What's happened
Theresa Loconsolo, a Nvidia alumnus and founder of Techable Ventures, has built a network to connect robotics founders with top talent. She says the field is entering a LEGO-like era of foundational software and hardware blocks, with talent and cross-industry experience fueling U.S. leadership.
What's behind the headline?
- Theresa Loconsolo frames robotics as moving from hype to building blocks, likening progress to the Internet era and the Industrial Revolution.
- The piece emphasizes foundational hardware (hands, actuators) and software blocks that will enable more complex robotic systems.
- It highlights talent as a moat for the U.S., noting movement of skilled people to large players and the need to connect founders with top talent.
- The tone is aspirational but grounded in concrete industry dynamics, with a focus on practical steps to scale innovation.
How we got here
The interview features Theresa Loconsolo, a co-founder and managing partner at Techable Ventures, who previously spent years in product marketing at Nvidia and other tech firms. She discusses the push to scale physical AI, the shift from ChatGPT-like moments to the ongoing construction of robotics foundations, and the importance of talent to U.S. competitiveness in this space.
Our analysis
TechCrunch interviews with Theresa Loconsolo; context provided by TechCrunch’s Equity podcast episodes and related reporting on Nvidia alumni launching early-stage firms in physical AI. Direct quotes from Loconsolo include her comparison of robotics progress to LEGO-building blocks and her emphasis on talent as a strategic moat.
Go deeper
- What concrete steps should robotics founders take to access top talent right now?
- How soon will foundational hardware and software blocks converge to enable a major commercial robot?
- Which markets will lead the next wave of physical AI adoption?
More on these topics
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TechCrunch
TechCrunch is an American online publisher focusing on the tech industry. The company specifically reports on the business related to tech, technology news, analysis of emerging trends in tech, and profiling of new tech businesses and products.
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Nvidia - Computer game company
Nvidia Corporation is an American multinational technology company incorporated in Delaware and based in Santa Clara, California.