The document discusses Benjamin Joffe's talk about robotics startups that have been funded by HAX, including insights from each company. Some of the startups discussed include Makeblock (2012, 500+ staff, $36M funding), Avidbots (2014, 80 staff, focused on industrial applications), and Simbe Robotics (2015, focused on supermarket inventory automation). Key lessons mentioned are finding real customer needs, developing solutions simply and cheaply, prioritizing speed to market over raising money, and pivoting based on customer feedback. The talk addresses both past and potential future trends in robotics, including a growing focus on artificial intelligence and automation.
12. Our Challenges
• Seeing beyond the prototype
• Imagining markets
• Not getting over-excited by technology
• Sense grit and resourcefulness
Humble beginnings
13. Talk Summary
• Find real needs
• Simplify & make it cheaper
• Be fast & frugal
• Raising money isn’t cool, customers are
31. Insights
• ‘Canada factor’
• [Talent / Entrepreneurs] ratio is high
• Gov pays back >35% R&D
• Access to U.S., global mindset
• Trade show => Customers (Singapore, Australia)