Autonomous

UAXVC

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Technology
Updated Weekly

Autonomous explores the technologies reshaping the physical world - drones, robotics, and AI-driven machines. Through conversations with founders, engineers, and investors, the podcast examines the breakthroughs, operational lessons, and market opportunities defining the future of autonomous systems. Hosted by Shay Senior, an Israeli entrepreneur and technology scout in unmanned systems.

2d ago

Episode 20 - Israel Vaserluaf - Founder & CEO @ AeroSentinel (AeroSol)

What happens when a founder spends 20 years building a company and, in a single night, an Iranian missile destroys the facility he built with his own hands? In this episode of Autonomous, I sat down with Israel Vaserlauf, Founder and CEO of Aerosol and the force behind the AeroSentinel drone platform. We discuss his journey from building model aircraft as a teenager to creating one of Israel's leading ISR drone companies, developing military-grade drones designed for endurance, low acoustic signature, and operational effectiveness. But this conversation became about something much bigger than drones. Just days after bringing in new strategic partners and securing the next chapter of growth for the company, an Iranian missile struck Aerosol's facility during Passover evening. Machinery, production equipment, and decades of work were destroyed. Yet by the next morning, the team was already salvaging what they could and planning the company's future. Rather than seeing the event as an ending, Israel saw it as a restart button. We talk about: Building a drone company in Israel from the ground upCompeting against Chinese drone manufacturersWhy ISR remains the company's core focusThe importance of domestic manufacturing and technological independenceLessons learned from military operators over the past decadeThe realities of entrepreneurship during wartimeTurning disaster into an opportunity to refocus and growAfter seeing twenty years of work reduced to rubble, Israel's first thought was not about what had been lost, but about what the company would become next. Listen now to hear the story behind one of Israel's most determined drone entrepreneurs.

51 min
Jun 3

Episode 19 - Josh Metz - Executive Director & Co-founder @Monterey Bay DART

In this episode, I sit down with Josh Metz, Executive Director and co-founder of the Monterey Bay DART Initiative, one of the organizations helping shape the future of advanced air mobility, autonomous systems, and regional innovation in the United States. Josh has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of economic development, public policy, infrastructure, and emerging technologies. His work has helped build the ecosystem around companies like Joby Aviation while creating pathways for new technologies to move from concept to real-world deployment. Our conversation goes beyond aircraft and drones. We discuss how regions build innovation ecosystems, why some communities become magnets for talent and investment while others struggle, and what it takes to create an environment where entrepreneurs, governments, universities, and industry can work together. Topics we covered: The story behind the Monterey Bay DART InitiativeHow regions can attract and retain emerging technology companiesThe evolution of Advanced Air Mobility and autonomous aviationLessons learned from supporting the growth of Joby AviationWhy infrastructure and ecosystem-building matter as much as technology itselfThe role of public-private partnerships in accelerating innovationCreating career pathways for the next generation of engineers and operatorsThe challenges of moving new technologies from demonstrations to daily operationsHow the U.S. is positioning itself in the global race for autonomy and advanced transportationThis episode is not just about drones or aircraft. It's about the people and organizations working behind the scenes to create the conditions that allow innovation to thrive, scale, and eventually change how we move, work, and connect. 🎧 Join us as we explore the intersection of technology, policy, infrastructure, and the communities that make progress possible.

47 min
May 18

Episode 18 - Gili Elkin - Managing Partner @ICI Fund

What does it actually take to raise a VC fund from scratch with no network, no track record and everyone telling you it won’t work? In this episode of the Autonomous Podcast, I sat down with Gili Elkin, Managing Partner of ICI Fund, to discuss the mindset behind building both companies and venture funds in deep tech. From growing up between Israel and the U.S., to raising her first fund in Colorado through pure resilience, community building and hundreds of conversations. Gili shares what investors actually look for in founders, why “first check” investing is all about people, and why entrepreneurs should stop waiting for the “perfect moment” before reaching out. We also go deep into: The cultural gap between Israeli founders and American investorsWhy storytelling matters as much as technologyHow ICI evaluates deeptech companies before investingAI infrastructure, space, data centers and the future of hard-tech investingWhy the strongest founders are usually the ones who simply never stopOne line from the episode that stayed with me: “It’s never too early to come to us.” For founders, investors and operators building in autonomy, robotics, defense, AI infrastructure and deep technologies, this one is worth the listen.

50 min
Apr 26

Episode 17 - Moshe Baum - Co-founder @Wild West Systems

In this episode, I sit down with Moshe Baum, Mechanical engineer, drone pilot, and co-founder of Wild West Systems. Moshe’s path moves through very different environments: from working on the NAMER platform during his service in the IDF, to engineering roles in companies like Apple and SpaceX, and now building his own systems in Texas. What made this conversation interesting is not just the experience, but the overlap between worlds that usually don’t speak the same language. We talk about the connection between IDF methodologies, where systems are built for real use under pressure and the principles behind companies like Apple and SpaceX, where design, iteration, and execution are pushed to a different level. Topics we covered: The difference between building systems that have to work in the field vs. systems built in controlled environmentsWhat Moshe took from Apple’s precision and SpaceX’s speed, and how those approaches translate into robotics todayThe gap between how autonomy is presented and what is actually possible in real-world scenariosSwarm systems, what is working today, and where the limitations still areWhy proximity to real environments matters when developing hardware and autonomous systemsThe role of human control vs. autonomy in mission-critical operationsLessons from moving between Israel and the U.S. when it comes to building and deploying systemsThis is a conversation about how different disciplines — military, engineering, and product thinking — come together when you’re building systems that are meant to operate in the real world.

45 min
Apr 15

Episode 16 - Rubi Liani - Co-founder & CTO @XTEND

In Episode 16, we sit down with Rubi Liani, co-founder of XTEND, and go deeper into the path that led him there. It starts far from what you might expect - flying RC planes as a kid, building intuition through curiosity, not a defined plan. From there, moving into the Navy and stepping into an environment shaped by responsibility, structure, and real decision-making under pressure. What followed wasn’t a straight line. Together with Aviv Shapira, through the Israel Drone Racing League (FRIL), Rubi entered the world of gaming, building a company in a space where others, with more experience and resources, had already tried to solve similar problems. Over time, that journey evolved into what we know today as XTEND. In this conversation, we talk about: how early decisions shape long-term directionchoosing the right people and building trustoperating with limited resources while still moving forwardand how seemingly unrelated experiences connect over timeWe also dive into how that background led to rethinking how drone pilots are trained and not just building systems, but building capability. This is not a story about a “perfect path.”It’s about how different chapters come together, and only make sense in hindsight. If you’re building, investing, or operating in defense tech, there’s a lot to take from this one.

1h 5m
Apr 9

Episode 15 - Ariel Avitan - Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer @ Percepto

In this episode, I sit down with Ariel Avitan, co-founder of Percepto; one of the companies quietly leading the adoption of autonomous drone systems across infrastructure in the United States. Percepto didn’t just build a drone.They built the full system - The box, the drone, the firmware, and the application, all designed to operate in real environments, weather, congested airspace and beyond line of sight. We talk about what it takes to move from technology to deployment, and why some of the most important work in autonomy today is happening far from the spotlight - in energy sites, utilities, and industrial facilities. Ariel shares his perspective on: Building a full-stack autonomous system, end-to-endWorking closely with regulators and being part of the FAA unmanned vehicles ecosystemWhy infrastructure became the right entry point for autonomyThe gap between building a product and operating it in the fieldWhat changes when founders relocate and stay close to their customersThis is a conversation about execution, proximity, and building systems that are meant to run without you there.

44 min
Mar 26

Episode 14: Conversation with Yahel Efroni - Business Development & Partnerships @Givon Defense

In this episode, I sit down with Yahel Efroni to talk about what it means to build technology in a reality where roles constantly shift and how does the ecosystem have evolved with new faces that 2 years ago were not looking towards Defense innovation but have realized thier dedication today is for the future of their children. We discuss how that dual experience shapes the way early-stage companies are built in Israel today, and how it influences the type of solutions being developed across defense, medical care, physical AI, and logistics. We also go into how Givon Ventures approaches early-stage teams, not just from an investment perspective, but from close involvement in the field, understanding what actually works under real conditions. In this episode we cover: - The dual reality of building companies while serving in parallel roles - How real-world constraints shape early-stage product decisions - Why getting to the field early matters more than perfecting in the lab - How Givon Ventures works with founders from three different generations - The challenge and opportunities that exist from venture capitalists living in conflict zones. This is a conversation about people, responsibility, and building systems that are meant to operate in real environments. This episode is In memory of Or Joseph Ran Z״L

51 min
Mar 11

Episode 13: Conversation with Elinor Yakobson - Defense & Cyber Cluster Manager

In this episode, we sit down with Elinor Yakobson, a specialist in defense tech, dual-use innovation, cyber, and homeland security, for a candid conversation on what it really means to lead in one of the world's most demanding industries. In this conversation, we explore: - What it's like to be a woman in a field where women are rarely in the room - Israel's high-tech defense ecosystem - home to over 1,200 companies, roughly 600 in cyber and 600 in military, homeland security, and related fields with a significant concentration in drones and UAVs - What it takes to bridge government, venture capital, and startups in high-impact fields - Translating national security priorities into actionable innovation strategies - Building policy frameworks and public-private partnerships that actually move the needle - Where dual-use technology is heading and who gets to shape that future This episode is not about surviving in Men's world. It's about redefining it.

1h 15m

Super interesting listen

Jan 16

Shay hadani

One the best content for drone and robotics industry

Autonomous explores the technologies reshaping the physical world - drones, robotics, and AI-driven machines. Through conversations with founders, engineers, and investors, the podcast examines the breakthroughs, operational lessons, and market opportunities defining the future of autonomous systems. Hosted by Shay Senior, an Israeli entrepreneur and technology scout in unmanned systems.

Creator

UAXVC
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

21
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© UAXVC
Show Website

Autonomous