EP #394 - Gianluca Cesari: How Sevensense Got Acquired By ABB
Apr 21, 2024
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Gianluca Cesari, Co-founder of Sevensense Robotics, discusses the challenges of finding the right focus for tech startups. They eventually targeted automated material handling and cleaning. The podcast explores their journey from tech sales to product sales, their acquisition by ABB, and the importance of customer engagement in validating market potential.
Finding the right focus is crucial for tech startups to sell products effectively, engaging with customers is key to determining tech applications.
Acquisition by ABB led to enhanced resources and innovation, showcasing the value of strategic partnerships.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Seven Cents Robotics
The startup Seven Cents Robotics, founded in Switzerland as a spin-off from ETH Zurich, has undergone significant growth and transformation since its inception. Initially starting with eight co-founders, all of whom remain with the company, Seven Cents has maintained a strong team dynamic while navigating the challenges of the robotics market. With a focused approach on developing self-driving technology for mobile robots, Seven Cents has witnessed substantial growth in the autonomous cleaning market, contributing to the overall advancement of robotics technology.
Navigating Technology Application and Customer Engagement
Seven Cents Robotics encountered the common challenge faced by technology spin-offs: determining the most effective applications for their technology. By emphasizing the importance of engaging with customers to understand their needs and preferences, Seven Cents transitioned from selling technology to delivering valuable products. Through a strategic approach involving a mix of market analysis and customer interaction, the company identified key verticals such as material handling and automated cleaning, further solidifying its position within the robotics industry.
Strategic Collaboration and Acquisition by ABB
The pivotal collaboration between Seven Cents Robotics and ABB culminated in a successful acquisition, demonstrating the strategic alignment and mutual benefit derived from the partnership. Securing significant funding and a partnership with ABB propelled Seven Cents to enhance its navigation technology, leading to the development of cutting-edge solutions for mobile robots. The acquisition by ABB marked a significant milestone in Seven Cents' journey, providing access to enhanced resources and synergies for future growth and innovation.
Gianluca Cesari is a co-founder and the CBDO of Sevensense Robotics, a robotics ETH spin-off which empowers mobile robots to move into public and dynamic spaces, supporting humans in the execution of dirty, dangerous and dull tasks. Gianluca holds a master’s degree in Robotics, Systems and Control from ETH Zurich and afterwards continued as Robotics Engineer at the university’s Autonomous Systems Lab, before officially founding Sevensense in 2018.
In Gianluca’s opinion, Sevensense’s biggest challenge was finding the right focus, which is a challenge universal to all tech startups: they develop great tech, but what needs to be sold is a product, not a technology — so what use should their tech be put to? The solution to this conundrum is to start talking to customers. Eventually Sevensense landed upon two verticals: automated material handling, and automated cleaning.
They were acquired by ABB in 2024 for an undisclosed amount.
This episode was produced in collaboration with startup days, taking place this year on May 30th 2024. Click here to purchase your ticket.