In an exciting development for the robotics industry, a company focused on humanoid robots for healthcare is enhancing its leadership team. This strategic move comes as the organization aims to expand its fleet of robots designed to assist in hospitals and pharmacies.
Based in Austin, Texas, the company recently announced the appointment of Rashed Haq as the Chief Technology Officer and Todd Brugger as the Chief Operating Officer. Both executives bring a wealth of experience from their previous roles at a well-known self-driving technology firm that recently ceased operations.
Haq previously served as the Vice President and Head of AI and Robotics, while Brugger held the position of COO at the same company. Their combined expertise is expected to propel the company forward as it seeks to enhance its operational capabilities.
According to Andrea Thomaz, the co-founder and CEO, the timing for these leadership additions is ideal. The startup has successfully deployed around 100 humanoid robots, known for assisting healthcare facilities with non-patient-facing tasks, and is now poised to scale its operations significantly.
“We have intentionally taken a measured approach to growth over the past few years, focusing on refining our operational efficiencies and preparing for a more substantial scale-up,” Thomaz explained. “We are gearing up for significant expansion by the end of this year and into the next.”
Thomaz first connected with Haq and was impressed by his extensive knowledge in AI and his ability to implement innovative algorithms in real-world applications, particularly through autonomous vehicles. During their discussions, she was introduced to Brugger, whose experience in scaling operations from zero to hundreds of vehicles was seen as a perfect match for the company’s needs.
“Todd and Rashed have a proven track record of collaboration,” Thomaz noted. “As we recognized our need for strong operational leadership, it became clear that bringing Todd on board was perfectly timed.”
Both Haq and Brugger expressed that joining this robotics company felt like a natural progression in their careers. They noted that the technology being developed is closely aligned with their previous work, emphasizing that autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots share fundamental similarities.
“Many companies experience initial revenue growth that often fades away, which I refer to as ‘vibe revenue,’ where users try the service but later discontinue it,” Haq remarked. “In contrast, our robots are actively utilized in daily operations, becoming essential components of the organizations that employ them. This creates a strong product attachment.”
Brugger added that he was attracted to the company due to its operational challenges and priorities, which mirror those he faced at his previous job.
“There is a structured approach to priorities that we followed, starting with safety as the foundation, which is non-negotiable. From there, we focus on enhancing reliability and ensuring product-market fit, often by expanding the robots’ capabilities,” Brugger explained. “I see many parallels in how we approach deployments as well.”
Founded in 2017 by Thomaz and Vivian Chu, the company has successfully deployed its robots across more than 25 healthcare networks. With over $90 million in venture funding from various investors, the company is well-positioned for future growth and innovation in the robotics sector.