# Allan Martinson

> Estonian businessman (born 1966)

**Wikidata**: [Q4730828](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4730828)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Martinson)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/allan-martinson

## Summary
Allan Martinson is an Estonian businessman and entrepreneur born in 1966, known for co-founding and serving as an executive at Starship Technologies, a pioneering company in autonomous delivery robotics. His career spans leadership roles in technology and media businesses across Estonia.

## Biography
- **Born:** October 8, 1966, Tartu, Estonia
- **Nationality:** Estonia (formerly Soviet Union)
- **Education:** Gustav Adolf Grammar School (graduated 1984), MSU Faculty of Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics (graduated 1991)
- **Known for:** Co-founding and leading Starship Technologies, developing autonomous delivery robots
- **Employer(s):** Starship Technologies (2014-2018), Reksoft (2005-2007), MicroLink (1999-2004), Baltic News Service (1990-1998)
- **Field(s):** Business, Programming, Entrepreneurship, Investment

## Contributions
Allan Martinson co-founded Starship Technologies in 2014, serving as a key executive until 2018. Under his leadership, the company pioneered autonomous, ground-based delivery robots designed for local "last-mile" logistics. Starship's robots, developed in Estonia and later headquartered in London/San Francisco, achieved significant milestones, including completing one million autonomous deliveries by 2021. This work revolutionized the logistics technology sector, demonstrating viable autonomous solutions for urban goods transportation and influencing the broader robotics industry. Martinson's prior experience included founding and leading tech companies like MicroLink and Reksoft, contributing to Estonia's early technology sector development.

## FAQs
### Q: Where was Allan Martinson born?
A: Allan Martinson was born in Tartu, Estonia, on October 8, 1966.

### Q: What was his role at Starship Technologies?
A: Martinson was a co-founder and executive at Starship Technologies from its inception in 2014 until 2018, instrumental in developing its autonomous delivery robot technology.

### Q: What significant awards has he received?
A: Martinson received the Order of the White Star, 4th Class, in 2013 and the Knight of the Legion of Honour in 2001 for his contributions to business and technology.

### Q: What was his marriage duration?
A: He was married to Karoli Hindriks from July 22, 2012, until October 2019.

## Why They Matter
Allan Martinson played a pivotal role in establishing Estonia as a hub for tech entrepreneurship. Through Starship Technologies, he spearheaded the commercialization of autonomous delivery robots, proving viable real-world applications for small-scale robotics in urban environments. This work directly influenced the global robotics and logistics industries, accelerating the development and deployment of autonomous vehicles. His leadership in founding and scaling tech companies like MicroLink and Reksoft also significantly contributed to Estonia's early digital infrastructure and reputation as an innovation center in Eastern Europe.

## Notable For
- Co-founding and serving as an executive at Starship Technologies (2014-2018), a global leader in autonomous delivery robots.
- Pioneering the development of commercial autonomous ground delivery systems achieving over one million deliveries.
- Receiving Estonia's Order of the White Star, 4th Class, in 2013 and France's Knight of the Legion of Honour in 2001.
- Founding and leading significant Estonian tech companies including MicroLink (1999-2004) and Reksoft (2005-2007).
- Contributing to the development of Estonia's technology sector as an early entrepreneur and business leader.

## Body
### Early Life & Education
- Born October 8, 1966, in Tartu, Estonia.
- Graduated from Gustav Adolf Grammar School in 1984.
- Graduated from the MSU Faculty of Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics in 1991.

### Career
- **Baltic News Service (1990-1998):** Served as an employer from 1990 to 1998.
- **MicroLink (1999-2004):** Held a leadership position starting in 1999 until 2004.
- **Reksoft (2005-2007):** Employed starting in 2005 until 2007.
- **Starship Technologies (2014-2018):** Co-founded and served as an executive from the company's inception in 2014 until 2018.
- **Employer Status:** Listed as an employer since 2005.

### Affiliations & Recognition
- **Occupations:** Businessperson, Programmer, Entrepreneur, Investor.
- **Citizenship:** Soviet Union (birth), Estonia.
- **Languages:** Estonian.
- **Awards:** Order of the White Star, 4th Class (awarded 2013); Knight of the Legion of Honour (awarded 2001).
- **Marriage:** Married Karoli Hindriks from July 22, 2012, until October 2019.
- **Names:** Also known as Мартинсон, Аллан Карлович; Мартинсон Аллан Карлович; Аллан Карлович Мартинсон; Аллан Мартинсон.

### Technical Expertise & Field
- **Classes:** Associated with the classes "programmer" and "software engineer".
- **Industry:** Worked primarily in robotics, information technology, and software development.
- **Company Focus:** Starship Technologies focused on last-mile deliveries using autonomous robots.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.err.ee/686924/allan-martinson-lahkus-starshipist)
2. [Source](https://www.err.ee/341583/presidendilt-saab-tanavu-teenetemargi-99-inimest)