Machine Minds

In this episode I sit down with Akshay Chalana, CEO & co‑founder of Saphira AI, to unpack how "TurboTax for robot compliance” can slash the time, cost, and confusion that stall hardware roll‑outs.

We cover:

- Why safety & certification are the hidden blockers for robotics at scale

- How Saphira’s agent‑based platform turns CAD files, schematics, and risk regs into an actionable compliance plan

- Real‑world wins (industrial arms, home humanoids) and what “shift‑left safety” looks like in practice

- Career twists from Taekwondo black‑belt to hedge‑fund engineer to startup founder

Hit play and let me know what resonated most. 👇 All links & resources below.

🔗 Guest links
Website – https://saphira.ai
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/in/akshaychalana
X / Twitter – @Ac2zoom

🎙 Connect with me
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-toroosian

We’ve officially hit Episode 100! 🎉

 I sat down with Anthony Jules, co-founder & CEO of Robust AI, to unpack how Carter—the cart-shaped AMR that workers can literally steer—delivers a 60 % productivity boost for DHL without changing the warehouse layout.

Talking points

1. Why “agency” (humans grabbing the robot’s handle) was the missing piece in previous AMRs.
2. Vision-only navigation, no LiDAR: the leap to 4th-gen mobile robotics.
3. Human-centric UX as the real adoption moat.
4. Hiring for close-to-the-metal engineers and culture-first teams.
5. What 10 years of collaborative automation might look like across logistics, healthcare, and retail.

Links & resources

• Robust AI — https://www.robust.ai/
• Robust AI on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/robust-ai/
• DHL × Robust AI partnership (60 % productivity) — https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/press/press-archive/2024/dhl-supply-chain-partners-with-robust-ai-to-drive-the-future-of-warehouse-automation.html
• “People + Physical AI” demo (YouTube) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFO_B43EDOc
• Anthony's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyjules/

Connect with me — https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

Thanks for riding with us through a full century of episodes—here’s to the next hundred!

In this conversation I sit down with Zac Engler, founder of Bodhi AI, to talk about turning generative-AI hype into practical wins for smaller companies—and why “shadow-AI” bans often backfire.
We cover:

• The moment Zac realised a recruiter could build a full-stack product in three weeks for < $1 k.
• Tactical first steps for any team: discovery sprint → 30/60/90 quick-win plan → agentic workflows.
• The trifurcation of work (AI-only, human-in-loop, human-only) and how to spot the right bucket.
• Why vertical, hyper-niche agents will beat one-size-fits-all models.
• What an 18-month adoption window really means—and how to avoid being “automated chaos.”

Links:

Bodhi AI – https://bodhiai.io

Forbes feature: “AI’s Trifurcation of Work” – https://bit.ly/ZEForbes-AITrifurcation

Turning On Machines (Zac’s forthcoming book) – https://www.zacengler.com/buy-book

MN AI Tools directory – https://mnaitools.com

Connect with Zac: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacengler/

Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

In this episode I sit down with Andy Williams, EVP Sales – North America at Exotec, to unpack how a single “mobile AS/RS” platform is helping retailers, 3PLs and grocers keep pace with labor shortages and same-day delivery promises.
We cover:

• Why Exotec’s Skypod robots store, climb and travel like no other goods-to-person system.
• The shift from legacy conveyor projects to agile, software-defined warehouses.
• What “mobile AS/RS” really means for densification, throughput and expansion.
• Andy’s lessons on selling eight-figure automation to Fortune-500 operators.
• Where AI vision and data will push fulfilment over the next five years.

Recent news
• New Oxford Industries flagship installation → https://www.exotec.com/news/exotec-announces-partnership-with-oxford-industries-to-implement-next-generation-skypod-system-in-new-multi-brand-distribution-center/
• Next-gen Skypod launch → https://www.exotec.com/news/exotec-launches-next-generation-of-skypod-system-an-all-in-one-robot-based-as-rs-that-addresses-the-majority-of-processes-within-a-warehouse/

Guest info
Andy Williams – EVP Sales, North America, Exotec
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewtaylorwilliams/

Connect with me
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

In this episode I sit down with James Emerick, co-founder & CEO of Cosmic Robotics, to hear how his family’s four-generation construction roots and a detour into autonomous heavy equipment sparked a new kind of job-site robot. Cosmic’s first product—the “Cosmic 1A”—lifts and places solar panels in 100-degree deserts and icy plains, giving short-staffed EPCs a safer, drop-in replacement for back-breaking manual installs. We talk through the realities of outdoor perception, why a “slightly smarter piece of equipment” beats factory-in-the-desert grand plans, and how mobile manipulation on Earth can pave the way for building off-planet.


We covered:

- James’s path from eighth-grade “future engineer” to early employee at Built Robotics

- Three criteria Cosmic uses to spot high-leverage construction tasks

- Designing for millimetre-level accuracy amid glare, dust and 50 °C heat

- Digital-twin spin-offs and why customers ask for them sooner than you’d think

- The labour crunch on solar farms—and the case for tools that amplify crews rather than replace them

- Humanoids, hype cycles and what really matters in field robotics


Further reading & resources:

TechCrunch profile: https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/16/cosmic-robotics-is-building-robots-to-speed-solar-power-deployments-for-data-centers/

The Robot Report funding story: https://www.therobotreport.com/cosmic-industries-gets-funding-to-automate-accelerate-solar-installation/

Guest info
James Emerick — Co-Founder & CEO, Cosmic Robotics
LinkedIn (personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesemerick/
LinkedIn (company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/cosmic-robotics/?viewAsMember=true
Website: https://cosmicrobotics.com/

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

In this episode I sit down with Grace Kay Matelich, a philosopher-turned-operator who went from running Montana’s suicide-hotline to scaling AI data-ops at Invisible Technologies—and now to co-founding Bloomscroll, a “light-mirror” alternative to doom-scrolling. We unpack why recommendation engines are already an alignment problem, how subscription-based curation can flip the incentive model, and what it will take to put humans—not algorithms—back in the driver’s seat.

We covered:

- Lessons from crisis-line work, longevity research, and hyper-growth ops

- Training large language models without cutting ethical corners

- The birth of Bloomscroll and its “empowerment algorithm”

- Why presence, autonomy, and intentional screen time beat infinite feeds

- Practical tips for founders on hiring for grit and wielding AI as a tool



Guest Info:

Grace Kay Matelich — Co-Founder & CEO, Bloomscroll
Website: https://bloomscroll.com/
Blog: https://bloomscroll.substack.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-kay-matelich/

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

In this episode I sat down with serial entrepreneur Yegor Anchyshkin, co‑founder & CEO of Instock, to break down why small‑ and mid‑size fulfillment sites need a radically different ASRS architecture. Yegor traced his journey from founding Viewdle (AI video‑search; later acquired by Google) to launching Ukraine’s first online‑grocery service and leading Takeoff Technologies—experiences that shaped Instock’s “one lightweight robot, static grid” design. We dug into:

- Why traditional ASRS can’t hit target ROI in micro‑fulfillment
- Designing systems where operators hot‑swap a 90‑lb robot with no technicians
- The hidden cost of on‑site debugging—and how simulation‑first culture fixes it
- Hiring for grit and end‑user empathy in hard‑tech teams

Website: https://instock.com/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@instockcom
Toronto 2024 install video: https://youtu.be/7tu5D1yNWEQ
Intro to Instock’s core ideas (2020): https://youtu.be/kXKRT9tBHMs

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anchyshkin/

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

In this episode, I sit down with Julian Nash, Managing Director at Silicon Valley Bank, to explore how SVB supports startups and the broader innovation economy. Julian shares insights into how SVB goes beyond traditional banking, providing critical resources, debt financing solutions, and strategic support tailored specifically for Frontier Tech startups.

We discuss:

- Julian’s unique journey from professional soccer to finance at SVB.

- The full suite of SVB's services for early-stage and growth-stage hardware and deep-tech companies.

- SVB’s Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS) financing solutions and their impact on startups’ fundraising and revenue strategies.

- Key insights from SVB's State of the Markets and State of HaaS reports.

- The importance of hiring strategically, focusing on roles that immediately drive startup success.

SVB’s Frontier Tech Solutions:
https://www.svb.com/industry-solutions/hardware-frontier-technology/

Connect with Julian Nash:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-nash-43389334/

Connect with me:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

In this episode, I spoke with Leo Chen, Director of US Operations at Engineered Arts. Leo took us on his personal journey—from a childhood fascination sparked by Star Wars to leading teams at groundbreaking robotics projects at Google and now Engineered Arts. We also got an exclusive look at Amica, Engineered Arts’ lifelike humanoid robot, designed to captivate audiences across entertainment, education, and elder care.

Key discussion points:

- Leo’s career path, from building robotic eels to launching giant balloon robots at Google.
- Why Engineered Arts specializes in realistic, interactive robots for human-centric applications.
- Ethical considerations in developing humanoid robots and AI integration.
- Leo’s candid perspective on the future of humanoids and the technical challenges ahead.

Engineered Arts Website: https://engineeredarts.co.uk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leoofchen/

Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/engineered-arts-ltd/

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

I had a great conversation with Neel Mehta, Partner at G2 Venture Partners, exploring how traditional industries like energy, logistics, and manufacturing are being transformed by technology and sustainability. Neel shared insights from his early career at Morgan Stanley—where he saw firsthand how industries like automotive were disrupted—and explained why G2 targets the “missing middle” of growth-stage companies.

We covered:
- How Neel’s experience covering Tesla shaped his understanding of disruptive innovation.
- G2’s investment thesis focused on scaling sustainable solutions in traditional industries.
- The critical role of unit economics and realistic growth paths in selecting investments.
- Neel's perspective on humanoid robotics, autonomy, and the genuine commercial viability of new tech.

Guest Info:
Neel Mehta, Partner at G2 Venture Partners  
Website: https://www.g2vp.com/  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mehtaneel/

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/