🤖 This week on BitBuilders - tl;dr:

• Formula 1-inspired sensor technology meets 14-meter tall autonomous robots to solve warehouse visibility
• Dexory's full-stack approach turns warehousing data into actionable intelligence
• Building hard tech requires 5-6 years of bootstrapping before VC funding
• The future of logistics: AI-driven optimization through digital twins
• The more advanced and better technology is, the closer it resembles pure magic." - Andrei, CEO of Dexory

🎧 Listen To This Episode

From Formula 1 to Warehouse Intelligence: The Genesis Story

Every once in a while, we encounter founders who bring expertise from one high-performance domain and apply it to solve problems in traditional industries. Dexory's story begins in the high-stakes world of Formula 1, where CEO Andrei worked as a systems engineer. The parallel between F1 telemetry and warehouse operations might not be obvious at first, but it's exactly this cross-pollination of ideas that leads to breakthrough innovations.

In F1, sensors collect vast amounts of data that tell the story of the car's performance, the driver's actions, and track conditions. This data enables split-second decisions that can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Andrei saw the potential to apply this same principle to warehousing and logistics - an industry that moves $9.1 trillion in global merchandise yet often operates with surprisingly limited visibility.

The Full-Stack Imperative

One of the most interesting aspects of our conversation with Andrei was his unwavering commitment to building Dexory as a full-stack company. In an era where many startups pride themselves on being "asset-light" or "software-only," Dexory has taken the more challenging path of controlling every aspect of their technology stack - from robot design and manufacturing to software development and deployment.

This choice wasn't made lightly. As Andrei explains, "If you're going to be committed to the problem that you're solving for your customers, it's very important to have the right level of technology." The comparison he draws with racing cars is particularly apt: you can modify a street car for racing, but it will never compete effectively against a purpose-built race car.

The 14-Meter Innovation

At the heart of Dexory's solution is what they claim to be the world's tallest autonomous robot - a 14-meter (45-foot) marvel that moves through warehouses collecting data. But what's truly remarkable isn't just the robot's height; it's how invisible it becomes in operation. The robot works seamlessly alongside human workers, requiring no special infrastructure beyond a power outlet, and can be deployed in just a few days.

This invisibility is by design. The robot uses a sophisticated combination of sensors - including machine vision cameras and LiDAR - to create a detailed digital twin of the warehouse. All processing happens on-device, sending only lightweight data packages to the cloud. This approach solves one of the biggest challenges in warehouse operations: maintaining real-time visibility of inventory across massive spaces.

The Business Model Evolution

Dexory's business model reflects a deep understanding of their market. Rather than selling robots (despite the significant engineering achievement they represent), the company operates on a subscription model centered around their DexReview platform. This approach aligns with their value proposition: it's not about the robots; it's about the intelligence and visibility they enable.

This model also creates a foundation for future expansion. As Andrei shared, the vision is to evolve DexReview from a visibility platform into a comprehensive warehouse operating system - one that doesn't just show what's happening but actively suggests optimizations and improvements.

With over 170 employees, Dexory has grown significantly while maintaining their innovative edge. Their approach to hiring is particularly noteworthy: rather than limiting themselves to logistics or robotics experts, they've deliberately built a team that brings together people from different industries and backgrounds. This diversity of experience, combined with what Andrei calls a "limitless mindset," has been crucial to their ability to solve complex problems in novel ways.

The Modern Robotics Revolution

Our conversation with Andrei provided valuable insights into what distinguishes modern robotics from its predecessors. The key isn't just autonomy - it's adaptability and resilience. Modern robots need to operate in dynamic environments, alongside humans, without requiring constant reprogramming or restricted areas. This shift from automation to true autonomy represents one of the most significant advances in industrial robotics.

Dexory's vision for the future is ambitious yet grounded in clear market needs. They're working toward a system that can "copy-paste intelligence" from one warehouse to another, enabling rapid optimization across global operations. The ultimate goal is to expand beyond warehouse walls to create a comprehensive logistics operating system that can make the entire industry more resilient and efficient.

Key Learnings:

- The value of cross-industry innovation: Solutions to long-standing problems often come from applying expertise from seemingly unrelated fields

- Full-stack advantage: While more challenging, controlling the entire technology stack can be crucial for solving complex problems effectively

- The power of invisible technology: The most advanced solutions often become invisible to their users, operating seamlessly in the background

- Customer-centric development: Even (or especially) when building deep tech, staying close to customers and their problems is essential

#WarehouseAutomation #Robotics #SupplyChain #LogisticsTech #DigitalTransformation #DeepTech #StartupGrowth #IndustrialTech