# 292: What Manufacturers Can Learn from Silicon Valley: Mechatronics, Startups, and More (LIVE from San Jose, CA)

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2026-06-16
- Length: 56m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-06-16-292-what-manufacturers-can-learn-from-silicon-valley-mechatronics-startups-and-m
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Vinod Anandarajah of Kanavu Automation, Kevin Toomer and Adam Soder of Sumitomo Drive Technologies, and founders Kim Losey (NextLine Group), Glenn Reed (Beluga Navigation Systems), Nick Haas (MaintainX), and Florian Pistoni (In Orbit) discuss the intersection of mechatronics, automation, and Silicon Valley innovation. The episode covers strategies for building skilled workforces through in-house apprenticeships, the cultural differences between Bay Area risk-taking and traditional manufacturing predictability, and the importance of applying B2C user experience principles to industrial software. The founders also share insights on maintaining a pulse on global manufacturing trends and the role of the Bay Area in driving physical AI and robotics.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-06-16-292-what-manufacturers-can-learn-from-silicon-valley-mechatronics-startups-and-m#t=0) Introduction and Mechatronics Overview
- [7:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-06-16-292-what-manufacturers-can-learn-from-silicon-valley-mechatronics-startups-and-m#t=477) Workforce Development: German Apprenticeships and In-House Training
- [17:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-06-16-292-what-manufacturers-can-learn-from-silicon-valley-mechatronics-startups-and-m#t=1023) Vinod Anandarajah: Bootstrapping Kanavu Automation
- [22:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-06-16-292-what-manufacturers-can-learn-from-silicon-valley-mechatronics-startups-and-m#t=1356) Founder Panel Introductions and Entrepreneurial Journeys
- [27:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-06-16-292-what-manufacturers-can-learn-from-silicon-valley-mechatronics-startups-and-m#t=1658) Silicon Valley vs. Midwest: Risk, Speed, and Disruption
- [31:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-06-16-292-what-manufacturers-can-learn-from-silicon-valley-mechatronics-startups-and-m#t=1880) Applying B2C UX Principles to B2B Manufacturing Software
- [34:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-06-16-292-what-manufacturers-can-learn-from-silicon-valley-mechatronics-startups-and-m#t=2063) Leading Through Inflection Points and Public-Facing Robotics
- [41:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-06-16-292-what-manufacturers-can-learn-from-silicon-valley-mechatronics-startups-and-m#t=2473) The Bay Area's Role in Industrial Innovation and Physical AI
- [49:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-06-16-292-what-manufacturers-can-learn-from-silicon-valley-mechatronics-startups-and-m#t=2942) Staying Connected to the Front Lines and Global Manufacturing

## Topics

- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Kanavu Automation (company)
- Sumitomo Drive Technologies (company)
- MaintainX (company)
- In Orbit (company)
- PTC (company)
- Rockwell Automation (company)
- Apple (company)
- Ford (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Shared Responsibility of Upskilling the Workforce w/ Bill Berrien](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-03-14-the-shared-responsibility-of-upskilling-the-workforce-w-bill-berrien) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Starting Small With AI and Emerging Manufacturing Technology w/ Jarred Knecht](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-07-30-starting-small-with-ai-and-emerging-manufacturing-technology-w-jarred-knecht) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Inside Conexus Indiana: The Industry Network Driving Manufacturing Tech and Talent | Ep. 46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-31-inside-conexus-indiana-the-industry-network-driving-manufacturing-tech-and-talen) (Lights Out)
- [#037 - Disrupting with digital manufacturing, with Nick Pinkston of Plethora, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-09-13-037-disrupting-with-digital-manufacturing-with-nick-pinkston-of-plethora-usa) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [Episode 93: Robots and AI in the workplace - Matt Beane](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-10-11-episode-93-robots-and-ai-in-the-workplace-matt-beane) (Robot Talk)

## Citing this page

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