Alex Rohrbach, Sri Rao
In this 4-part series, Union Labs presents a first-principles framework for understanding how robots can create value. Operators can use this framework to simplify communications with investors, and investors can use this framework to inform their decisions. We start by defining robotics and explaining value creation before showing how to apply the framework.
Expected Value: Large, Bold, and Centered
The buried lede: essential information hidden behind sales jargon on a website, or lost on page seven of a pitch deck.
As non-engineers reviewing robotics and deep tech startups, we appreciate when founders speak about expected value. For example:
- “Businesses use our fleet to increase utilization when facing labor shortages. They see a direct top-line revenue impact.”
- “Relative to human cleaners, our robots clean three times faster and can be operated from a safe location. We can do more business with less physical risk to our operators.”
- “Our robots minimize the time human hands manipulate samples, reducing potential error and increasing statistical reproducibility. Our robots reduce wasted work and lead to better quality results.”
These are clear outcomes that can be measured (or estimated) and help businesses make decisions.
Simple, clear, and direct.
In this series, we provide a framework to understand and communicate in terms of value. We then show how this framework can be applied by operators when pitching ideas or by investors when assessing investments.
But before explaining how robots create value, let’s start by defining what robots are: Chapter II: A Checklist Definition for Robotics.
About the Authors
Alex Rohrbach worked with Union Labs during the spring of 2022 while completing his MBA at Berkeley Haas. He previously led marketplace operations at Wonolo, an on-demand staffing platform, and worked as an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company. Alex is passionate about fintech, the future of work, marketplaces, and e-commerce.
Sri Rao is a Venture Partner at Union Labs, where he drives the firm’s ultra early-stage investments through its Founded@UnionLabs program. He has been in various roles as founder and angel investor-advisor, more recently serving in product leadership at Samsung and Meta (formerly Facebook) focusing on big-bet investments in connectivity, digital media, e-Commerce, machine perception, computer vision, NLP, AR, and connected devices.
