Circus SE has introduced a leasing option for its AI-driven kitchen robotics systems as part of a new financing partnership with MMV Leasing GmbH. The move is intended to lower investment barriers for enterprise customers and support the wider commercial rollout of Circus’ robotic kitchen technology in 2026.
Under the agreement, customers will be able to deploy Circus’ autonomous cooking and food-preparation robots through flexible leasing arrangements rather than upfront capital purchases. According to the companies, the first leasing and financing contracts are expected to come into effect in the first quarter of 2026.
Circus SE positions the leasing model as a way to accelerate adoption of its systems in professional kitchens, catering operations, and other large-scale food service environments. By shifting part of the financial burden from capital expenditure to operating expenditure, the company aims to make its robotics platform accessible to a broader range of customers.
For MMV Leasing GmbH, a subsidiary of Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW), the partnership provides early exposure to what it describes as a fast-growing market segment for autonomous robotics and AI systems. The company is focusing on structured financing models tailored to high-value, technology-intensive equipment.
Circus develops AI-based robotic systems designed to automate food preparation and cooking processes. The company has been working toward scaling deployments beyond pilot projects, with commercial expansion planned across multiple markets. The introduction of leasing is positioned as a financial enabler rather than a change to the underlying technology. The partnership is part of a trend in robotics adoption, where financing and leasing models are increasingly used to reduce risk and speed up deployment of capital-intensive automation systems.
