22Astronauts

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!

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:

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.