What does it take for early-stage startups to turn an idea in a university lab into a commercialized product? It’s a long road, especially when you’re talking about technologies as complex and costly as robotics and artificial intelligence. 

Robotics startups require expensive equipment — like industrial-grade sensors, 3D printers and controlled environments — for building and testing prototypes. Despite weathering the current slowdown in venture funding better than other tech sectors, it's still too easy for innovative inventions to remain stuck in the lab.

Fortunately, we have three experts in the process joining us at TC Sessions: Robotics on July 21 for a panel discussion called, “From Cage to Stage: Commercializing AI and Robotics.”

• Pieter Abbeel, co-founder and chief scientist at Covariant
• Joyce Sidopoulos, co-founder and VP of programs and community at MassRobotics
• Milo Werner, general partner at The Engine

Our panelists lead companies that help founders turn academic ideas into transformational, working products. Covariant develops AI for robotic automation in warehouses and factories, MassRobotics nurtures the next generation of robotics companies, and The Engine invests in deep tech companies to bridge the gap between discovery and commercialization.

As funding has dried up for many startups, robotics have weathered the storm quite well. The pandemic has fueled investments in the category as more companies look toward automated solutions, and the trend shows no sign of slowing any time soon.

TC Sessions: Robotics is a free online event happening July 21. You can catch all of the sessions, join the robotics community for online speed networking, chats and one-on-one meetings. Simply register here for free.