# Siddharth Thakur: CEO at 19, Search and Rescue Robots, Firefighter Safety | Hard Tech Podcast #14

- Show: [Hard Tech Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast)
- Published: 2023-10-08
- Length: 1h 14m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-10-08-siddharth-thakur-ceo-at-19-search-and-rescue-robots-firefighter-safety-hard-tech
- Listen: https://rss.com/podcasts/hardtechpodcast/1160770

## Summary

Siddharth Thakur, CEO and founder of Paradigm Robotics, explains the development of Firebot, a high-temperature resistant robot designed to assist firefighters in search and rescue operations. He details the robot's thermal protection capabilities, allowing it to operate in 650°C environments, and its modular sensor suite for detecting victims and hazardous gases. Thakur also discusses the challenges of balancing a hardware startup with his undergraduate studies at UT Austin, the importance of university resources, and his experience pitching at TechCrunch Disrupt and meeting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

## Chapters

- [1:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-10-08-siddharth-thakur-ceo-at-19-search-and-rescue-robots-firefighter-safety-hard-tech#t=83) The Problem: Firefighter Safety and Structural Fire Risks
- [18:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-10-08-siddharth-thakur-ceo-at-19-search-and-rescue-robots-firefighter-safety-hard-tech#t=1129) Firebot: High-Temperature Robot Design and Capabilities
- [27:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-10-08-siddharth-thakur-ceo-at-19-search-and-rescue-robots-firefighter-safety-hard-tech#t=1658) Operational Use Case: Search and Rescue Workflow
- [40:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-10-08-siddharth-thakur-ceo-at-19-search-and-rescue-robots-firefighter-safety-hard-tech#t=2432) Broader Applications: CBRNE, Utilities, and Disaster Response
- [46:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-10-08-siddharth-thakur-ceo-at-19-search-and-rescue-robots-firefighter-safety-hard-tech#t=2787) Founder Journey: From Tinkerer to CEO at 19
- [51:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-10-08-siddharth-thakur-ceo-at-19-search-and-rescue-robots-firefighter-safety-hard-tech#t=3073) University Entrepreneurship: UT Austin Resources and Advice
- [1:01:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-10-08-siddharth-thakur-ceo-at-19-search-and-rescue-robots-firefighter-safety-hard-tech#t=3667) TechCrunch Disrupt and Meeting Secretary Blinken
- [1:10:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-10-08-siddharth-thakur-ceo-at-19-search-and-rescue-robots-firefighter-safety-hard-tech#t=4204) Future Roadmap: V4 Prototype and Commercial Launch

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Paradigm Robotics (company)
- Firebot (product)
- UT Austin (company)
- TechCrunch Disrupt (other)
- Capitol Factory (company)
- Gazelle (product)
- Texas A&M (company)
- Valero (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [80. Advanced Tents Saving Firefighters & Mine Sweeping Drones](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-07-26-80-advanced-tents-saving-firefighters-mine-sweeping-drones) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [The Wildfire Suppression System Built to Fight Fire From the Ground | Gadi Benjamini](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2026-10-01-the-wildfire-suppression-system-built-to-fight-fire-from-the-ground-gadi-benjami) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [30. Climate Change AI, Robots Getting You Dressed, Drones Evacuating Nursing Homes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-08-10-30-climate-change-ai-robots-getting-you-dressed-drones-evacuating-nursing-homes) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Episode 156: Rugged robots for dangerous missions - Gavin Kenneally](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-05-15-episode-156-rugged-robots-for-dangerous-missions-gavin-kenneally) (Robot Talk)
- [Divya Thakur (Founder, Yardbot)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-05-06-divya-thakur-founder-yardbot) (Just Gonna Send It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-10-08-siddharth-thakur-ceo-at-19-search-and-rescue-robots-firefighter-safety-hard-tech. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Hard Tech Podcast.