Clément Lemardelé (Le Creusot, 1995) is an expert in mobility and logistics. He holds a dual degree in Civil Engineering from Centrale Supélec and UPC, as well as a PhD in logistics modelling and optimisation. He later specialised in innovative last-mile delivery, reimagining how cities can adopt smarter, more sustainable logistics solutions.

Driven by this mission, Clément co-founded Vaive Logistics, a startup focused on transforming urban delivery. The company has developed autonomous robots (called Ona) designed to navigate busy environments with ease. Tested in Germany, Hungary and currently in Barcelona, Ona has proven its ability to maneuver around obstacles and pedestrians, as it carries out its core mission: delivering packages efficiently and safely.

TB: What is the purpose of your project?

CL: As logistics is the backbone of all cities around the world, we develop ground autonomous vehicles for last-mile deliveries and integrate them within the operations of logistics companies to help them increase their efficiency, reduce their environmental impact and make our neighbourhoods safer and more citizen-friendly.

TB: What stage is the project at and where do you see it in two years?

CL: We have now developed several prototypes called Onas and tested them in real urban environments with last-mile logistics companies. We are now looking for long-term partnerships and pilot tests with potential customers, to validate our MVP and our business model. In two years, our plan is to deploy five Onas in one city on a commercial basis.

TB: A great idea you’ve had.

CL: Go to my first salsa and bachata class!

TB: What has been your biggest challenge?

CL: Well, actually the biggest challenge I am facing is to maintain a clear long-term strategy as a CEO while finding the most impactful day-to-day activities, aligning with the long-term strategy. As a startup, you receive lots of information and lots of contacts all the time, every day. It is quite a challenge to understand that you have to keep your energy for very impactful actions while saying no to some opportunities.

TB: The best advice you’ve received.

CL: “If you are not ashamed of your product when showing it to a potential customer, it means that you are too late for showing it”. Also, as a PhD candidate: “Get out of the cave”.

TB: A role model.

CL: Professor José Holguín Veras from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. He was the leader of a project to improve logistics in Manhattan, which was one of the first actions of this type around the world. For me, Holguín Veras has a very accurate sense of putting everyone around a table and to bring objectivity to the debate with data, which is very needed nowadays.

TB: A technology that will shape the future.

CL: I think we have all the ingredients in our society nowadays (increase of life expectancy, low natality, lack of workforce) to see the emergence of assistance robotics systems in our daily lives.

TB: A startup or company.

CL: Mistral.ai, to avoid concentrating too much data and power in the hands of ChatGPT and OpenAI. I think we have to support (as users) the technology that’s developed in Europe.

TB: What helps you disconnect?

CL: Swimming.

TB: A book to recommend.

CL: ‘Emprende en positivo’ by Natalia de Santiago, for those who are planning to start a business with little experience, ‘The Mom Test’ by Rob Fitzpatrick, a classic but a must.

TB: A series, movie, or song that defines your current phase in life.

CL: After this rainy winter, I would say ‘J’veux du Soleil’ by Au P’tit Bonheur.

TB: A recipe, a restaurant.

CL: For a recipe, “pa amb tomàquet” :). And for the restaurant, “Obba Corea BBQ” in Barcelona.

TB: A place in the world.

CL: The national park of Port-Cros in the South of France.

TB: Where would you invest 100k?

CL: In Arca bot. They have a great team to pursue their objective of accelerating the deployment of low-cost and modular intelligent lockers for parcel deliveries.

TB: If you weren’t an entrepreneur…

CL: Maybe I would be a historian.

TB: What does Tech Barcelona mean to you?

CL: I think it is a great network which is truly supporting entrepreneurs. We joined Tech Barcelona a few months ago and they have already supported us a lot in terms of communication, activities and putting us in contact with relevant stakeholders. I think Tech Barcelona is a highly relevant initiative to place the city’s startup ecosystem on the European map.