic Elbphilharmonie concert hall at sunset, reflecting in the Elbe River.
Opening Soon

Showroom New York

Sunset view of the New York City skyline featuring One World Trade Center reflecting on the Hudson River.
Opening Soon

Showroom Sydney

Sunset view of the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background, glowing against a colorful evening sky.
Opening Soon

Showroom Dubai

Evening skyline of Dubai featuring the Burj Khalifa and illuminated highways weaving through futuristic skyscrapers under a dramatic sky.
Active - R&D, Prototyping and Pre-Series

Munich

Circus Group logo in white text with an abstract symbol on a dark transparent background.
Bavaria, Germany
Industrial workspace with organized tool racks, workbenches, and technicians working in a modern, accessible environment.
Active - Serial Production CA-1

Suzhou

Jiangsu Province, China
Exterior view of the Celestica building in Suzhou, featuring red-framed windows, a glass entrance canopy, and a clear blue sky.
From 2026 - Serial Production CA-1, CA-M

US Production Facility

USA 
High-tech U.S. production facility with clean white floors, automated machinery, and technicians in white lab coats operating within a bright, modern industrial environment.

Latest news

July 16, 2025
4
min read
Circus SE Appoints Former Bundeswehr Officer as VP Defense Strategy & Operations
July 4, 2025
5
min read
Circus SE Gets Awarded International Red Dot Award “Best of Best” for Outstanding Industrial Design
June 30, 2025
3
min read
Circus SE publishes 2024 Annual Report marking the completion of the R&D phase