The End Effector

Tough Tech On Tap leads Tough Tech Week's schedule of events! We are honored to be featured alongside such a great lineup https://lnkd.in/ecbXt9ry 🗓️ Register for Tough Tech On Tap at https://lnkd.in/eiEh6dFw ✍️ To keep in the loop for future stuff, send me a note or add your info here https://lnkd.in/eueuer8V Hosted and sponsored by JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking, Cushman & Wakefield, and The End Effector. (including JMill, Grey, Jethro, Rose)

Get powered-up for our Fall gathering ahead of Tough Tech Week! As the leaves turn colors, it's time for us all to harvest our ecosystem of entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, regulators, and other tough tech champions so we can get on with making an impact through the end of 2024! Oct. 2, 6pm, in CitizenM North Station, Boston. Please register so we can get a solid headcount: https://lnkd.in/e-STcDXM Our co-hosts are JMill, Jethro, Grey, and Rose. It takes a team to make the dream, with The End Effector joined by Cushman & Wakefield and JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking. We are honored for the J.P. Morgan Innovation Economy folks to join us as our newest sponsor. Excited to have you with us Rose Muratore McCarthy, Vickrum Nabar, and Britt Gardner! This event is sector-agnostic and role-agnostic. You may see a biologist talking with a roboticist, or an academic researcher speaking with an investor. We will happily facilitate connecting you. Whether you know nobody or everyone, come over and we can chat. No one builds alone. Watch our launch video https://lnkd.in/e998AnCG Never been to citizenM? Here’s how to find us: https://lnkd.in/eayw8iUd

Just a heads-up that we will be hosting the next Tough Tech On Tap on October 2 at 6pm in Boston. Thought some of you may be interested! https://lnkd.in/e-STcDXM

Catch up on my interview round-up with industry leaders and innovators while at Robotics Invest, presented by Cybernetix Ventures. 🔧 Prototypes to Production: How MassRobotics Supports Startups | Tom Ryden Discover how MassRobotics is fostering a thriving startup ecosystem in Boston. https://lnkd.in/e52cruAQ 🏭 Scaling Factory Robotics Globally | Ati Motors Founder Saurabh Chandra Learn about Ati Motors’s journey from Bangalore to global markets with their rugged autonomous robots. https://lnkd.in/ewTs9WYr 🤖 Belgian Robotics: Tractonomy’s Journey | Laura Pereira & Keshav Chintamani Explore how Tractonomy Robotics is revolutionizing logistics robotics with support from Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT). https://lnkd.in/exkiJqNs ✈️ Aerial Data: Wingtra’s Vertically-Launched Drones | Elias Kleimann of Wingtra See the world of Wingtra’s drones and their impact on various industries. https://lnkd.in/e7-JDREw 💡 Robotics Funding and Relationships | Peter Haas of MassTech Gain insights into how Massachusetts Technology Collaborative is driving economic development and supporting startups. https://lnkd.in/exdiMHTD 🔍 Fabricating the Future: Insights from Hypertherm Ventures | Nathan Pascarella Discover Hypertherm Ventures’s strategic investments in advanced manufacturing and robotics. https://lnkd.in/ebfQQhgv For a recap of the whole conference, check out my full video: https://lnkd.in/gb-8_rz9

Moving beyond hydraulics for heavy industry means looking forward to electrified robotic actuation. I made a whole video about the 'deep tech deep dive' inside a facility where belt-driven systems are transforming the world of motion. 🎥🦾 I focused on RISE™Robotics, from their early prototypes to their latest record-breaking robotic arm, to share with you an inside look at their journey, philosophy, and technology. In the full video, I also share tough tech takeaways that I think anyone will be helpful for anyone who cares about reindustrialization and improving heavy industry as we work toward sustainability goals. 📺 Watch the video at https://lnkd.in/e99Kx5ff 👀 Read more at https://lnkd.in/ePMVtvMC I also have 6 fully-produced video interviews + walkthroughs that are un-cut and shot on-site with members of the RISE team. These special videos are accessible by The End Effector members who have been "read in". That's over 2 hours of additional content, so if you can't get enough of the editorialized montage video linked above, you may be interested in the full interviews. 👑 Thanks so much to the team at RISE™Robotics, including my hosts Arron Acosta and Kyle Dell'Aquila and their team. No one builds alone. #N1BA

Happy to share highlights from my interview with Peter Haas, the Director of the Department of Robotics Innovation Institute at Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, while we were at Cybernetix Ventures's Robotics Invest. (Thanks Ben Linville-Engler for connecting us and thanks Fady Saad for the invitation.) MassTech focuses on driving economic development within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As underwriters for Robotics Invest, they’re creating vital connections between founders and investors, fostering growth in the robotics ecosystem. Peter shared how MassTech is dedicated to supporting startups, helping them secure funding and establish their presence in Massachusetts. One exciting development is the MassRobotics Accelerator program, which offers pre-seed funding and training for budding robotics companies. Applications open in July, so don’t miss this opportunity! Massachusetts is among the leaders in robotics, with over 400 companies and a thriving community of technical experts and entrepreneurs. Peter emphasized the importance of relationships and skills transfer within this ecosystem, driving innovation beyond just capital investment. 📺 Watch “Robotics Funding and Relationships | Peter Haas of MassTech” https://lnkd.in/ewxUCRkk

At Robotics Invest, Saurabh Chandra, CEO of Ati Motors, introduced me to a wheeled bot designed for moving heavy materials in factory settings. Unlike many robots focused on warehouses, their rugged bots can handle indoor and outdoor environments, degraded flooring, and rain. Originating in Bangalore, India, Ati Motors started with the vision that autonomous technology would be ubiquitous. Today, their robots are deployed across 30-40 factories in the U.S., India, Southeast Asia, and soon Mexico. Saurabh highlighted the importance of addressing the under-served market of factories, emphasizing the need for robots to perform dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks. Ati Motors’s bots boast LiDAR, swappable batteries, custom hub motors, and a range of sensors to navigate challenging terrains. Saurabh stressed the significance of controlling both hardware and software to ensure their solutions work seamlessly for customers. Their innovative approach is helping them stand out in the competitive robotics industry. Saurabh attended Robotics Invest to meet fellow founders and investors, sharing insights and learning from others’ experiences. He found the event inspiring, especially Dean Kamen talk, which showcased the forward-thinking spirit of the region. Ati Motors is always open to connecting with investors and those interested in manufacturing in India. They offer a wealth of knowledge and experience in getting robots made successfully in India, making them a valuable resource for the robotics community. If you’re interested in learning more about ATI Motors or connecting with Saurabh, visit atimotors.com. 📺 Watch “Scaling Factory Robotics Globally | Ati Motors Founder Saurabh Chandra” https://lnkd.in/eZu9GXsJ

Nathan Pascarella, Director at Hypertherm Ventures, interviewed with me at Cybernetix Ventures’s Robotics Invest. Hypertherm Ventures is focused on advanced manufacturing and robotics. Nathan shared insights on their strategic early-stage investments in Industry 4.0, digital manufacturing, robotics, automation, and the future of fabrication. Their unique approach not only brings financial support but also operational expertise to startups, creating a win-win scenario for innovation and growth. The company is advocating for the manufacturing resurgence in the U.S., leveraging their dual role as both producers and investors. This positions them to drive efficiency and innovation within their operations while supporting the broader manufacturing ecosystem. Nathan emphasized the importance of being mentally prepared and staying engaged with other investors and startups. The discussion around the future of humanoid robots and the role of dexterity in automation highlighted the depth and complexity of advancements in robotics. For those in hard tech and advanced manufacturing, Hypertherm Ventures is eager to connect with early-stage startups. If you’re looking for a strategic partner, reach out via hyperthermventures.com or contact Nathan directly. 📺 Watch “Fabricating the Future: Insights from Hypertherm Ventures | Nathan Pascarella” https://lnkd.in/eqEYfagH

In "Prototypes to Production", I interview Tom Ryden, Executive Director of MassRobotics while at Robotics Invest. Tom discussed the vital role MassRobotics plays in supporting the thriving robotics community in Boston. Founded nearly a decade ago, MassRobotics provides a comprehensive space for young startups, offering lab and prototyping facilities, essential networking opportunities, and connections to industry leaders. Their mission is to help startups grow and stay in Massachusetts, fostering innovation and economic development. MassRobotics collaborates closely with entities like MassChallenge and venture capital firms, ensuring that startups have the resources and support needed to scale their ideas. Tom highlighted the importance of networking and the invaluable insights gained from events like Robotics Invest, where investors and startups come together to share knowledge and forge partnerships. Massachusetts continues to be a hotbed for robotics, with established companies like Amazon Fulfillment Technologies & Robotics and Boston Dynamics, a vibrant startup community, and cutting-edge research from top universities. This ecosystem creates a unique and fertile ground for innovation. For those interested in learning more about MassRobotics or getting involved as a mentor or partner, visit their website at massrobotics.org. Whether you’re a startup looking for support or an expert eager to share your knowledge, MassRobotics offers numerous opportunities to engage and contribute to the robotics community. Thank you for introducing us, Ben Linville-Engler! 📺 Watch “Prototypes to Production: How MassRobotics Supports Startups | Tom Ryden” https://lnkd.in/epDENXQS

Driving from Day 1 at Reindustrialize to where I’m staying in Motor City, Awesome kickoff video by Jason Carman (https://lnkd.in/eZfYCegU) We had a rousing keynote by Chris Power of Hadrian. Memorable take: “We were behind in the space race, but we caught up and won. We were behind on COVID but we caught up.” We are behind on the new industrial race, "but we will catch up and we will win. Because the one thing we have to remember is that we're Americans and this is what we do. ... We leave it to the last minute, we throw the winning Hail Mary pass, and we kiss a cheerleader.” We held debates on topics including Greenfield vs. Brownfield development and a self reflection on whether reindustrialization is even possible. - I interviewed innovators applying quantum sciences to classical computing, improving hardware design, and tackling environmental issues. Exciting work debates to be sure, but concerns remain about how do we channel enthusiasm into real action? - How do we change the system meaningfully? Retrofit on what we got, creaky bridge and all? Scrap and start over, build the new cities? - The conference being in Detroit, the Motor City, underscores the importance of manufacturing in our daily lives, from cars to fidget spinners, medical devices to our homes. Reindustrialization is not just a U.S. issue, but a global one.