Article

The author reflects on their experience as COO of a failed robotics startup, sharing six lessons learned. The concept of 'Large Model Chauvinism' led to neglecting basic hardware safety measures. Oversimplified analogies in fundraising distracted from technical challenges.

The author stresses that building a hardware supply chain is a capability, not a task, and that robotics hardware cannot be treated as a commodity. R&D speed must prioritize quality decisions over impulsive actions.

Finally, unrealistic timelines resulted in repeated failures and damaged relationships with contract manufacturers. These insights emphasize the need for rigorous engineering in both hardware and software.