From family business to robotics revolution

Nimrod Malinas' career is characterized by pragmatism and vision. Originally working in the Swiss family business for industrial painting systems, he was repeatedly confronted with two problems:

• Companies could hardly find staff for dangerous or monotonous jobs.
• The working conditions in many factories were anything but attractive.

"There were hardly any people left who were willing to do these jobs. And those who did often worked in unhealthy conditions," recalls Malinas. The idea of using robots was obvious - but the barriers to entry were enormous: "An industrial robot often cost a quarter of a million francs. Over 80 percent of companies continued to work manually."

Robonnement: Robots in a subscription model

This is where Robonnement comes in: instead of buying expensive robots, companies can use them in a flexible subscription model - similar to car sharing or software subscriptions. "We wanted to democratize robotics. Our vision is for everyone to have access to robots - not just large corporations. With a subscription model, we radically lower the barrier to entry."

The concept struck a chord with the times: while the economy is increasingly focusing on flexible use instead of ownership, Robonnement opens the door to automation for sectors that were previously excluded. Today, the range of applications extends from painting robots and barista robots to cleaning and service applications.

From the paint booth to the barista robot - and beyond

What began as a solution for the painting industry quickly developed further.
"We digitized the movements of the best painters and stored them in the cloud. This became a machine learning system that we can use to transfer the movements of the professionals to robots."
This principle can be applied to many areas:

• In gastronomy, the barista robot learns the perfect movements for cappuccino and espresso.
• In cleaning, autonomous systems take over dangerous or monotonous tasks.
• In the healthcare sector, AI-supported exoskeletons support nursing staff in lifting heavy patients.

Malinas emphasizes: "We don't want to replace human proximity, but rather automate repetitive, unattractive tasks. This leaves more time for what really makes people tick: creativity, empathy and service."

Man and machine: cooperation instead of displacement

Malinas counters the fear of losing jobs to robots with realism and responsibility: "Many of the jobs that we are automating are already hardly being done today - because no one can be found to do them. Our aim is to relieve people of dangerous, stressful or unoccupied tasks." He sees the future in a sensible division of labor: robots take over routine tasks, while humans concentrate on interpersonal tasks - whether in a café, restaurant or care setting.

Democratization of robotics and social change

Robonnement has a clear mission: "Technology must not be a privilege for large corporations. We want to democratize robotics so that small companies and people with fewer resources can also benefit." Malinas sees this as a social mission: "If we only build robots for the richest and most powerful, we will miss the opportunity to make work safer, fairer and more humane."

Switzerland as a location for innovation and a springboard

For Nimrod Malinas, Switzerland and the canton of Zurich in particular is the ideal place for innovation: "What counts here is whether your product solves a real problem - not how big your marketing budget is. The start-up community is strong, investors are open, and the framework conditions are right. Anyone who starts up here is part of a big family that promotes innovation." He is convinced: "In Switzerland, you can quickly gain a foothold with a good idea and real added value. The ecosystem is supportive and open to new ideas."

Dream Shamelessly Big - but with a grip on the ground

Malinas' advice to other founders is clear: "Dream big shamelessly - ask yourself: How big would you dream if you knew you couldn't fail? But stay down to earth. Bootstrapping, i.e. building a company step by step and sustainably, keeps you grounded and ensures that you solve real problems."

He knows from his own experience how hard the road can be: "Innovation means fighting against resistance every day and convincing people of new ideas. But if the vision is strong enough, the journey is worth it."

Robots for people, not the other way around

The story of Robonnement and Nimrod Malinas shows how technology can initiate social change - if it is used with responsibility, courage and a clear purpose. Robots are not a threat, but can become allies that make work safer, fairer and more humane.

"How big would you dream if you knew you couldn't fail? That's exactly the spirit we need - for robotics and for the future of work."

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About the AI Talk podcast
AI Talk is the podcast about artificial intelligence in Switzerland - with real movers and shakers, experts and decision-makers from tech, research, politics and business. Hosted by Stephan Lendi and Dalith Steiger-Gablinger, each episode of the podcast highlights new perspectives on innovation, responsibility and the concrete application of AI technologies. Whether ethics, regulation, talent development or deep tech - AI Talk combines personal insights with strategic foresight.

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