Travis Kalanick, the co-founder and former CEO of Uber, has begun commuting to his new Austin-based office by jet ski, according to a video shared by the entrepreneur on social media. The shift to a water-based transit method marks a departure from traditional corporate travel, occurring as Kalanick continues to lead Atoms, a technology startup focused on industrial robotics and automation.
The transition to a Texas-based lifestyle is part of a broader trend of technology executives and corporations relocating from California to the Lone Star State. This migration is frequently attributed to Texas’s lower taxes, cheaper real estate, and a friendlier regulatory environment than California, where rising costs and talk of a one-time billionaire wealth tax have rattled some executives. Tesla, Oracle, and Hewlett-Packard Enterprise are among the companies that have shifted major operations to the state.
First day at our new Austin office. Video of my 5 minute jet ski commute to work.. 😏😅😂 pic.twitter.com/xMT0C85vW3— travis kalanick (@travisk) June 29, 2026
The Evolution of Atoms and Kalanick’s Focus
Kalanick’s current venture, Atoms, represents the latest iteration of his business interests following his 2017 resignation from Uber. Formerly known as City Storage Systems, the company serves as the parent entity for CloudKitchens. Atoms is currently developing AI-powered robotics designed to automate repetitive, physically demanding tasks across sectors such as logistics, food service, manufacturing, and mining.
The company’s objective is to engineer “gainfully employed robots” capable of performing specialized industrial labor at scale. This focus on automation follows Kalanick’s tenure at Uber, which he co-founded in 2009. Since resigning in 2017, he has been focused on building software and robotics for kitchens, mining, and logistics.
Tech Migration to Texas
Kalanick’s decision to base his operations in Austin aligns with a significant movement of major technology firms to the state. Companies including Tesla, Oracle, and Hewlett-Packard Enterprise have relocated major operations to Texas in recent years, citing factors such as lower taxes, cheaper real estate, and a friendlier regulatory climate.
For Kalanick, the move to Austin is also personal. The entrepreneur stated on the TBPN podcast in March that he has owned a home on Lake Austin for five years, drawn in part by the lake and his love of watersports. The ability to utilize the lake for his daily transit to the office highlights the proximity of his residential and professional bases in the Austin area.
Industrial Automation and Future Outlook
The transition toward robotics at Atoms comes at a time when industries are facing sustained labor shortages in manual, high-repetition roles. By automating these tasks, companies like Atoms aim to increase efficiency in sectors that have historically relied on consistent human labor.
As of late June 2026, there have been no further public updates regarding the operational milestones of the new office. Future developments remain subject to the company’s internal timelines and standard corporate disclosure practices. Readers interested in the progress of Atoms may monitor official company announcements or relevant state business filings for future updates.
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