Follow the Gradient The ETH PhD who turned Research into a $16m Robotics Startup - Elvis Nava, Co-Founder & CTO of Mimic Robotics
Nov 6, 2025
Elvis Nava, co-founder and CTO of Mimic Robotics, transitioned from academia to entrepreneurship after his PhD at ETH Zurich. He discusses the journey of turning dexterous manipulation research into a successful $60M startup. Key topics include the challenges of adapting hardware for real-world applications, the chaotic fundraising phase, and the innovative use of imitation learning in robotics. Elvis also shares insights on building effective teams and why ecosystem initiatives, like hackathons, are crucial for attracting talent in deeptech.
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Research Needed A Company
- Elvis realized his research on end-to-end models for robotic manipulation couldn't scale inside a lab.
- The only viable path to make the research work at production level was founding a company.
Founders Assembled In The Lab
- Elvis met co-founders Stefan Weirich and Stefan Graver in the ETH soft robotics lab while they worked on hardware and actuation.
- Their complementary skills—hands, actuation, and imitation learning—formed Mimic's core team.
Comfort Slows European Startup Pace
- Switzerland's comfortable default career paths reduce entrepreneurial pressure compared with the US.
- External programs and initiatives nudged the team toward entrepreneurship despite that cultural shyness.