From 5 to 5M: Robotics experts share lessons from scaling deployments at RoboBusiness

Making robots work at scale takes much more than clever hardware. With enough effort, it’s possible to make a small proof-of-concept with a handful of robots working. But what does it take to keep adding zeros?

RoboBusiness 2025, which takes place Oct. 15 and 16 at the Santa Clara Convention Center, will feature “Scaling Robot Deployments: from 5 to 5M.” During this panel, robotics veterans will discuss their hard-earned lessons about driving operational efficiencies through scale, from initial deployment to global orchestration.

Beyond just technical factors, the panel will tackle other key success factors, such as employee training, evolving roles, and the need for executive support. Attendees can expect candid insights on what’s working, what still breaks, and how the industry can build toward scalable automation.

Paneleists include robotics founders and leaders

The panelists include:

• Bear Robotics’ Director of Operations Jordan Bryan: Since joining Bear Robotics in 2021, Bryan has helped achieve 25x growth in monthly active robots and 33x growth in monthly active locations. He did this while leading some of the largest teams at Bear during a period when the company grew fivefold. Bryan is responsible optimizing back-office operations for efficiency and productivity. Using a blend of strategic leadership, innovation, and meticulous attention to detail, he has spearheaded initiatives that drive growth, enhance operational excellence, and elevate customer satisfaction. Before Bear Robotics, Bryan held roles at Stryker, Mobius Imaging, and Brainlab.
• Formic Founder and CEO Saman Farid: Formic is a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) company on a mission to help U.S. manufacturers overcome labor and productivity challenges through automation. By eliminating the traditional financial and operational barriers to automation adoption, Farid is enabling businesses to achieve the throughput, quality, and safety they need to grow. He has been involved with technology and robotics throughout his career, building and selling two technology companies. Prior to Formic, Farid ran the $600 million global investment fund for Baidu Ventures, focusing on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and their effects on the way we work and live.
• InOrbit.AI Founder and CEO Florian Pestoni: Pestoni is an entrepreneur with hands-on experience bringing innovative products to market. As founder and CEO of InOrbit, an AI-powered orchestration platform, he drives the company’s vision and strategy to help optimize everything that moves. InOrbit works with enterprise customers around the world to scale their robot operations (RobOps) and has built a global ecosystem of partners and equipment vendors. As co-founder of the Robot Operations Group (ROG), a community-led organization of experts in scaling robot deployments, Pestoni is passionate about raising awareness around RobOps and co-organizes RobOpsCon, the top conference for robot operations. He is an investor, advisor, board member, and mentor to startup founders.
• Robotic Crew Co-founder and CEO Richard Petrazzini: Robotic Crew is an innovative company in the field of robotics and AI, focused on robotic human resources, robot development, and specialized software. In addition, Petrazzini is a board member and co-founder at Wedevelop, a company dedicated to the development of web software for businesses. These three companies, under the nearshore model, offer their services primarily to the U.S. market, highlighting his ability to understand and meet the demands of the modern business world. Petrazzini has a degree in biochemistry and later completed a master’s degree in medical molecular biology at the University of Buenos Aires. In addition, he added an MBA to his resume.
• Agtonomy Director of QA & Technical Joe Wieciek: Wieciek is a seasoned robotics leader and unapologetic ops nerd, known for scaling robot fleets from scrappy prototypes to robust, real-world deployments. As director of quality assurance (QA) and technical operations at Agtonomy, he’s helping turn intelligent tractors into the future of sustainable agriculture. Previously, Wieciek led fleet operations at Outrider, advancing automation in yard logistics, and at Brain Corp., he played a key role in scaling one of the world’s largest autonomous mobile robot deployments. Wieciek is also a co-founder of ROG. He’s a frequent speaker on topics like “the messy middle” of robotic deployment, system reliability at scale, and why QA deserves a seat at the table from Day 1.

Register for RoboBusiness today!

Founded in 2004, RoboBusiness is the premier event for developers and suppliers of commercial robots. The event is produced by WTWH Media, which also produces The Robot Report, Automated Warehouse, and the Robotics Summit & Expo.

This year’s conference will also feature more than 60 speakers, a startup workshop, the annual Pitchfire competition, and numerous networking opportunities. Over 100 exhibitors on the show floor will showcase their latest enabling technologies, products, and services to help solve your robotics development challenges.

Registration is now open for RoboBusiness 2025.

For information about sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please contact Colleen Sepich at csepich[AT]wtwhmedia.com.