Ian Bernstein: Robotics Startup Opportunities: Lessons from Misty II and the Sphero Star Wars BB-8

Overview

Robotics Startup Opportunities: Lessons from Misty II and the Sphero Star Wars BB-8

Abstract

Many of the systems, sensors, and software frameworks in robotics today have originated from academia. But, what happens when you want to commercialize an idea and turn it into a viable business. Sphero was founded in 2010 and has shipped over 4 million robots around the world. Misty Robotics (acquired in January 2022 by Furhat Robotics) has shipped thousands of robots to both companies and researchers. In this session, I share both lessons learned from these two companies in going from an idea to building a business and some thoughts on how to recognize new business opportunities.

Brief Biography

Ian Bernstein is Founder and Head of Product at Misty Robotics, a spin-off company from Sphero, Inc. focused on building platform robots for the home and front-of-business. Prior to Misty Robotics, Bernstein served as Founder and CTO at Sphero which has shipped more than 4 million robots to date including the app-controlled Sphero Star Wars BB-8. Bernstein studied Electrical Engineering at Colorado State University.