Physical AI and Robotics: From Lab to First Customer · Boston
Moving a robot from a lab demo to a paying customer is one of the hardest transitions in tech. Hardware costs, pilot deployments and long sales cycles all work against you.
This panel brings together an investor and an operator from Boston’s robotics community to talk about how founders make that jump:
Turning research into a product customers will pay for
Running pilots that convert into contracts
Raising and managing capital for hardware-heavy startups
Speakers
Jason Kraus, Partner at EQx Fund and Director of Venture Capital at Equity Venture Partners, and Founder and CEO of Prepare 4 VC. He brings the founder-investor view on commercialization, capital and growth.
Parna Sarkar-Basu, Founder of Brand and Buzz Consulting, board member at robotics startup SAMI AI, and a mentor through MassRobotics and Cambridge Innovation Center. She brings the commercialization and market-positioning view.
Shreya Singh, Director at Fidelity Investments and Founder of No Bad Days Club, moderates.
Come early for the 5:00 PM panel on AI in health care, and stay for the happy hour with Boston founders and the NEC X team.
Schedule
5:00 PM Panel: Healthcare AI (optional) 5:45 PM Arrivals and check-in 6:00 PM Panel and audience Q&A 6:45 PM Happy hour and networking
Who should come: founders building in physical AI, robotics or hardware, with companies started in the last 1–2 years. Registration requires approval.
About Elev X!: NEC X’s Elev X! program invests up to $250K per startup and connects founders to NEC’s global R&D network. Batch 17 applications are open now and close Dec 11.
Free to attend.