Jake Loosararian, Gecko Robotics | All-In Summit 2024

Gecko Robotics: Company Overview and Services

• Gecko Robotics, founded by Jake Loosararian, specializes in building robots and software to assess the health of infrastructure. (2m3s)
• The company utilizes robots equipped with ultrasonic sensors to inspect structures, such as power plant boilers, for defects, aiming to prevent catastrophic failures. (5m44s)

Gecko Robotics: Expansion and Capabilities

• Gecko Robotics expanded its services to various sectors, including oil and gas, manufacturing, public infrastructure, and defense, developing robots capable of navigating diverse environments. (6m41s)
• Gecko Robotics builds robots that can fly, swim, crawl, and walk up any surface to perform inspections in hazardous environments. (7m21s)
• The company uses a variety of sensors, including ultrasonic, electromagnetic, and lasers, to inspect steel, composites, and concrete structures. (7m39s)

Gecko Robotics: Canal Platform and Data Utilization

• Gecko Robotics launched Canal, an AI and robotics-powered operating platform, to leverage the data collected from inspections to optimize infrastructure management. (8m13s)
• Robots are capable of collecting large amounts of data about assets, which can be used to pinpoint the exact locations for fixed sensors. (24m29s)

Gecko Robotics: Impact and Results

• Gecko Robotics increased throughput by 5% while only accelerating damage to an asset equivalent to two months over 90 days by lowering fill heights in a tank and increasing acid concentration. (13m17s)
• The company extended the useful life of assets by an average of 10 years, resulting in a 4% impact on customer margins. (13m43s)
• Gecko Robotics is working with the US Navy to improve maintenance cycles, reducing labor by 85% and improving turnaround times for flight decks by about a month. (15m59s)

Gecko Robotics: Financial Performance and Sales Model

• Gecko Robotics achieved profitability in 2017, the year after participating in Y Combinator's launch program. (20m46s)
• Initially, the company focused on direct sales to plant managers, prioritizing real-world robot deployment over lab-based development. (21m33s)
• Currently, Gecko Robotics' sales model involves customers purchasing Canever software and its implementation, which includes data collection by robots, along with a software license fee. (22m14s)

Gecko Robotics: Partnerships and Future Focus

• A contract was signed with Governor Shapiro in Pennsylvania to modernize bridge maintenance and budget prioritization. (25m3s)
• Most infrastructure, including drawings used by customers, is approximately 60 years old. (26m57s)
• A platform has been built that allows companies to test their robotic systems and determine if the data produced is valuable. (29m1s)
• Gecko Robotics is focused on gathering information and data to improve operating platforms and systems, rather than on robots that perform specific tasks like welding or cleaning. (29m17s)
• Capital markets are embracing Gecko Robotics' approach due to their software layer, recurring business, and differentiation from long build cycles often seen in hardware companies. (30m1s)