Construction is one of the world’s most complex, risk-filled, and operationally fragmented industries — and also one of the last to benefit from automation. At Raise Robotics, CTO Rishabh Aggarwal is helping change that. From capturing diesel soot to turn into ink, to designing CubeSats at NASA, to building autonomous harvesting robots in ag-tech, Rishabh’s journey has always been about one thing: building real technology that solves real problems.  In this episode, he breaks down how Raise Robotics is building a multi-use, autonomous construction robot capable of performing high-precision tasks on the edge of skyscrapers — layout marking, drilling, inspection, and more — all with 1/16-inch accuracy on chaotic, unpredictable job sites.  We explore the technical challenges, the industry dynamics, the hiring realities of early-stage robotics, and the future of “physical AI” as robotics collides with deep learning at industrial scale. ⸻ Highlights •From building off-road race cars to capturing diesel pollution: Rishabh’s early startup experience involved inventing a device that trapped generator soot and converted it into ink — a hands-on lesson in iterative engineering and impact-driven design.  •Learning hard lessons in hardware: While building agricultural robots, a battery fire caused a full site evacuation — shaping Rishabh’s philosophy that startups should buy first, innovate later until product-market fit is clear.  •Why construction needed robotics yesterday: Multi-million-dollar rework, misaligned facades, and error-prone layout marking inspired Raise Robotics to automate tasks that require extreme accuracy — tasks humans aren’t well-suited for on 2,000-foot floors.  •Inside Raise’s autonomous platform: A robot on wheels equipped with long-reach arms, tool-changing capabilities, and precise localization — delivering layout marking, drilling, inspection, and more, while generating detailed QC reports for contractors.  •The toughest technical challenge: Designing a robotic arm that remains rock-solid on the literal edge of a building while working with sub-inch tolerance — in rain, dust, debris, and unpredictable environments.  •Building a high-performing robotics team: Rishabh emphasizes hiring for intent, attitude, and intrinsic motivation, not just technical skill — and why people from big tech increasingly seek startup impact.  •Where robotics is headed next: The rise of “physical AI,” the explosion of better sensors and compute, and the coming wave of human-robot collaboration that replaces cages with perception-driven safety.  •Long-term vision: A multi-industry platform that moves beyond construction into manufacturing, oil & gas, and high-risk industrial environments — wherever a precise, ruggedized robotic teammate is needed.  ⸻ Learn more about Raise Robotics: https://raiserobotics.ai/ Connect with Rishabh Aggarwal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rish-creator/ Follow the Raise Robotics team on LinkedIn (they post regular updates): https://www.linkedin.com/company/raise-robotics/ Connect with Greg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/
