BootstrapLabs has built a community of more than 40,000 people from over 60 countries who care about applying Artificial Intelligence to solve the hardest problems of our society.

The BootstrapLabs Applied AI Insiders Series brings together the brightest and most experienced experts in the field of AI for an immersive time of learning, discussion, and connection.

We have released the video from our last event on BootstrapWorks to share the knowledge around the diverse topics covered by our experts on stage.

Karen Johnson, Director Supply Chain at Hayden.ai, and Channa Ranatunga, Co-Founder & CEO at Rabot, talk about how Artificial Intelligence is helping businesses in the Supply Chain and Logistics sector face some of their vulnerabilities, increase workers’ performance, and ultimately contribute to the recovery of the global economy.

The Supply Chain and Logistics sector is an enormous market that accounts for nearly $10 Trillion globally, or 10% of the global GDP. Last year, venture capital investments in the supply chain sector reached an all time high of $11.3B and 2022 shows no sign of slowing down as the next generation of supply chain technology and infrastructure is being re-invented.

The lack of visibility and historically slow adoption of automation in the sector created dramatic delays across all industries, which were only magnified by government lockdowns and labor shortages during the pandemic.

Moderator: Ben Levy, Co-Founder & General Partner, BootstrapLabs.

Panelists: Karen Johnson, Director Supply Chain, Hayden.ai; Channa Ranatunga, Co-Founder & CEO, Rabot.

BootstrapLabs is pleased to share that our portfolio company Southie Autonomy secured $2.5 million in seed funding and an additional $5 million in venture leasing to support Southie’s disruptive robot-as-a-service business model. Southie will use the new funding to accelerate customer acquisition and build out their network of distribution partners. In addition, Southie will scale its operations and expand their commercial and technical teams. BootstrapLabs led the seed round, and welcomed Ocean Azul and Kineo Finance (who also provided the venture leasing facility), in the round as strategic and value-add co-investors.

BootstrapLabs has been tracking the industrial robotic space, but was not interested in customized robots. We liked the Southie team’s software approach to robotics and had been tracking their progress. We now believe that Southie Autonomy is ideally positioned to capture the $30Bn dollar opportunity represented by Robotic Process Automation by 2030.

“We are thrilled to have investors that are pioneers in understanding how AI is changing our world and their support will enable Southie Autonomy to scale rapidly.”

– Rahul Chipalkatty, Founder and CEO, Southie Autonomy.

Southie Autonomy’s no-code robotic arm software solution provides fast and flexible automation in the supply chain disruption, creating a turnkey cell that can adapt to fluctuating demands and improve efficiency and margins. Manufacturers no longer need additional programming and engineering expertise to integrate and manage the automation. The platform utilizes artificial intelligence and augmented reality to automate highly variable contract packaging activities spanning kitting, packing to palletization, and enabling daily line changeovers. The robotic arm can be configured within minutes, eliminating the setup burden, and can operate safely beside workers. The software is compatible with any robotic hardware and is currently being deployed by a handful of customers.

“This is a pivotal moment for the industry, and with its Robot-as-a-Service business model, Southie is poised to accelerate the adoption of collaborative robots across new industries and types of organizations.”

– Benjamin Levy, Co-founder and General Partner, BootstrapLabs.

You can read the full press release below:

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Southie Autonomy, a developer of intelligent robotic automation, today announced it has raised $2.5 million in seed funding led by BootstrapLabs, a venture capital firm focused on applied artificial intelligence, and with the participation of Ocean Azul. Read More.

Southie Autonomy has been a BootstrapLabs portfolio company since 2022.

The BootstrapLabs Applied Artificial Intelligence Conference 2019 #AAI19 brought together the brightest and most experienced experts in the field of AI for an immersive day of learning, discussion, and connection.

On BootstrapWorks we have released the videos from this past conference to relive the moments and spread the knowledge around the diverse topics covered by our experts on stage. 

BootstrapLabs has built a community of more than 40,000 people from over 60 countries who care about applying Artificial Intelligence to solve the hardest problems of our society.

Get access to practical wisdom on Applied AI methodologies and take advantage of AI’s powerful potential, sign up here to receive the videos directly into your inbox. 

Danny Lange, VP of AI and Machine Learning at Unity Technologies, brings his vast expertise in AI to illuminate the path technology is on and where it is headed. Danny discusses how the AI community is working to improve algorithms, the role of intelligence in biological evolution and learning, and the relationship between intelligence and the senses. Danny goes on to explain why game engines with a spatial (3D) environment in conjunction with a physics engine (gravity, inertia, and collision) are the perfect virtual biodomes for AI’s evolution, as they are fast, scalable, controlled, and self-sufficient ecosystems that closely replicate the natural environment. In conclusion, he shares new developments in reinforcement learning and the positive effect they will have on a variety of industries. Watch the video below to gain first-hand insights.

Speaker: Danny Lange, VP of AI & ML, Unity Technologies

Some of the key takeaways from the session are:

• Intelligence in biological systems provides the models for AGI.
• Game engines are virtual biodomes that are used by researchers to play with different aspects of intelligence because they replicate parts of nature
• Nature’s learning method is reinforcement (loop: observe, action, reward). This is why reward signals are used to teach Machine Learning agents.
• Currently ML-agents are trained with more and more biological models, e.g. creating an algorithm for curiosity to accelerate the learning process.
• The long-term goal is to get from the biological to the cultural evolution of the homo sapiens: The human brain was stable for the last 30,000 years, but things like emergence, language, collaboration and anticipation changed. When ML agents can learn methods themselves and from each other, this will create powerful Artificial General Intelligence.

About Danny Lange:
Dr. Danny Lange is VP of AI and ML at Unity Technologies. As the former Head of ML at Uber, he led an effort to build the world’s most versatile ML platform to support Uber’s rapid growth. Previously, Danny was the General Manager of Amazon ML, an AWS product that offers ML as a Cloud Service. Prior to Amazon, Danny was Principal Development Manager at Microsoft, where he was leading a product team focused on large-scale ML for Big Data. Danny started his career as a Computer Scientist at IBM Research and has a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Technical University of Denmark.

The BootstrapLabs Applied Artificial Intelligence Conference 2019 #AAI19 brought together the brightest and most experienced experts in the field of AI for an immersive day of learning, discussion, and connection.

On BootstrapWorks we have released the videos from this past conference to relive the moments and spread the knowledge around the diverse topics covered by our experts on stage. 

BootstrapLabs has built a community of more than 40,000 people from over 60 countries who care about applying Artificial Intelligence to solve the hardest problems of our society.

Get access to practical wisdom on Applied AI methodologies and take advantage of AI’s powerful potential, sign up here to receive the videos directly into your inbox. 

How governments and the private sector engage with AI may very well dictate their future economic strength and security posture. While many states are active in AI, only a few have a planned national strategy for employing the technology. This keynote and fireside chat bring together experts from FutureGrasp, an advisory firm founded by the first National Intelligence Officer for Technology (NIO/TECH) with the National Intelligence Council (NIC) in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the United Nations Interregional Crime & Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), and the World Economic Forum (WEF) to provide unique insights into what AI means for the future of geopolitics. Specifically, panelists address national plans and government investments into AI, and their respective geopolitical implications.

Presenter: Tom Campbell, Founder & President FutureGrasp LLC

Panelists: Irakli Beridze, Head of the Centre for AI & Robotics, United Nations; Kay Firth-Butterfield, Head of AI & ML, World Economic Forum

Some of the key takeaways from the session are:

• FutureGrasp created a report on AI National Plans around the world that will be published in the months after the conference: So far only 14 states developed an AI national plan and further 19 states expressed interest in doing so.
• An estimated total of $646B has been invested in unclassified AI activities around the world led by Saudi Arabia, China, UAE and the US. Research is the most popular sector by number of states invested and most funds are allocated to Infrastructure and Industrial Strategy.
• The World Economic Forum (WEF) is currently creating guidelines for procurement of artificial intelligence for the UK. This is an opportunity to shape the use of AI.
• UNICRI explores how AI can be used by criminals and how to counter this threat by empowering law-enforcement agencies.
• Countries should develop a national AI strategy because of the tremendous opportunity of the advancements in AI as well as the development of a deeper understanding of the threats posed by the technology in order to mitigate risk. This is why Europe has required all of their countries to develop national AI strategies.
• Countries have the power to channel AI talent towards meaningful applications like sustainable development through investments and events.
• Collaboration between the private sector and institutions like the WEF or the UN are essential to solve problems on a global scale.

About Tom Campbell:
Thomas A. Campbell, Ph.D. is founder and president of FutureGrasp, LLC, which advises organizations on trends and implications of emerging technologies. He is also a special advisor to BootstrapLabs, a senior fellow with the Council on Competitiveness, and a member of the steering/program committee for the AI Pioneers Forum. From 2015 to 2017, Tom was the first National Intelligence Officer for Technology with the National Intelligence Council in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. His career encompasses national and international experience in government, academia, industry, startups and national laboratories.

About Irakli Beridze:
Irakli Beridze is Head Head of the Centre for AI and Robotics at the United Nations, UNICRI. He initiated and managed the first UN Programme on AI and Robotics and organized several high-level events at the United Nations General Assembly. He is a member of various international task forces and working groups advising governments and international organizations on numerous issues related to international security, scientific and technological developments, emerging technologies, innovation and disruptive potential of new technologies, particularly advances in automation, on labour markets and on the jobs of the future. He is a recipient of recognition on the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the OPCW in 2013.

About Kay Firth-Butterfield:
Kay Firth-Butterfield is Head, AI & ML at the World Economic Forum and Barrister-at-Law and former part-time Judge in the United Kingdom and Professor of Law. She is an Associate Fellow of the Centre for the Future of Intelligence at the University of Cambridge, and Fellow of the Robert E. Strauss Center on international Security and Law at the University of Texas. She is Vice-Chair of the IEEE Initiative on Ethical Considerations in AI and Autonomous Systems. She is one of Robohub’s top 25 Women in Robotics in 2017 and co-founded AI-Austin, AI-Global and the Consortium for Law and Policy of AI and Robotics.

The BootstrapLabs Applied Artificial Intelligence Conference 2019 #AAI19 brought together the brightest and most experienced experts in the field of AI for an immersive day of learning, discussion, and connection.

On BootstrapWorks we have released the videos from this past conference to relive the moments and spread the knowledge around the diverse topics covered by our experts on stage. 

BootstrapLabs has built a community of more than 40,000 people from over 60 countries who care about applying Artificial Intelligence to solve the hardest problems of our society.

Get access to practical wisdom on Applied AI methodologies and take advantage of AI’s powerful potential, sign up here to receive the videos directly into your inbox. 

As tensions between super-powers mount on the international stage, trade tensions escalate, and the frequency and severity of cyber attacks amplify, it has never been so important to remind citizens of what is at stake. Panelists from the Technology for Global Security, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Defense Innovation Unit discuss key topics covered in the annual unclassified US National Intelligence Report and what they are doing within their respective organizations to accelerate the discovery, development, vetting, adoption, and deployment of AI and other new technologies in service of protecting American lives and interests around the world.

Moderator: Philip Reiner, Executive Director, Technology for Global Security

Panelists: Melissa Oh, Managing Director, Silicon Valley Innovation Program, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, S&T; David Rothzeid, Director, Acquisition Pathways, Defense Innovation Unit

Some of the key takeaways from the session are:

• The applicability of AI has matured in recent years and it has plenty of opportunity to make data-informed decisions for (military) missions but it is important to know how to apply AI to the national security sector.
• Currently it is used to support international border agencies to pre-screen travelers to help other countries conduct risk-assessments with predictive modeling and data visualization. It improves identity resolution to streamline passenger flow thus increasing efficiencies while keeping the country safe.
• Other examples include:
  • A radar company focused on autonomous vehicles works on collision avoidance for small consumer drones to prevent them from intervening with helicopter operations.
  • The DIU sourced algorithms from the community to help prioritize where to distribute national disaster recovery personnel in case of an event.
  • Further, it is leveraging AI by using data of maintenance logs of legacy aircraft to support predictive maintenance.
• In government, R&D cycles are very long, but nowadays the technology is not born in military labs anymore. The question is how the DIU and the DHS can engage with DevOps to take advantage of the speed of innovation in the tech ecosystem to learn and integrate into their processes and systems.
• The ability to work with companies is a tremendous opportunity to generate significant deal flow and solve hard problems.
• In order to incentivize collaboration with the government, the DIU and the DHS lowered the barrier to entry: They host industry engagement events or post a generic problem statement online and companies can submit a 5-15 page whitepaper to propose a solution from the tech-companies’ perspective. Then follows an evaluation process with a pitch and proposal and ultimately results in a prototype project. If successful, it will be scaled into a full rate production contract. The DoD has an annual budget of $700B to reach national security objectives which represents opportunities for companies to tap into government budget and work on complex technical problems.

About Philip Reiner:
Philip Reiner is the Executive Director of Technology for Global Security, a global non-profit that bridges technology and policy makers to fix tech-driven emerging security threats. He previously served in the Obama White House as Senior Director for South Asia on the National Security Council staff; as a civil servant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy at the Pentagon; and worked for a number of years at Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, in their Electronic Warfare, Remote Sensing, and Vision Systems units. He routinely guest lectures on emerging international security risks at UC Berkeley and Stanford University.

About Melissa Oh:
Melissa Oh is the Managing Director for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP). She is responsible for engaging entrepreneurs and innovators to help them better understand DHS’s mission and widen the pipeline of technologies addressing our most difficult homeland security challenges. Mrs. Oh has been at DHS since December 2002 and at S&T since September 2004 serving in several positions, prior to her current role, in Business and Finance Operations and Program Management across the Cyber Security and Border & Maritime Security Divisions. Mrs. Oh holds a B.S. in Cognitive Science, specializing in Neuroscience, from the University of California at San Diego and a M.S. in Systems Engineering from George Washington University.

About David Rothzeid:
Major David Rothzeid is an Acquisition Officer in the United States Air Force, currently assigned to Defense Innovation Unit, as the Director of Acquisition Pathways located in Mountain View, CA. Previous assignments include: Air Force Materiel Command, Hanscom AFB, MA; United States Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, FL; Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO. He deployed a member of Special Operations Command in 2014 to Bagram AB, Afghanistan. He has a BA in Economics from Miami University, OH; and MBA in Management from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

To sign up for our mailing list, click here.