About this event
CALLING ALL ROBOTICS NERDS!!
We're bringing together early-stage deeptech and physical hardware leaders for an unfiltered conversation on building robotics ventures in the trenches!
Taking place on Monday, 23 November 2026, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Natural Velocity, this panel features four distinguished founders and industry leaders:
- Carol Baulch (Co-Founder, ROBAU)
- Bhargavram Chilukuri (Co-founder, AMPRE ROBOTICS),
- Dante Crea (CEO, RobotForHire)
- Pending TBD.
Supported by event partners BuildClub, ACES, SIAH, and Natural Velocity, the session offers a behind-the-scenes look at the hardware journey from initial vision to scaling manufacturing.
Bypassing generic SaaS advice, the discussion explores the hard realities of physical product development, lean validation strategies, and rapid hardware prototyping. The panel will address navigating the global AI robotics boom, overcoming the psychological uncanny valley barrier in human-robot interaction, and surviving the manufacturing "Valley of Death" when transitioning to volume production. Panelists will also offer perspectives on how Australian startups can leverage national capabilities in industrial automation and field robotics to stand out globally.
The session further examines deeptech capital dynamics, outlining how founders can de-risk technical milestones and communicate long-term structural moats to investors. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in an interactive audience Q&A followed by a dedicated networking hour with drinks and light bites to connect with ecosystem peers.