A Startup Field Guide in the Age of Robots and AI - Paperback

by Oliver Mitchell (Author)

Launching a startup is like climbing a mountain, just maybe more treacherous. I say this as I have spent years as a backpacker and entrepreneur. While hiking through the Alaskan Tundra, I feared brown bears and crevasses. Yet, nothing prepared me for the responsibility of payroll for over 200 families relying on my business plan to feed their children.

Unlike traditional software, the mere smell of hardware sensors and robot gearing sends shivers through most investors, with red flags arising from the perceived capital inefficiencies and intense research and development. This is coupled with a high talent requirement before launching even a minimum viable product, as these inventions demand a cross-section of skills: mechanical, electrical, and software engineering. To set out on the trail of uncrewed success, machine inventors and founders require a detailed field guide to meet customer demand and financing objectives.

My goal for this book is to help you at a pivotal point in your ideation process and, at the same time, introduce you to a cadre of potential mentors. Through interviews with some of the most respected luminaries in this field, I aim to help fortify your resolve to follow your passions and build a billion-dollar company. The chapters of this book have been organized like a field guide, as if you are setting out on a trip in the wild. Just like it's essential to satiate yourself before scaling mountains, fast-tracking your innovation into the hands of early adopters is vital for achieving success on Main Street.

Author Biography

Oliver Mitchell is a partner at ff Venture Capital, where he leads investments in robotics, artificial intelligence, drones, industrial automation, and climate tech while building strategic alliances with limited partners and corporate venture groups. A seasoned investor, Oliver boasts a proven track record of successful exits, including two IPOs (Novocure and Ekso Bionics), a $1.4 billion private equity sale of TripleLift, and high returns from recent transactions, including the acquisition of Scite.ai by Research Solutions (RSSS) and CardFlight's growth equity round led by WestView Capital Partners. He currently serves on the boards of CivRobotics, Cambrian Robotics, and Paraspot AI, leveraging his deep tech expertise to scale transformative companies. Previously, he built and exited ventures such as Holmes Protection, AmeriCash, and RobotGalaxy, a national STEM-focused brand. As an Adjunct Professor at Sy Syms School of Business and the author of A Startup Field Guide in the Age of Robots and AI, he continues to shape innovation, sharing insights on his blog as the "Robot Rabbi."