Building 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!

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!