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