Robotics: From Systems to Scale
26 May 2026 · London EC2A · 80 attendees
Panel discussion. For founders, senior professionals, researchers, and experts working across robotics and AI.
Robotics is no longer limited by the ability to build systems. The real challenge today is deployment: moving robots from controlled demos into real environments shaped by safety requirements, regulation, integration, standardisation, scalability, and economic constraints.
Together with investors, engineers, and operators working across humanoids, medical robotics, and warehouse automation, we’ll discuss what it actually takes to bring robotics into production and scale, and where capital is driving the next generation of robotics companies.
Topics we’ll explore:
• why deployment has become the main bottleneck in robotics
• safety, regulation, and standardisation in real-world environments
• where investors see long term potential
• general-purpose systems vs task-specific applications
• how AI and system architecture are changing the field
• what it takes to move from pilot projects to large-scale implementation
Speakers
✅ Dmitry Grishin - Founding Partner, Grishin Robotics
Since 2012, one of the world's most active robotics investors. Portfolio includes 38 companies and 2 unicorns, including Ring (acquired by Amazon, $1B), Eero (Amazon), Zipline, Starship, Spin (Ford), Sphero, and Wise (IPO at $11B).
✅ Dr Ekaterina Sergeeva - Systems Engineering Lead, Humanoid
Systems engineer with a background in EV and software development, focused on safety, reliability, and architecture. Contributes to ISO standards for industrial autonomous systems and mobile robotics. Top 50 Women in Engineering UK.
✅ Elena Novakovskaya - Senior Manager Robotics, Capital Equipment & Digital Solutions EMEA, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, working at the intersection of medical robotics strategy, process standartisation, clinical adoption and commercial scale across Europe - covering surgical, electrophysiology and implant-related robotics segments.
✅ Oleg Balakhnov - Senior Robotics Research Engineer, Ocado Technology, Expert in imitation learning & reinforcement learning for robotic manipulation. Previously worked on autonomous driving at Sber Automotive and academic robotics at Innopolis.Founder Robot Leaning Collective.
Moderator
Tatiana Krause - Investor, Grishin Robotics
Leads the London accelerator programme. Has scaled 70+ startups across robotics, B2B, and digital health.
Co-hosted by London tech communities Tower × Founders Connect.
Agenda
🤝 6.30 – 7.00 pm doors open, networking
🎤 7.00 – 7.45 pm moderated discussion
💬 7.45 – 8.10 pm Q&A
🤝 8.10 – 09.30 pm networking
🇬🇧 Language: English
Spaces are limited; early booking is advised.