About This Event
Artificial intelligence embodied in general-purpose robots promises to be an industry larger than automobiles, possibly the largest industry ever.
A lineup of investors, ecosystem partners, and startup founders developing at the frontiers of mechatronics, along with live robot demos.
1-1:30 arrival + opener
1:30-1:50 - Jerome Monceaux (Enchanted Tools)
1:50-2:20 - Panel -> Lewis Hong (FP Solutions) + Michael Harries (Robotics Hub) + Johnathan Budd (Matter Venture)
2:20 - 2:50 - Panel -> Jerome Monceaux Enchanted Tools) + Alexander Kernbaum (SRI), Christoph Kohstall (1X)
2:50 - 3:10 - Jan Liphardt (OpenMind)
3:10 - 4:00 - Party
Speakers
Lewis Hong
Founding Partner FP Solutions, FP Solutions
panelistLewis Hong is the Co-Founder and General Partner of FP Solutions VC (www.fpsolutions.vc). Former SpaceX executive, Stanford and Oxford alumni, Lewis is focused on disruptive early-stage hardware investments. He has extensive entrepreneurial, management experience and consistently delivered results in a wide range of industries. Whether it’s building the world’s first rocket factory, the highest density battery pack, or a fast casual franchise, Lewis was able to successfully make something from nothing, and enjoy the journey from 0 to 1.
Jan Liphardt
CEO OpenMind AGI and Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford University, OpenMind AGI
Jan Liphardt is a German-American biophysicist, Stanford Associate Professor of Bioengineering, and founder/CEO of OpenMind, a San Francisco-based startup pioneering OM1—an open-source, AI-native, hardware-agnostic operating system for intelligent robots—and FABRIC, a decentralized blockchain protocol enabling secure, verifiable coordination and shared intelligence among machines across vendors to foster transparent, trustworthy human-robot societies in sensitive domains like healthcare, elder care, education, and defense. With roots in single-molecule biophysics—holding a BA from Reed College, PhD from Cambridge University, postdoctoral work at UC Berkeley, faculty stints at Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab—Liphardt has authored influential papers on mechanobiology, super-resolution imaging, and genomic patterns while teaching courses on engineering living matter, machine learning, and blockchain applications. In 2024-2025, he scaled OpenMind from academic insights into a $20M-funded venture backed by Pantera Capital, Coinbase Ventures, and others, co-authoring ERC-7777 for immutable robot governance, publishing arXiv preprints on LLM-driven robot behaviors, and keynoting at TOKEN2049 and ETHDenver to advocate crypto-economic incentives for autonomous systems amid the robotics explosion.
Michael Harries
Partner, The Robotics Hub
panelistMichael Harries is a professional at Robotics Hub, where he focuses on robotics innovations based on his involvement in related events. He has spoken at panels such as those at The Embodied Age, discussing topics in embodied intelligence and technology. His expertise appears to center on the application of robotics in advanced tech contexts.
Alexander Kernbaum
nullSRI
panelistAlexander Kernbaum is associated with SRI International, a prominent research institute known for its work in advanced technologies such as AI and robotics. He has participated in panels at events like The Embodied Age, where discussions likely focused on embodied technologies. His involvement suggests expertise in fields related to robotics and AI based on the context of his speaking engagements.
Jerome Monceaux
nullEnchanted Tools
Jerome Monceaux is a prominent figure in robotics, known for co-founding Aldebaran Robotics and leading the development of interactive robots such as NAO and Pepper, which have advanced human-robot interaction. His work has focused on social robotics and its applications in education and entertainment. Currently, he is associated with Enchanted Tools, where he continues to innovate in the robotics field.
Jonathan Budd
Investor, Matter Ventures
panelistJonathan Budd is an Investor at Matter Ventures, where he focuses on sourcing and evaluating investments in deep tech startups, particularly in emerging technologies. With a background in engineering and prior experience in venture capital, he has led successful funding rounds for innovative companies. His notable achievements include investments in firms advancing AI and quantum technologies, contributing to industry growth. Budd's expertise spans AI, quantum computing, and related fields, making him a key player in the deep tech ecosystem.
Christoph Kohstall
CEO, 1X
panelistChristoph Kohstall serves as the CEO of 1X, a company specializing in the development of AI-powered humanoid robots designed for practical applications. He founded 1X in 2019, building on his background in physics and AI, including a PhD from the University of Innsbruck. Kohstall has led the company to secure significant funding from investors and advance robotic technologies, such as the Eve robot platform. His expertise lies in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics, with contributions focused on creating versatile, safe humanoid robots for everyday use.
