Hi All! Hope you had a nice holiday break. I finalized the shutdown of Seedscout, but also had a lot of good times with family and friends, including going to my first Las Vegas club with my wife to see Illenium! He didn’t come out until 1:30am, which was wild. That was an experience. Anyway, I have a few updates for you.

Forward Thinking Founders Is Back

I’ve been running a podcast called Forward Thinking Founders since 2019 and have interviewed 900+ founders since inception. I took a break in 2024 but we are BACK in 2025 with a new episode with Stephane Nasser, cofounder of OpenVC (two-time guest). We have many other interviews recorded and will be rolling out a few per week. If you review the podcast, let me know! I’ll give you a little goody if you do.

The Consumer Humanoid Corner

Lately, I’ve found myself thinking more about humanoid robots—the kind we saw nearly take over the world in I, Robot. For a long time, I assumed these futuristic creations were still far off from becoming a part of everyday life. However, after doing some digging and hearing the topic discussed on the All-In podcast, I’ve started to believe that humanoids might break through into mainstream adoption within the next year or two. To better understand this emerging field and stay ahead of industry trends, I’m challenging myself to create content about humanoids. This will not only help me deepen my own knowledge but also position me as someone tuned into this fascinating frontier.

What To Know Today

There are many players in the consumer humanoid robot space, but I’ve identified six that stand out as particularly interesting:

Each of these robots is designed for residential use, offering practical functionalities like fetching groceries, doing laundry, and handling other household tasks. These innovations are pushing the boundaries of what humanoids can achieve in our daily lives.*

Comparison of Consumer Humanoid Robots

The consumer humanoid robot market is advancing quickly, offering a range of options from affordable, functional models to premium, high-tech innovations. Tesla’s Optimus and 1X’s Neo are among the more affordable entries, priced around $20,000-$30,000, similar to an economy car. These robots focus on scalability and household tasks, making them strong candidates for widespread adoption. Meanwhile, Unitree’s G1 stands out as the most budget-friendly option at $16,000, offering basic functionality and versatility, making it ideal for those exploring humanoid robotics without a hefty price tag.*

On the other end of the spectrum, high-end robots like Alpha by Clone Robotics, Yuanzheng A2 by Agibot, and Ameca by Engineered Arts cater to niche markets. These models are designed for enthusiasts and early adopters who value features like lifelike interaction or precise task performance. However, their premium price points (often exceeding $30,000) and limited production may make them less accessible to the average consumer. Despite these challenges, the market is poised for significant growth, offering solutions for a variety of budgets and use cases.*

I’ll be tracking these six brands closely over time to monitor their progress and pre-order releases. As I discover new players in this space, I’ll add them to the list to build a comprehensive overview of this rapidly evolving industry.

Top Product On Product Hunt The Last Week

Scena - Your platform to create, share & meet AI personas

I like this because it takes AI out of the standard interface (chat) and allows it to explore a proven medium from decades ago. I’m not sure if this specific company will become the dominant player, but seeing this makes me think about what an AI-driven Sims, Roller Coaster Tycoon, or—dare I say—a personal childhood favorite, Runescape, might look like. Scena is exploring this concept on the fringes, and I applaud the team for stepping forward as one of the leaders boldly declaring, “We don’t want another AI chat interface.”

That’s it for today! This year, the newsletter will be a little experimental as I try out new ideas and explore topics that catch my interest. Thanks for joining me on this journey. Until next time, see ya!

Paragraphs marked with an * at the end were written with AI assistance.