# Manifest 2026 Recap

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2026-02-13
- Length: 1h 28m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-02-13-manifest-2026-recap
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/manifest-2026-recap

## Summary

Mike Weitzman and Gene Demaitre recap the Manifest 2026 tradeshow, highlighting industry consolidation with Symbolic's acquisition of Fox Robotics and Apptronik's $520 million Series A for its Apollo humanoid robot. They discuss the shift toward software and AI, featuring Gather AI's $40 million fundraise and Robust.AI's productivity-focused Carter carts. The episode includes interviews with CEOs from Slip Robotics, Slamcore, Corvus Robotics, Glide Technologies, and Autopallet, covering innovations in cold chain drones, rail-to-road automation, and decoupled payload systems.

## Chapters

- [0:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-02-13-manifest-2026-recap#t=9) Introduction: Manifest 2026 Recap and News
- [14:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-02-13-manifest-2026-recap#t=864) Show Floor Highlights: Ultra, Autopallet, and Print Me
- [32:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-02-13-manifest-2026-recap#t=1972) Interview: Sankalp Arora, CEO, Gather AI
- [41:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-02-13-manifest-2026-recap#t=2507) Interview: Ben Gruettner, CRO, Robust.AI
- [49:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-02-13-manifest-2026-recap#t=2954) Interview: Owen Nicholson, CEO, Slamcore
- [54:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-02-13-manifest-2026-recap#t=3245) Interview: Mason Cole, VP Sales, Slip Robotics
- [59:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-02-13-manifest-2026-recap#t=3599) Interview: Steven McKinley and Jim Leifer, Ambi Robotics
- [1:09:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-02-13-manifest-2026-recap#t=4195) Interview: Jackie Wu, CEO, Corvus Robotics
- [1:16:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-02-13-manifest-2026-recap#t=4597) Interview: Kevin Damoa, Founder/CEO, Glide Technologies
- [1:22:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-02-13-manifest-2026-recap#t=4955) Interview: Eric Miller, CEO, Autopallet

## Topics

- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up, founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Zoox (product)
- Apptronik (company)
- Apollo (product)
- Symbolic (company)
- Fox Robotics (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- Ultra (company)
- Autopallet (company)
- Glide Technologies (company)
- Print Me (company)
- Slip Robotics (company)
- Slip Lift (product)
- Slamcore (company)
- Gather AI (company)
- Robust.AI (company)
- Carter (product)
- Ambi Robotics (company)
- Corvus Robotics (company)
- Autopallet Robotics (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [191: The State of Robotics: Live From the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston, MA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-06-25-191-the-state-of-robotics-live-from-the-2024-robotics-summit-expo-in-boston-ma) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [BONUS: Leaders in Machine Vision and Robotics: Live from Boston, Pt. 2 of 2 (brought to you by A3)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-12-23-bonus-leaders-in-machine-vision-and-robotics-live-from-boston-pt-2-of-2-brought) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [The Intelligence Big Bang](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/built-2-scale/2025-07-11-the-intelligence-big-bang) (Built 2 Scale)
- [BONUS: Leaders in Robotics, AMRs, and Logistics, Pt. 2 of 2 (brought to you by A3)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-11-26-bonus-leaders-in-robotics-amrs-and-logistics-pt-2-of-2-brought-to-you-by-a3) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [OpenAI's SORA 2 Drops + WE CALLED THE BUBBLE TOP + Shopping Agents Win](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/built-2-scale/2025-10-03-openais-sora-2-drops-we-called-the-bubble-top-shopping-agents-win) (Built 2 Scale)

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