I talked to ⁠Haixuan Xavier Tao⁠, founder of 1ms.ai⁠ and maintainer of ⁠Dora-rs⁠, a Rust framework linking AI and robotics for modular, cloud-first systems.

Haixuan shares his personal journey growing up in a Chinese immigrant family in France, the sense of duty that shaped his career path, and how he went from BCG and BNP Paribas to writing Rust for fun.

We talk about his father's entrepreneurial story, why he walked away from corporate prestige, and how open-source became his outlet to give back.

Also, we get into the limits of current LLMs in robotics, why cloud infrastructure is key for future robot-AI systems, and how Dora is building bridges between hardware-heavy China and software-driven Europe... without VC funding and without ego.

Inspiring and refreshingly honest. Give it a listen!

In Episode #63, I talk with Dmitrii Rudnitckii, VP and former CTO at Humanoid, with 25+ years in automation, encryption, computer vision, and robotics:

We cover his journey from automating ships in the late 90s to building autonomous factories and now leading one of the most ambitious humanoid robot projects in the UK.

Dmitrii shares insights about studying computer science in Russia, the importance of deep fundamentals over quick wins, the challenges of moving into leadership, and why soft skills are harder to learn than coding.

We also talk about Humanoid’s mission, their wheel-based and legged robot models, and the pragmatic road to commercialisation.

We went deep into deep tech, from early system design to what founders often miss when scaling robotics companies. I learned a lot. You might too.

In this episode, I talk with Sankaet Pathak, founder of Foundation. Their first product? A humanoid robot built for real-world tasks:

Foundation is an advanced technology company developing autonomous machines. Why start with humanoids?

To automate labour across manufacturing, logistics, and defence.

Sankaet shares his journey from computer engineering and physics at the University of Memphis to leading AI and robotics innovation.

We discuss why current AI models struggle with real-world physics, why Foundation is taking a different approach to autonomy, and what it will take to bring humanoid robots from labs to everyday work.

This episode is packed with bold ideas and hard tech insights; hope you enjoy it!

This week, I talked with Aadeel Akhtar, PhD Akhtar, CEO and Founder of PSYONIC, a company redefining prosthetics with AI-powered bionic limbs:

You might have seen him on Shark Tank or heard about PSYONIC’s Ability Hand, an advanced prosthetic that’s setting new standards for accessibility and performance.

Aadeel’s story is fascinating. He started out studying neuroscience and medicine and then pivoted to building next-generation bionics.

We discuss his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, what it takes to scale deep tech hardware, and why the future of prosthetics isn’t just for humans, but also for robots.

It’s an inspiring convo packed with insights on deep tech, AI, and building a real-world impact startup, its low lows and high highs and how to make it through!

In this episode, I talk with Usman Roshan, founder of 7Xrobotics and Associate Professor in AI and Machine Learning at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Usman and his co-founder are building autonomous household robots designed to tackle everyday tasks like dishwashing and laundry folding; turning AI into real, practical solutions for the home.

We discuss his journey from academia to robotics entrepreneurship, his research on deep learning models for video understanding, and how he’s developing affordable, AI-powered robots with a total cost of around $7,000.

Usman shares insights on the challenges of building a working product, what it takes to bridge AI research with real-world applications, his passion for art and what things to consider from a business point of view.

It was a fascinating conversation... hope you enjoy today’s episode!

In today's 51st episode, I talk to Adrian Macneil, Co-Founder and CEO of Foxglove:

Adrian Macneil is the Co-Founder & CEO of Foxglove, a purpose-built robotics development platform to increase the GDP of robotics.

Coming from New Zealand with a degree in Computer Science, Adrian knew early on that his home country wasn’t big enough for his ambitions. He moved to San Francisco, the center of entrepreneurship and tech startups.

He was an early employee at Coinbase, working long hours through its highs and lows, before joining Cruise, where he built large-scale infrastructure for autonomous vehicles.

In this episode, he shares his experience as a deep tech founder, the challenges of building a platform for robotics development tools, why he sees Rust as the future of robotics, and why starting a company means committing at least 10 years to solving a real problem.

This episode is for you if you're a founder, or engineer working in AI, robotics or deep tech.

I sit down with the Founder and CEO of Synapticon, Nikolai Ensslen:

Nikolai Ensslen and Andrija Feher are the founders of Synapticon, a company reshaping motion control for robotics and industrial automation.

He shares his journey from studying Engineering Science at the University of Bayreuth to building and leading a global company that seamlessly integrates servo drives, sensors, brakes, and functional safety into AI-powered systems.

Nikolai shares his early influences - growing up in a creative household, with parents deeply involved in art and design, and a father renowned in marketing. Despite this artistic environment, Nikolai gravitated toward technology from an early age.

He reflects on the challenges of standing out (like carrying a laptop in the mid-90s) and how countless hours spent with his university’s first racing team shaped his resilience. That resilience, he says, has been invaluable in his entrepreneurial journey.

Also about the real economics behind robotics, and how Europe stacks up against the rest of the world in deep tech innovation.

A fascinating conversation with strong opinions—don’t miss this one!

In this episode, I sit down with Sanjeev Sharma, the visionary Founder and CEO of Swaayatt Robots. Sanjeev shares his journey from academia to building autonomous driving technology that thrives in India's uniquely chaotic and adversarial traffic conditions. We discuss his decision to forego a PhD opportunity at UMass Amherst to bootstrap Swaayatt Robots, how he demonstrated autonomous navigation on Indian roads (a global first!!) and the incredible potential for autonomous systems in military and civilian applications. Sanjeev’s story is one of persistence and hard work, with insights on navigating stochastic traffic, motion planning, reinforcement learning, and working and planning with limited resources. It’s a fascinating look at how cutting-edge technology can tackle some of the world's toughest challenges.

In my latest episode, I talk to the Progressive Robotics Co-Founder & CEO Fotis Dimeas:

In this episode of Kinematic Conversations, I speak with Fotis Dimeas, who moved from an academic career to co-founding Progressive Robotics, a deep-tech spin-off making robotics better for manufacturing and logistics.

Fotis shares his journey from earning a Ph.D. in Robotics at the University of Patras to his research at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. We discuss the challenges of closing the "valley of death" between research and industry and the vision behind Progressive Robotics: making robots smarter, safer, and easier to use.

Tune in to hear about the realities of deep-tech entrepreneurship, the value of focusing on hands-on efforts (like spending time on the shop floor), and a closer look at Progressive Robotics' work, including side-picking solutions for palletizing and depalletizing.

Ep 47: Robert MacKenzie former CTO and Chief Product Officer of ANYbotics:

Robert is originally from Canada but has spent more than half of his life in Europe. He completed his bachelor's degree in Canada before moving to Germany, where he earned his master’s at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

His journey eventually led him to Zurich, where he completed his PhD at ETH Zurich. Over the years, Robert has worked as a senior project manager and executive in various companies before joining ANYbotics.

In this episode, we talk about Robert’s journey and his studies, career milestones, and the challenges he’s faced along the way. We also explore his passion for working with people, building teams, and creating practical solutions that address real-world problems.

In episode #46 I sit down with Christian Piechnick, Co-Founder and CEO of Wandelbots:

We are going back in time and Christian is telling me how he started to program while he was still a kid, with his parent's first computer, helping out the company his mother was working for by writing a program.

Wandelbots, a TU Dresden spin-off founded in 2017 by Christian Piechnick and a team of five, enables non-programmers to teach industrial robots faster and more cost-effectively using smart technology.

Christian and I discuss the challenges of entrepreneurship in Germany, his interest in computer science and robots, which continue to fascinate him, and the importance of teamwork in achieving success.

Back from the holidays with a brand-new episode! #45 features Miika Satori, founder of Cambrian Robotics

Miika Satori, originally from Finland, has a long background in startups and innovation. With Cambrian Robotics, he focuses on advancing robot capabilities to tackle complex tasks.

In this episode, Miika reflects on his upbringing in rural Finland, where he learned the value of fixing and building from his father.

We explore his early entrepreneurial ventures and his journey with Cambrian, including their $3.5M seed funding and groundbreaking work on robot arms with advanced vision and skills.

Tune in to hear Miika’s perspective on automation challenges and his vision for the future of robotics!

Episode #62 of Building Deep Tech!

With Pedro Milcent, Co-Founder of Deplace AI; data collection & curation for robotics and physical AI:

In this episode, I chat with Pedro Milcent, a French-Brazilian founder building something new in the world of robotics and AI. Pedro’s story starts unconventionally, as he finished high school at 14, went straight to law school, then pivoted to business, earning a full-ride scholarship to USC before diving into the startup world.

Pedro’s first startup, Payby, tackled payments in Brazilian restaurants. Now, he’s co-founded Deplace AI, a company solving one of the hardest problems in robotics: large-scale, low-cost data collection for physical AI. Think human demonstrations, imitation grippers, motion capture, and making it all accessible.

We talk about building a team with deep expertise, landing their first client just months in, and what Pedro sees coming next for physical AI in Europe and beyond. He’s got bold views and clear insights, hope you enjoy the episode as much as I did recording it.

In this episode, I sit down with Mehul Nariyawala, Co-founder of Matic Robots:

Matic is a company on a mission to simplify home cleaning with autonomous robots powered by cutting-edge AI and vision-based technologies.

Mehul shares his journey from moving to the U.S. from India at a young age, pursuing studies in bioinformatics and earning an MBA, to co-founding Flutter—acquired by Google in 2013 for ~$40M—and later co-founding Matic Robots in 2017.

We also explore Mehul's insights into balancing functionality and user experience in robotics, scaling a hardware company, and the future of autonomous home solutions.

A fascinating conversation for anyone passionate about robotics, entrepreneurship, and making technology more accessible at home.

Tune in to hear Mehul’s story and his vision for Matic Robots!

In this episode, I speak with Kelsey Pool, a mechanical engineer, roboticist, and open-source advocate based in San Francisco:

Kelsey shares her journey from studying mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder to working on groundbreaking projects in robotics and healthcare.

We dive into her latest project, Zeroth-01 Bot—the world's smallest open-source end-to-end humanoid robot. Starting at just $350, it's designed to be accessible, fully hackable, and revolutionary for education and research.

Kelsey also reflects on her time at Multiply Labs and her decision to carve out space for impactful personal projects.

It’s a conversation full of inspiration and practical insights for anyone passionate about robotics, open-source development, or creating a career that truly reflects your values and interests.

Episode #42: with Brandon King, Mechanical Engineer and Robotics Enthusiast:

In this episode, I speak with Brandon King, a Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Alabama, preparing to graduate in December 2024. Brandon brings experience from internships at Michelin and BLOX, as well as his leadership role on the Controls Team for the EcoCAR program.

We explore his work in manufacturing and robotics, his approach to problem-solving in engineering, and the lessons he has learned through hands-on projects and internships.

Brandon shares his thoughts on moving from academics to industry, including knowing when to pivot, making tough decisions, and pursuing his entrepreneurial ambitions.

This episode offers valuable insights into the journey of an early-career engineer, covering critical moments of growth and decision-making in the field.

Episode #41, with Christian Löchte, Co-Founder of FORMHAND Automation GmbH, to explore the story behind their universal gripping technology:

Christian shares his journey in robotics and mechanical engineering, spanning over 20 years, and how his passion for mechanics led to the creation of FORMHAND's flexible gripping modules.

We talk about his upbringing, the challenges of building a high-tech startup, the unique applications of FORMHAND's gripping pads in logistics and production, and how they’re transforming efficiency across industries.

If you’re in academia but feel that entrepreneurial spirit, this episode is for you:

We cover everything you need to know about making the leap—from navigating the transition into industry, to developing innovative products, and scaling a startup in the competitive tech landscape.

Don’t miss Christian’s advice for academics aspiring to turn their research into impactful solutions!

Episode #39: Revolutionizing Sensors for Robotics, with Klajd Lika, CEO of Bota Systems AG:

Klajd shares how his family immigrated from Albania to Greece and the support and love that shaped his journey. He also talks about his education in Athens and his early work in robotics, including hydraulic systems and quadruped robots.

At Bota Systems, based in Zurich, Switzerland, Klajd and his team develop innovative sensors that help robots interact with their environment precisely and easily. Their products simplify automation for industries like manufacturing and healthcare, enabling applications like surface finishing, assembly, and collaborative robotics.

This conversation is packed with valuable lessons for anyone interested in robotics, engineering, or entrepreneurship, but also discussions about the struggles of being a foreigner, and how love and support can strengthen your self-image, helping you focus on what truly matters.

In this episode, I sit down with ⁠Rutav Shah⁠⁠, a first-year PhD student at the University of Texas at Austin. Rutav’s journey in robotics and machine learning started at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, where he earned his Bachelor’s in Computer Science.

Now at UT Austin, he’s diving into advanced research in machine learning and robotics.

Rutav shares his experiences from his time as an undergraduate researcher in the Autonomous Ground Vehicle Research Group to his current projects at UT Austin. We discuss his perspectives on AI-driven robotics, the potential of autonomous systems, and advice for those interested in the field.

This episode offers insights for students, engineers, and anyone interested in the future of robotics and machine learning.

In Episode #38, I talk with Nima Gard, Director of AI at Path Robotics, which just closed its Series D with a $100M raise:

We recorded this episode on Halloween—you’ll spot him in Spock ears, while I stayed costume-free.

Nima shares his journey from Iran to the U.S., starting with a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering, and his move to Ohio, where he completed his Ph.D. in Geodetic Engineering at Ohio State University.

Five years ago, Nima joined Path Robotics as a Senior Computer Vision Engineer—his first industry role outside academia. Since then, he’s risen to Team Lead and now serves as Director of AI.

It was a great convo and I had a lot of fun, hope you too, when listening to today's episode!

Episode #37: The Future of Open-Source Robotic Arms, with Petar Crnjak, founder of Source Robotics: Today’s guest, is a Mechatronics Engineer from Zagreb University of Applied Sciences with a focus on robotics and electric vehicles. Petar’s work has led him to create useful, award-winning open-source robotic arms, which are widely used in schools and universities for learning. In robotics, Petar has developed robotic arms that are easy to use and accessible to students. His designs have earned awards and are popular in education, helping students gain hands-on experience in robotics. In this episode, we talk about his journey into robotics and EVs, with advice for students and new engineers and how open-source projects can make a real difference in education!

Robotics Software Engineer ⁠Aryan Jagushte⁠ is my guest in today's 36th episode:

Aryan has been focused on robotics, working as a Robotics Software Engineer, gaining experience in the Robot Operating System (ROS) in his academic education and working on projects using ROS1 and ROS2.

He has hands-on knowledge of mobile robots and applies techniques like Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) and navigation algorithms to develop autonomous robots for complex environments. Aryan is also working with aerial robotics and robotic arms.

In addition to his technical work, Aryan has worked as a STEM educator, sharing his knowledge of robotics through teaching and projects. We have discussed university roadmaps, jobs, college, finding jobs on LinkedIn, friends and many more things.

In today's episode (#35), I speak with Haoru Xue, a PhD student at University of California, Berkeley, specializing in humanoid whole-body control:

Haoru has had an exciting journey in robotics, working alongside top researchers at Carnegie Mellon and UC Berkeley. He’s been involved in projects like autonomous racing, where his team earned top spots in the Indy Autonomous Challenge.

Beyond his research, Haoru is really focused on building robots that can make a real impact, something I can totally relate to. We also talked about his perspective on the open-source community in robotics.

He shared how the vibe in the open-source world is still very much about helping each other out, even with all the competition. It’s something that really stands out in the field.

In this episode, I talk with Nicolas Rabault, former CTO and Co-Founder of Pollen Robotics, recently acquired by Hugging Face:

Nicolas had a rocky start. He struggled in school and took an unconventional path into engineering, driven by a deep obsession with hacking, building, and making things move.

He shares the story behind Pollen: how a small research team in Bordeaux built one of the most beloved open-source robotics platforms, and why openness and modularity were at the core of their vision.

After Pollen, Nicolas founded Luos, an open-source framework that makes hardware as agile as software. Though technically powerful, Luos struggled to find a business model, and we explore what he learned from that experience, and why he's now working on a stealth-mode startup building an AI-driven industrial robot ecosystem.

This conversation is packed with insight for founders, engineers, and anyone who cares about open systems, deep tech, and what it takes to build (and rebuild) in robotics.

My guest today is Klas Nilsson, Founder and CTO of Cognibotics, with over 40 years in robotics!

Coming from a non-academic background and always interested in math, his curiosity about machines led him to spend time first at ABB, and then many years in research at Lund University.

Always striving to fill the blind spots, he transitioned from mechanical engineering to computer science.

Eventually, he found enough evidence that something was missing in robotics, leading him to make another transition—this time as the founder of Cognibotics.

My guest today is Vladimir Baranov, founder of 🤖 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗼𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹, whose mission is to inspire a love of engineering in children worldwide:

While there are many robotics classes for high school students, options for younger children are limited. Vladimir's project proves that kids are far more capable than we often think.

With over two decades of experience across various industries, Vladimir’s passion for building and his entrepreneurial journey have been shaped by bravery, resilience, and a broad skill set.

We discuss his challenges growing up, how he overcame them, what led him to the world of robotics, and why he’s dedicated to enabling as many children as possible to build robots through his courses.

⁠Jacopo Tani⁠, CEO of ⁠Duckietown⁠, an open-source robotics and AI platform that began as an MIT project in 2016, joins me today:

Originally from Rome, Jacopo is a trained space engineer with a PhD, having worked at MIT and ETH Zurich on dynamic systems and control before transitioning into entrepreneurship.

In this episode, he shares invaluable lessons on hard work, perseverance, mentorship, friendship, and seizing opportunities. He emphasizes the importance of staying focused on your goals while being adaptable to the path that unfolds.

This is for anyone facing challenges, looking for insights on how to push through and grow along the way.

A legend in the tech world - Robert Scoble.

Siri, Tesla, Instagram and others launched on his blog/show, today - he is my guest:

Sitting down with him was nothing short of a wild ride!

Robert's journey began in the late 70s, back when Silicon Valley was still a small community, not the tech powerhouse it is today.

Always in tune with the pulse of innovation, Robert embodies the zeitgeist. He launched his tech blog in the late 90s and was among the first to see Tesla, Flipboard, Instagram, Siri, Uber, and many other technologies.

Listen to this energetic, living almanac of tech history in the newest episode of Kinematic Conversations.

This episode holds a special place for me as I sit down with founder & former CEO of Micropsi Industries:

Ronnie Vuine, my former boss, and I have had countless private discussions over the years, and now we’ve finally recorded an episode for my podcast.

In this episode, we dive into his journey as a computer science student, where he studied under the renowned cognitive scientist Joscha Bach, known for his groundbreaking work on AI, consciousness, and philosophy.

We explore the challenge of translating the human mind into computer science, the experience of building a robotics software company, and his take on the current humanoid hype.

Remi Cadene was at Tesla working on Optimus, and now builds robots at Hugging Face:

Remi's academic journey took him from Paris, where he earned his PhD at Sorbonne, to postdoctoral studies at Brown University. He later joined Tesla in California, starting as an intern and eventually becoming a permanent research scientist.

In this episode, we discuss his time overseas, his unique experience working with Andrej Karpathy at Tesla, and how his passion for open-source projects brought him back to Europe.

Now, he's part of Hugging Face and leading Le Robot, an exciting new open-source robotics project.

Today we talk to Robomart Co-founder & CEO Ali Ahmed about their self-driving shops and his early passion for entrepreneurship.

We discuss his non-technical background, why he stepped away from a PhD position, and how he followed his passion for building.

Follow Ali through his journey of fast-growing startups and various entrepreneurial adventures that ultimately led him to the world of robotics.

Mathias Mantelli is a Robotics Software Developer from Brazil working on Embodied AI:

Coming from a non-technical background, we discuss his journey in academia, culminating in a PhD in Mobile Robotics with a focus on localization and SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping).

Today, he helps robots move on their own by creating smart ways for them to navigate and avoid obstacles. He is particularly interested in fleet management for warehouse applications and semantic scene understanding in robotics.

He shares more about his journey and offers wise words for those still struggling to find their way, not only in robotics but in life in general.

Today, my guest is Shubham Nandi, the Co-founder of RigBetel Labs, specializing in Robot R&D Services and Consultancy:

He oversees the Research and Mentorship department of RigBetel Labs, as they do research for startups and companies in robotics.

Passionate about educating and empowering individuals in the ever-changing technology sector, he drives mentorship programs, enabling people to achieve their maximum potential.

We discuss how the founders met in college, honed their skills through nationwide competitions, and built a successful company.

Orangewood Labs builds AI-powered robotic arms, simple to operate. Today I talked to CEO and Co-Founder Abhinav Das:

Backed by Y Combinator, Orangewood is headquartered in the US, with their R&D team in India. They aim to democratise robots, leveraging the latest advancements in ML and generative AI.

We talk about his journey from building affordable cars for rural India, designing wood furniture for co-working spaces, going to the US, and building robots, with all the ups and downs of a young startup founder.

In this episode, I talk with ⁠Eris Dhionis Sako⁠, Co-Founder & CEO of Duatic AG⁠, a robotics startup based in Zurich:

Eris shares his journey from growing up in Albania and studying in Greece, to becoming a leading robotics engineer at ETH Zurich.

Over the past 8+ years, he’s designed actuators, robotic arms, and more at the Robotic Systems Lab. Now, he’s taking that experience into entrepreneurship with Duatic, helping teams worldwide build better robots.

We talked about his early days, what shaped him, who inspired him, and the mindset behind hardware startups. (And what’s next as he gears up for Automatica25 in Munich 🤫)

It’s a founder story full of grit, sharp insights, and a real love for building things that move!

My guest is Matt Freed, co-founder of K-Scale Labs, a machine-learning startup developing an 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡-𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗘 𝗛𝗨𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗜𝗗 𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗢𝗧, easily manufactured by individuals using 3D printing.

With a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, and a Master's in Computer Science from Cornell, Matt Freed leads hardware at K-Scale Labs, based in Palo Alto, Bay Area.

We discuss his transition from hardware to software, the importance of open-source for society, how awesome & collaborative the humanoid robotics community is, and their business model.

Our guest today is Lingkang Zhang, founder of Red Rabbit Robotics, specialising in humanoid robots.

Extensive experience in autonomous robots and self-driving vehicles. Previously, Lingkang founded a company that developed machine vision solutions for drones.

He holds a master's degree in Human-Robot Interaction and an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from Beijing.

We discuss his journey and the challenges he faced along the way.

🎙 In episode #22, we sit down with ROBOTOP's CEO & Founder Dr.-Ing. Eike Wolfram Schäffer:

After his double degree in Industrial & Mechanical Engineering, he stayed in academia and finished his PhD in robot-centric automation solutions, before he founded Robotop.

We speak about his curiosity sparked early by LEGO, his time as a tutor, educating customers and how 3D / XR technologies can transform the way we work with robots, by virtual walk-throughs & rapid 3D layouting.

Today's guest is Daryl Lim, the CEO and co-founder of Augmentus, an AI-robotics software company based in Singapore.

Augmentus offers a no-code platform that simplifies industrial robot programming, making it accessible to non-technical users.

I spoke with Daryl (a Forbes 30 Under 30) about the challenges of founding a tech company, the importance of talking to customers early on and their expansion in the US.

Today I talk with Alex Enache, an AI automation consultant, entrepreneur, and educator. With a Master's Degree in International and Intercultural Communication, Alex quickly saw the potential of the tech industry, diving into chatbots and human-machine communication. Starting as a corporate trainer in Berlin, Alex self-educated on emerging AI tools, testing and leveraging them fully. We talk about the journey that led him to transition into a consultant and entrepreneur, helping others harness practical AI to save time and boost results.

Chandandeep Singh is a researcher at DFKI, the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, where he works on robot learning.

Starting his education in India, he was more focused on the mechanical side of robotics, until during his master's he transitioned into software engineering.

He documented and shared his journey, aiming to inspire and educate future roboticists through blogs, videos, and courses.

Today's guest is Robert Liebhart, an accomplished entrepreneur with a focus on integrating European robotic technologies into the South Korean market.

Beginning with Germany's Maschinenmarkt, he extended his expertise to various sectors including automation and robotics, and is now CEO at KoreaSolutions.

We discuss his journey through the industry, his role in shaping Korea's automation landscape, and his insights on connecting European innovation with Korean enterprise.

My latest guest is Robert Vogel, an experienced Automation Specialist with almost 20 years in the industry.

Originating from the robotized system plant engineering sector, he successfully specialized in the "Robot" system component, and now focused on the "Motor" components.

We talk about his passion for automation, being with KUKA for over a decade and his in-depth automotive insights.

Episode #16 is with Scortex CEO Aymeric de Pontbriand:

This podcast is not only about robotics but also automation and manufacturing.

Scortex helps manufacturers enhance operations and reduce costs by managing inspections and quality data on production lines.

We talk about Aymeric's early love for data, the challenges for startups in manufacturing and the future of automation in the industry.

In this episode, I sit down with Ian Pritchard:

Alongside his brother, they're building Anthrobotics, a startup that's challenging the norms of robotics with open-source humanoid robots, balancing their project with full-time commitments.

A Radio Operator in the Canadian Armed Forces and a graduate in Nanotechnology and Electronics Engineering from NAIT, we walk through his journey of robotics.

🎙️ Episode #59: Willpower, Product Thinking & Building Vention... with Etienne Lacroix:

In today’s episode, I talk with Etienne Lacroix, Founder and CEO of Vention, a company making industrial automation faster, more accessible, and more affordable for manufacturers around the world.

Etienne shares the roots of his drive and discipline, shaped by a father who was full of energy and a mother who placed strict value on education. We talk about how those influences helped him develop the mindset needed to build and lead a company.

He walks us through his early days; from mountain bike design, to engineering competitions, to working at GE and later McKinsey. Etienne also opens up about his decision to leave consulting, guided by three mental tests he uses to evaluate big moves.

One of my favorite parts: we dive into his personal framework: Memory, CPU, and Will to Kill, as a way to think about founder effectiveness.

It's a simple but powerful mental model.

Toward the end, we explore how Vention works, and how their “Lego-like” approach to automation is changing the way manufacturers build and deploy systems on the factory floor.

Lots of gems in this one. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Recently, an emerging startup made headlines with its foray into launching an open-source humanoid, sparking a conversation on innovation in robotics.

This prompted me to bring Rob and Trent together for a comprehensive discussion - questioning the need to "reinvent the wheel."

We explore the advantages of open-source development in juxtaposition with corporate-led initiatives. Moreover, we'll uncover insights into the anticipated launch of DexHand V2.

In episode 13, we're joined by Jesica Chavez:

An engineer who's spent 15 years enhancing customer growth and operational efficiency in the robotics and tech industries.

Originally from Mexico, Jesica has carved out a successful career in the US, embracing diverse roles across the sector.

Our conversation dives into her inspiring journey, her passionate advocacy for women in technology, and her commitment to mentoring Latina women in STEM fields.

In today's episode, I'm joined by Jürgen Blume, Principal Software Developer at KUKA:

Since 2014, he's played a crucial role in Application Engineering, creating tailored software solutions for clients.

Jürgen is also deeply involved in the Business Innovation Lab, focusing on cutting-edge research to enhance customer value.

He holds a diploma in computer science and a PhD in engineering, specializing in human-robot interaction, from the Technical University of Munich.

We'll discuss the challenges of fostering innovation in large corporations, understanding customer needs accurately, and strategies for success.

In this episode, I'm joined by Voraus Robotik CEO Jens Kotlarski!

He studied Mechanical Engineering in Germany, furthered his education in Canada, and finished with a PhD.

Jens led a prestigious robotics research group before venturing into the entrepreneurial world with Yuanda Robotics, which, despite its initial promise, faced financial difficulties.

Today, he steers Voraus Robotik, focusing on cutting-edge robotics technology. We'll discuss his academic roots, the lessons from Yuanda's downfall, and his rebound with Voraus Robotik.