A personal look at my journey investing in robotics startups.
Why Most Approaches Fail
Many common approaches to robotics investing are flawed at the root.
The root cause is usually one of three things:
Copying what big companies do without understanding why they do it. What works for Google doesn't work for a 10-person startup.
Over-engineering the solution when a simple approach would work better. I've seen teams spend six months building something that could have been done in two weeks.
Ignoring the human element. Technology is the easy part. Getting people to actually use it is where the real challenge lives.
The Counterintuitive Truth
In robotics investing, the best practitioners often do less, not more.
The lesson: the market doesn't care about your roadmap. It sounds simple. It's incredibly hard to execute.
Real Talk: What Actually Matters
Here is what actually matters in robotics investing.
First, execution speed beats perfection. Every time. Companies rarely fail because they moved too fast on robotics investing. Many fail because they moved too slowly.
Second, measure everything. If you can't measure it, you can't improve it. Set up tracking from day one, even if it's basic.
Third, talk to your users. It sounds obvious, but many founders make decisions about robotics investing in a vacuum. Get out of the building. Talk to real people.
This connects to broader themes around humanoid robots, warehouse robots, drone AI, Figure AI that I've been thinking about a lot lately.
Wrapping Up
I've shared a lot here, and I know it can feel overwhelming. But you don't need to get robotics investing right on day one. You just need to get started and keep improving.
Founders who do well at robotics investing tend to share one trait: they're relentlessly practical. They don't chase perfection. They chase progress.
That's the mindset I'd encourage you to adopt. Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. And keep pushing forward.
As always, I'm rooting for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:What would you do differently looking back?
I'd move faster on the things that were working and cut the things that weren't sooner. Most founders, myself included, hold onto failing strategies too long because of sunk cost. Speed of learning is everything.
Q:Can these results be replicated?
The specific numbers will vary, but the underlying patterns and principles are transferable. The key is understanding the context behind the results, not just copying the tactics. Every company has unique constraints that shape what works.
Q:What was the biggest challenge in this case?
Almost always, the biggest challenge is people and alignment, not technology or strategy. Getting the right team focused on the right problem is harder than any technical challenge I've encountered.
Q:How long did it take to see results?
Most meaningful business results take 3-6 months to materialize. Anyone promising overnight success is selling something. The companies in my portfolio that grew fastest were the ones that stayed patient and consistent.