Physical AI Founder × Funder: San Francisco
Physical AI Founder × Funder: San Francisco
Beyond the Demo: Building and Funding Physical AI
Autonomy · Real-World Deployment · Commercialization · Venture Capital
Monday, November 9, 2026 | 5:00–8:00 PM PT
Pilot | 353 Sacramento Street, San Francisco
Presented by House of 434
http://thefoundersfunders.com/
About the Event
A Physical AI system that works in a demo is impressive. Building one that works reliably in the real world is an entirely different challenge.
As AI moves beyond screens into machines, factories, vehicles, laboratories, and other physical environments, a new generation of founders is building intelligent systems that can perceive, learn, decide, and act.
But turning these breakthroughs into successful companies comes with unique challenges. How do founders build defensible technology? What does it take to move from research and prototypes into real-world deployments? And what makes a Physical AI company attractive to investors?
Following our Founder × Funder gatherings in New York City, we’re bringing the series to San Francisco.
Physical AI Founder × Funder brings together technical founders, active investors, robotics researchers, and industry leaders for an evening exploring the opportunities and challenges of building and funding Physical AI companies.
Expect a candid founder-investor panel, five selected startup pitches, and dedicated time for meaningful introductions between people building and backing the next generation of Physical AI.
Physical AI Founder × Funder brings together technical founders, active investors, researchers, and industry leaders for an evening focused on the technologies and companies shaping the future of Physical AI.
After our New York editions, we're bringing the series to San Francisco.
Expect a candid panel conversation, five selected founder pitches, and meaningful introductions between people building and backing the next generation of Physical AI companies.
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What We're Exploring
World Models & Physical Simulation
AI systems that learn how physical environments behave, predict future states, and simulate outcomes. From learned world models and digital twins to physics-based AI and sim-to-real transfer.
Perception & Physical Data
Autonomy & Embodied Intelligence
How do machines learn to perceive, reason, and act in complex physical environments? From robot learning and intelligent control to autonomous planning and adaptive systems.
From Simulation to Real-World Deployment
What does it take to move beyond controlled demonstrations and build intelligent systems that operate reliably in unpredictable environments?
Perception, Physical Data & Continuous Learning
How proprietary physical data, sensor fusion, perception systems, and real-world feedback loops improve autonomous systems and create defensible advantages.
Physical AI Infrastructure
The software and infrastructure required to train, evaluate, deploy, monitor, and improve Physical AI systems, including edge intelligence, reliability, and execution platforms.
Commercialization & Venture Capital
What does it take to turn a technical breakthrough into a venture-scale business? We’ll explore customer adoption, pilot programs, deployment economics, technical differentiation, and what investors look for at the earliest stages.
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Who Should Attend?
Founders Building Physical AI
We’re particularly interested in technical founders building:
Autonomous systems and embodied intelligence
Robotics software and intelligent control
Perception, spatial intelligence, and sensor fusion
Physical data infrastructure and continuous learning
Simulation-to-real-world technologies
Edge intelligence and real-time autonomy
Robotics deployment, evaluation, and reliability infrastructure
Industrial autonomy and intelligent automation
Enabling software and infrastructure for Physical AI
Whether you’re coming out of a research lab, developing a prototype, running early pilots, or preparing to raise capital, we’d love to learn what you’re building.
We’re especially interested in pre-seed and seed-stage founders with deep technical expertise, differentiated technology, and a clear vision for commercial applications.
Investors & Funders
We’re inviting active angels, venture capital firms, specialist Physical AI investors, deep-tech funds, corporate venture teams, and family offices interested in backing technical founders.
Particularly relevant are investors focused on robotics, embodied intelligence, autonomous systems, AI infrastructure, industrial technology, and frontier technologies.
Researchers & Industry Leaders
We also welcome select robotics researchers, AI engineers, technical executives, and industry operators working across autonomous systems, manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, industrial technology, and physical infrastructure.
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The Founder × Funder Panel
Beyond the Demo: Building and Funding Physical AI
What separates an impressive technology demonstration from an intelligent system that can operate reliably in the real world, and a company investors want to back?
We’re bringing together experienced founders, technical leaders, and investors for a candid discussion about the journey from breakthrough technology to commercial deployment and venture investment.
We’ll explore:
Where are the biggest opportunities in Physical AI beyond the hype?
What are the hardest challenges in moving autonomous systems from research to real-world deployment?
What creates lasting defensibility: proprietary data, intelligent models, software infrastructure, or deployment experience?
Should founders build full-stack robotics businesses or focus on the intelligence and infrastructure layers?
What technical and commercial milestones make a Physical AI startup fundable at pre-seed and seed?
Where would experienced founders and investors place their bets today?
Featured Speakers
Dr. Subhash Challa
Founder, CEO & Chairman, SenSen AI | Professor, University of Melbourne
Praveen Penmetsa
Founder, CEO, Motivo Engineering and Monarch
Shilpi Nayak
General Partner at 434 VC | Founder and CEO at House of 434
Additional investors and speakers to be announced.
Moderator:
Padma Malladi - Fractional CTO at Craftweb
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Five Founders Pitch Live
Five selected early-stage Physical AI companies will take the stage to present their technology and business to investors and experienced technology leaders.
We’re particularly interested in founders developing embodied intelligence, autonomous systems, robotics software, perception, physical data infrastructure, simulation-to-real-world technologies, and deployment infrastructure.
Each selected founder will receive:
5 minutes to present their company, technology, and vision
3 minutes of live questions and feedback
Opportunities to connect with relevant investors and industry leaders following the pitches
Two selected founders will receive additional visibility through post-event spotlights and potential introductions across our network, subject to founder consent and investor interest.
Building a Physical AI startup and raising pre-seed or seed capital?
Series A founders are also welcome to participate in the broader gathering.
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Agenda
5:00 PM | Doors Open & Founder-Investor Networking
Meet Physical AI founders, investors, robotics researchers, and industry leaders over drinks and conversations.
5:30 PM | Welcome from House of 434
An introduction to the Founder × Funder series and the opportunities emerging across Physical AI.
5:35 PM | Panel: Beyond the Demo — Building and Funding Physical AI
A candid conversation about autonomy, real-world deployment, technical defensibility, commercialization, and what makes Physical AI companies investable.
6:05 PM | Audience Q&A
Bring your questions directly to the panelists.
6:20 PM | Five Physical AI Founder Pitches
Five selected startups present their technology and businesses, followed by live questions and feedback.
7:00 PM | Founder & Investor Takeaways
Closing perspectives on emerging opportunities, technical and commercial milestones, and the path to building successful Physical AI companies.
7:10 PM | Curated Founder × Funder Introductions
Dedicated networking and introductions between founders, investors, researchers, and potential commercial partners.
7:45 PM | Closing Conversations
Continue discussions and make plans to reconnect.
8:00 PM | Event Concludes
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Ways to Get Involved
Pitch Your Company
Building in Physical AI and raising capital? Apply for one of five founder pitch slots.
Investors, Funds & LPs
Meet technical founders building and commercializing Physical AI, discover emerging companies, and connect with fellow investors.
Speak on a Future Panel
We’re always looking for investors, founders, researchers, and technical leaders with relevant perspectives. Apply or recommend a speaker.
Partners & Sponsors
We welcome collaboration with organizations supporting entrepreneurship, research, and emerging technologies.
Media
Reporters, content creators, and media organizations covering Physical AI, robotics, deep tech, and venture capital are welcome to reach out.
Submissions are reviewed by the hosts. Seats are limited and confirmed by invitation.
Host
Shilpi Nayak
Founder, House of 434 | Founder & General Partner, 434 VC
About House of 434
House of 434 is a curated community bringing together founders, investors, operators, and researchers through thoughtful conversations, private gatherings, and meaningful introductions.
Through our Founder × Funder series, we create spaces where founders and investors can exchange perspectives, discover emerging companies, and build lasting relationships.
Explore the series: thefoundersfunders.com
Join the community: houseof434.com/apply
Partners:
Pilot
Pilot provides the most reliable accounting, CFO, and tax services for startups and small businesses. We partner with thousands of companies to help them grow sustainably and operate more effectively.
Corgi
Corgi is building the first AI financial infrastructure company. For information about Corgi's ETFs, visit www.corgifunds.com
Fidelity Private Shares is an equity management platform that helps private companies manage cap tables, valuations, governance, and equity planning from early fundraising through IPO. Its platform helps founders maintain accurate ownership records, streamline fundraising preparation, and manage increasing equity complexity as their companies grow.
For speaker, partnership, and event inquiries: partnerships@houseof434.com
Attendance is curated and registration requires approval.
Participation does not guarantee investment, funding, or investor introductions.