# Daniel Theobald on funding early startups and the future for ag robotics

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2023-10-02
- Length: 1h 13m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-10-02-daniel-theobald-on-funding-early-startups-and-the-future-for-ag-robotics
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/daniel-theobald-on-funding-early-startups-and-the-future-for-ag-robotics

## Summary

Daniel Theobald, co-founder of Vecna Robotics and former president of Mass Robotics, discusses his transition to ag robotics and his new venture, Twisted Fields, a 127-acre farm in California used as a testbed for agricultural technology. He details the development of Acorn, an open-source, solar-powered mobile robot platform designed to lower barriers for ag-tech startups by solving common navigation and power challenges. Theobald also shares insights on funding early-stage robotics companies, advocating for bootstrapping and non-dilutive grants over venture capital to avoid artificial time horizons, and offers a critical perspective on the viability of bipedal humanoid robots compared to wheeled solutions.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-10-02-daniel-theobald-on-funding-early-startups-and-the-future-for-ag-robotics#t=7) Introduction and Industry News
- [16:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-10-02-daniel-theobald-on-funding-early-startups-and-the-future-for-ag-robotics#t=1006) Mass Robotics and Startup Funding Advice
- [30:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-10-02-daniel-theobald-on-funding-early-startups-and-the-future-for-ag-robotics#t=1848) Twisted Fields Farm and Ag Robotics Challenges
- [38:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-10-02-daniel-theobald-on-funding-early-startups-and-the-future-for-ag-robotics#t=2330) The Acorn Robot Platform and Solar Power
- [52:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-10-02-daniel-theobald-on-funding-early-startups-and-the-future-for-ag-robotics#t=3138) Perception, Navigation, and Communications in Ag
- [1:00:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-10-02-daniel-theobald-on-funding-early-startups-and-the-future-for-ag-robotics#t=3614) Interoperability Standards and Humanoid Robots

## Topics

- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Vecna Robotics (company)
- Mass Robotics (company)
- Acorn (product)
- Twisted Fields (company)
- Farm NG (company)
- Dexterity AI (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- John Deere (company)
- OS Connect (company)
- Vigo (product)
- Spot (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode Seven - Agricultural Robotics: Farming for the future](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-04-30-episode-seven-agricultural-robotics-farming-for-the-future) (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)
- [Ep. 20 | Dr. Aaron Edsinger, CEO & Co-founder of Hello Robot and Former Head of Robotics at Google on Humanity in Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-03-18-ep-20-dr-aaron-edsinger-ceo-co-founder-of-hello-robot-and-former-head-of-robotic) (Moore's Lobby)
- [112: Designing & Commercializing Robotics Inventions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-02-02-112-designing-commercializing-robotics-inventions) (Product Startup)
- [47. Robotic Farming Makes Produce Better & Cheaper](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-12-07-47-robotic-farming-makes-produce-better-cheaper) (The Next Byte Podcast)

## Citing this page

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