RoboBusiness Pitchfire: Meet the 4 competing startups

Hearken to this text

The Pitchfire Startup Competitors has been an opening-day spotlight for years now at RoboBusiness, which runs Oct. 18-19 in Santa Clara, Calif. Pitchfire, which occurs on Oct. 18 from 4:15-5 PM on the Santa Clara Conference Heart, is a must-attend occasion for traders, robotics entrepreneurs and innovation leaders alike. Attendees get a primary glimpse at cutting-edge applied sciences from robotics’ most enjoyable rising corporations, and the chance to forge new business partnerships.

This 12 months, 4 robotics startups will compete for the $5,000 first-place prize. Every startup will get 5 minutes to explain their firm’s resolution, enterprise mannequin, worth proposition and extra. After all of the contestants have pitched, Pitchfire judges will examine notes, come to a consensus, and announce a winner primarily based on who they consider to be greatest primed for business success.

RoboBusiness is the main occasion centered on growing business robots. There will likely be 60-plus audio system, 60-plus exhibitors and demos on the expo flooring, networking receptions and extra. RoboBusiness is co-located with the Discipline Robotics Engineering Discussion board, an occasion centered on learn how to efficiently develop robots that function in wide-ranging, outside, dynamic environments. Additionally co-located with RoboBusiness is DeviceTalks West, the premier trade occasion for medical expertise professionals, presently in its ninth 12 months. Each occasions appeal to engineering and enterprise professionals from a broad vary of healthcare and medical expertise backgrounds.

Corporations which have beforehand competed in Pitchfire embrace Tatum Robotics, Southie Autonomy, Sadako Applied sciences, Autonomous Marine Methods, inVia Robotics, Catalina Well being, Cubit, Rokid, RightHand Robotics, Smooth Robotics and Knightscope.

Here’s a have a look at this 12 months’s members:

AIVOT
Date Based: September 21, 2021
Location: Seattle, Wash.
No. of workers: 2
Funding so far: $0
Web site: https://www.aivot.com

AIVOT gives software program for robots to carry out varied open-ended duties in unstructured settings. AIVOT learns new abilities by following spoken directions and observing human demos. The self-learning agent improves abilities with suggestions and expertise and makes use of imaginative and prescient to carry out the duties. The tip-to-end software program stack will be deployed on any third-party {hardware} (robotic arms, AMRs, and humanoid kind components).

Glidance
Date Based: January 30, 2023
Location: Seattle, Wash.
No. of workers: 4
Funding so far: $200,000
Web site: http://glidance.io

Glidance is growing a self-guided mobility assist, known as Glide, for individuals with sight loss. Glide helps an individual with sight loss get round with ease and confidence by guiding them to the place they wish to go utilizing superior autonomous guiding applied sciences and a novel mechanical design selling a way of company and independence. Glide additionally makes use of haptic and audio suggestions to assist present a secure strolling expertise for its customers.

Staxel
Date Based: March 14, 2023
Location: Detroit, Michigan
No. of workers: 3
Funding so far: $150,000
Web site: https://getstaxel.com/

Staxel automates micro-fulfillment utilizing robots and synthetic intelligence, optimizing stock administration and fleet operations. Staxel makes use of a novel autonomous cellular robotic design that may transfer alongside flooring, vertically and between cabinets. Staxel mentioned it is going to quickly launch a completely automated darkstore with a 10x increase in operational effectivity.

TRIC Robotics
Date Based: June 17, 2017
Location: San Luis Obispo, Calif.
No. of workers: 10
Funding so far: $802,000
Web site: https://tricrobotics.com/

TRIC Robotics helps farmers management pests and illness utilizing ultraviolet mild in its place for chemical pesticides. Ultraviolet mild is a resistance and chemical free resolution that’s extra sustainable and efficient than chemical substances. The corporate’s resolution is a tractor-scale robotic that carries UV lights up and down the rows as a pest management service that replaces their current pest management prices.

Meet the Judges

The panel of judges will embrace:

Sanjay Aggarwal: Enterprise Accomplice, F-Prime Capital

Aggarwal is a Enterprise Accomplice centered on frontier expertise funding alternatives. Previous to becoming a member of F-Prime Capital, he was CEO of Unicel Applied sciences, an India-focused cellular messaging firm. Aggarwal scaled Unicel to grow to be a frontrunner within the Indian market and efficiently exited the enterprise to Karix Cellular.

Earlier in his profession, he labored at Devonshire Traders (the personal fairness group of Constancy Investments), McKinsey and Firm in its U.S. and India places of work, and at Berkeley Course of Management (acquired by Moog Inc), the place he constructed machine automation programs. Aggarwal holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, and an M.B.A. from the MIT Sloan Faculty of Administration.

Mike Oitzman, Editor, Robotics, WTWH Media

Mike Oitzman is Editor of WTWH’s Robotics Group and founding father of the Cellular Robotic Information. Oitzman is a robotics trade veteran with 25-plus years of expertise at varied high-tech corporations within the roles of promoting, gross sales and product administration.

Daniel Theobald, Chairman & Founder, Vecna Robotics

Daniel Theobald is the Chairman and founding father of Vecna Robotics, a versatile, clever materials dealing with automation firm.  Daniel has many years of expertise main analysis scientists and groups of engineers in growing cutting-edge expertise. He has 67 issued patents and greater than 30 patents pending.

Daniel has been on the forefront of robotics for greater than 20 years, working carefully with DARPA, DOD, NASA, NIH, USDA and lots of others to advance using robots and AI software program to enhance provide chain automation. Along with founding Vecna Robotics, Daniel additionally co-founded MassRobotics, a non-profit devoted to the worldwide development of the robotics trade and Twisted Fields, an natural analysis farm devoted to the development of automation in agriculture to permit humanity to farm sustainably—as nature meant—whereas nonetheless assembly the calls for of contemporary agriculture. Daniel is devoted to the concept expertise can be utilized to empower individuals worldwide to reside extra fulfilling lives.

Oliver Mitchell, Accomplice, ff Enterprise Capital
Oliver Mitchell is a associate at ff Enterprise Capital. Oliver first joined ff VC in 2014 as a Restricted Accomplice, after which in 2018 as a Enterprise Accomplice. Immediately, he takes a number one function on the funding group in increasing the portfolio’s deep tech place with holdings in robotics, drones, synthetic intelligence, and industrial automation applied sciences.

Oliver additionally works with ffVC’s investor relations in forging strategic relationships for our restricted companions and company enterprise teams. As well as, he serves on the boards of Civ Robotics, Cambrian Intelligence, AppBind, Storyfit, and Cardflight.