MassRobotics An Innovative Robotics Hub massrobotics.org
MassRobotics Outline Introduction Vision & Plan Overview Business Model Operational Model Engagement Open Discussion
Our Goal Make Massachusetts the thriving hub of robotics, automation, and autonomous vehicles for the world.
A New Innovative Robotics Hub At the nexus a new, non-profit, independent entity (MassRobotics) with the following objectives: Stimulate Economic growth of the robotics technology base in MA SPACE Foster robotic/automation/autonomous vehicle startups Support existing regional robotics industry Facilitate collaboration of industry with regulatory/certification authorities Feed, grow, and sustain the regional robotics test sites Capture & lead the burgeoning UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) industry at a national level. Provide new level of hands-on STEM Education in MA AIR LAND School-age hands-on workshops, classes, competitions for all aspects of robotic systems (e.g. coding, electronics, math, physics, building, testing, flying) Adult education, community engagement, and public awareness (e.g. workshops, classes, talks, hobby/maker-space) SEA
What is MassRobotics? An NFP organization which provides world-class shared infrastructure and support to its members. A mixed-use innovation space which combines the best of: startup co-working incubator community maker-space government policy, oversight youth STEM education center adult education center academic lab corporate research park...to enable innovation, support, and learning of all these groups at their intersection....to provide many points of entry into the center for diversity of thought & background.
Specifically (Technology Areas to Incubate): novel robotic systems and technologies (air / land / sea / space) novel applications (robotic systems as a service) systems engineering modeling / simulation / analysis interoperability / robotic swarm collaboration robotic subsystems / subspecialties: actuators / manipulation propulsion / mobility sensing / perception / navigation / machine vision guidance / path planning / hazard avoidance autonomy / machine learning power communication human-system interaction embedded systems / software engineering
Specifically (Facilities): Shared Lab / Prototyping / Testing resources (high-cost, processional laboratory equipment that enables small groups to truly build, test, and innovate) Work space for individuals / small groups (private offices, coworking shared spaces) Common lounge / cafe (socializing, breaks, collaborative work area) Event space / conference rooms (work meetings, community talks, STEM workshops, industry conferences, VC open-house) On-site indoor/outdoor robotics test space (safe & controlled space to enable rapid lab to realworld testing iteration) Facilitated access to large-scale outdoor test space (certification/compliance assistance & transportation to regional robotics test sites) On-site government support offices / Robotics Industry support offices (create hub for companies large & small to interface & collaborate with government & industry support orgs) A Notional/Conceptual Floor Plan
Future Home of MassRobotics
Envisioned Internal MassRobotics Ecosystem Boston-area Urban Tech Hub MassRobotics Incubation & Innovation Education Startups K-12 Students Corporate Collaborators K-12 Educators Startup support companies Corporate mentor (Engineering, Manufacturing, Legal, Marketing, Venture Capital) Academia / Grad Students Industry Trade Group Support (MassTLC, NUAIR, AUVSI) Government Support (FAA, DOT, NASA) Academia mentor On-site, enclosed outdoor test/dev facility On-site, indoor test/dev facility Community Education Support (FIRST Robotics, MassCAN) Center Administration Tech Fellows Engineering prototyping / manufacturing facilities Facilitation to regional test sites
Our Constituents & Their Interface to MassRobotics Established Corporate Robotics Industry $, Affil Commercial Users VC Startups, Small Companies iation, Mento Guidan ring, Center ce New id eas / b usines colla s/h sabba boration, tes ires, govern ticals, R&D, t site access ment/acade promo mia tion of, innovation STEM educa tion Rent $, People, Ideas Incubation, Collab oration, Growth, Professional lab/prototype/tes ting facilities Boston-area Urban Tech Hub MassRobotics An Innovative Robotics Hub Incubation & Innovation On-site, enclosed outdoor test/dev facility $, Real Estate, Support Government Federal, State, Local Academia / Educators Economic growth, STEM Education, Community engagement, Industry capture & diversification, Test site users, Incubation for Griffiss UAS Site Children, Adults, Seniors ST ess, Awaren pportunity tion, O EM Educa Center Administration Tech Fellows byists udents, Hob Interest, St Public / Community Education Educators, Technical Experts, Students, Ideas Startup/Industry/Government Collaboration, Promotion of STEM education, Professional lab/prototype/testing facilities Engineering prototyping / manufacturing facilities On-site, indoor test/dev facility Facilitation to regional test sites NERVE Test Center JBCC (Joint Base Cape Cod) Test Site Devens IOP Test Site
A A W L A S A L W L W L W L S S
Specifically (Business/Operational Model): An impartial, non-profit which takes no equity in startups Provides infrastructure & support services to residents Fiscal sustainability through: monthly resident fees annual corporate sponsorships STEM focused grants GOAL: Create a productive and collaborative robotic technologies marketplace where members come together to learn, create, and solve problems.
Specifically (Business/Operational Model): Two paths for becoming residents: (Robotic-oriented startups and curated support/service providers) 1. Pay monthly fees for facilities (i.e. office space, prototyping shop, engineering laboratories, robotics test space) 2. Win seed accelerator funding from sponsor organizations(s) Sponsor-defined Seed Accelerator Programs Hosted by MassRobotics Designed & Facilitated by corporate/government sponsor(s) Sensitive to IP concerns Serve as a draw to MassRobotics & bootstrap to startups
MassRobotics Internal Functions and Roles
Sponsors Roles (Corporate, Government, Academia, VC) Give Money Equipment Facilities Favorable tech licensing to startups Seed IP to startups Mentoring Business council VC / Funding council STEM tutoring Services & Support Technical talks, classes Professional services Get Sustainable robotics industry growth & innovation STEM support for next generation of roboticists, engineers, and entrepreneurs Attract, retain, grow robotics talent in MA (Potential startup acquisitions, staff hires) Custom seed accelerator programs to drive innovation for sponsor Home for corporate staff sabbaticals to innovate, collaborate, & refresh Access to onsite development & test facilities Facilitated access to regional robotics test sites Facilitated collaboration with certification & approval authorities (DOT, FAA, OSHA, etc) Cross-sector collaboration
MassRobotics Finances Overview Revenue Office/Lab rent private offices private desks shared/coworking desks lab/test-area access Government grants Corporate sponsorships Event space rent Services to residents Subsidized loan Expenses Business Operating Costs Physical space (donation, favorable rent) Overhead (revenue from rent) Staff areas Center administration (revenue from rent) Office management & operations Engineering facilities & services Incubation services Education services Technology Fellows (staff time donations, grants, revenue from rent) STEM education programs (grants) Equipment/Build-out Costs (grants, sponsorship, donations, loans)
Sponsorship Tiers Founding Partner Help establish MassRobotics On board of directors Annual Sponsor Platinum Gold Silver Example sponsor tier benefits: Seed accelerator programs On board of advisors Use of event space Use of development & test space Included resident space for sponsored startup or staff innovation sabbatical
Next Steps Socialize & refine center vision Recruit partners, supporters Formalize plan & organization Launch center! Meet objectives Economic growth & Industry diversification of high tech for MA Provide new level of STEM education for the Commonwealth Make Massachusetts the thriving hub of robotics, automation, and autonomous vehicles for the world.
BACKUP
Why a joint Education / Incubation Center? Opportunity to focus energy and resources on a grounds up growth in the robotics industry Shared fundamental mission: growth, learning, creativity, innovation, hands-on building Shared excitement, energy, and vibe for imagining/building/doing K-12 STEM hands-on robotics education Incubate fledgling robotics companies (these aren t 3 month development software apps, they need time & physical resources) Students see amazing work of startups Startups inspired by the excitement, curiosity, and potential of youth Synergistic use of shared resources classrooms, conference space, lab space, testspace arena
Categories of Affiliated People/Organizations Founding partners (provide $ and in kind donations to help establish MassRobotics) big (room/feature naming rights, on board of advisors) small Annual sponsor (provide $ and in kind donations to support center mission in an ongoing basis, receive access to center & residents, can establish their own custom seed accelerator program to be run by/within MassRobotics) Platinum (on board of advisors, sponsor events, receive 1 golden ticket for 2-person resident space for favored startup or internal innovation sabbatical, seed accelerator program) Gold (on board of advisors, sponsor events) Silver (sponsor events) Residents (pay rent for office space, add-ons: prototyping space, lab/manufacture/test facilities) startups industry/academia researchers service providers (legal, marketing, engineering, FAA, industry trade organization, etc) Associates (pay daily/monthly fee for lab/manufacture/test facilities) Partners (allied non-profit/educational organization that is collaborative & mission aligned)
Terminology 1.) invitation accelerator: Short duration program to help early startups get moving. Selection based on business area & startup s probability of success. Often provides small funding, working space, mentoring, etc in exchange for equity. http://www.techstars.com/, http://masschallenge.org/ 2.) invitation incubator: Longer term program to help startups grow. Similar to previous but tends to be single industry focused and grow company until it s sold or spun out as profitable business. Essentially a VC firm that keeps its portfolio physically on site. http://nsiv.org/, https://www.bolt.io/ 3.) internal incubator: Similar to previous, but venture ideas are grown internally. No outside business ideas welcome. http://cogolabs.com, http://www.redstar.com 4.) university incubator: Program to help startups grow with funding, workspace, mentoring. No equity. Open only to faculty and students. http://i-lab.harvard.edu/, http://deshpande.mit.edu/ 5.) open coworking space: Managed office space for entrepreneurial individuals or small companies. In exchange for rent provides professional office facilities & resources. Often has community building, socializing, networking benefits as well. http://cic.us/, http://workbar.com/ 6.) curated coworking space: Similar to previous, but curates resident companies to focus on some common industry or work style. Often has community building benefits and industry specific shared equipment (lab facilities, manufacturing facilities). http://www.umb.edu/vdc, http://industry-lab.com/, http://labcentral.org/ 7.) makerspace: Community workshop where people meet, socialize, collaborate, and build things (often in the areas of computing, machining, technology, science, and digital art). http://artisansasylum.com/