Robotics and Physical AI are rewriting the rules of industry. Meet the leaders behind it.

Chicago is experiencing a new wave of innovation pushed by robotics and physical AI startups that are redefining how work gets done across manufacturing, automation, and maintenance.

Since the 1800s, Chicago has been defined by movement: products moving through warehouses, materials transported by rail, and machinery powering through factory floors. Today, Chicago is experiencing a new wave of innovation pushed by robotics and physical AI startups that are redefining how work gets done across manufacturing, automation, and maintenance. The distance between “bold ideas” and implementation in complex industrial systems is shrinking at a pace faster than ever.

On Tuesday June 2nd, TechNexus Venture Collaborative is partnering with Wells Fargo to host Chicago at Work: Robotics & Physical AI in Industry, bringing together eight leaders across research, corporate innovation, venture capital, and industrial operations for two focused panel conversations on how robotics and Physical AI are moving from emerging technology to real-world deployment.

This event will give you a front-row view of the reality of robotics and physical AI today, how they went from lab to deployment, and where they are headed next.

Seats are running quickly. RSVP here today to save a spot. We look forward to seeing you at TeamWorking by TechNexus on June 2nd.

Now, let’s meet our panelists.

Panel 1: The Catalysts – From Lab to Capital Market

Pete Wilkins, HPA

Pete Wilkins is an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, and AI innovator. He serves as Managing Partner of Hyde Park Angels (HPA) and founder of Omaxn, the premier Midwest AI forum. As HPA’s leader, Wilkins spearheaded its evolution from a traditional investment network into an institutional-grade venture investor, cultivating HPA into one of the top early-stage venture groups in the country. Under Wilkins’ leadership, HPA has delivered standout returns that outpace venture industry benchmarks and has fostered an environment that has enabled HPA-backed startups to grow into industry leaders, including many that have reached “unicorn” status and achieved impressive successful exits. In 2023, Wilkins founded Omaxn, which has quickly established itself as the Midwest’s premier forum for AI leadership. Omaxn brings together influential entrepreneurs, technologists, executives, researchers, and investors across the region to collaboratively shape the future of AI. Through this platform, Wilkins promotes knowledge sharing across industries and purposeful AI development to strengthen the Midwest’s economy and talent base.

Earlier in his career, Wilkins played key roles in two technology startups that achieved exits totaling over $2.8 billion before he turned 30. He went on to lead the turnaround of a private-equity-backed medical education company from record losses to record profits, and he founded a venture focused on increasing college attainment for Latino families. Beyond his executive roles, Wilkins is the author of Purpose First Entrepreneur, an Amazon #1 bestseller on aligning purpose with business success, and a Forbes contributor on innovation and investing in the Midwest.

Kurt Ramirez, Nine Four Ventures

Kurt Ramirez is a co-founder and General Partner at Nine Four Ventures, a venture firm investing in companies at the intersection of the digital and physical worlds. Kurt leads sourcing, diligence, and execution, and works closely with portfolio companies across the construction, residential, and commercial real estate industries, with a focus on AI-native platforms reshaping how these industries operate. He currently serves on the boards of Inspectify and Branch and has been a built-world investor for over a decade. Prior to founding Nine Four, Kurt was a consultant at Bain & Company, an investor at Cue Ball Capital, a venture capital firm focused on consumer and information media investments, and Greenfield Partners, a real estate private equity firm. He received an MBA from Harvard Business School and BS/BA degrees from Vanderbilt University.

Jason Felger, Jump Capital

Jason Felger is a Partner at Jump Capital, where he backs founders building deeply technical software for the enterprise. His investing focus is centered on AI, cybersecurity, and modern infrastructure, especially in areas where new technology is reshaping how companies manage data, security, risk, and compliance. He is particularly interested in AI infrastructure and data tooling, security software for increasingly complex enterprise environments, and platforms that help companies adopt AI with stronger governance, oversight, and operational control. Before venture, Jason was an operator and CEO of Food Genius, a foodservice data and analytics company he led through its acquisition by US Foods. That experience still shapes how he works with founders today: he is hands-on, direct, and especially helpful in the parts of company building where product, positioning, and go-to-market have to come together. At Jump, he brings that operating lens to founders tackling ambitious problems in enterprise software and technical systems.

Ryan L. Truby, Ph.D., Northwestern University

Ryan Truby is the June and Donald Brewer Junior Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University, where his research aims to advance machine intelligence through biologically informed, material-driven hardware innovations. He directs the Robotic Matter Lab, which develops soft actuators and sensors, advanced additive manufacturing techniques, and learning strategies for robots designed for real-world deployment. He has received multiple early-career awards from the U.S. Department of Defense, including the DARPA Director’s Fellowship, DARPA Young Faculty Award, and Young Investigator Awards from the Office of Naval Research and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Additional honors include a Schmidt Science Fellowship, the Materials Research Society Gold Graduate Student Award, and recognition as a Rising Star of Mechanical Engineering by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2024.

John Ramirez, ForgeX, TechNexus

John Ramirez is Founding Partner of ForgeX at TechNexus, where he builds commercialization pathways for frontier technologies at the intersection of emerging industry demand and frontier research. His background includes strategy and operations at McKinsey & Company, leading economic development at World Business Chicago where he helped launch several of Chicago’s leading innovation assets, commercializing university deep tech at the Discovery Partners Institute, and scaling early-stage ventures including Fast Radius, a digital manufacturing platform. He holds engineering degrees from UIUC and Illinois Tech, and an MBA with honors from Chicago Booth.

Moderator: John Huber, Wells Fargo

John Huber is the National Lead Advisor at Wells Fargo's Technology Banking Group, where he leads national client originations for growth-stage and innovation-driven technology companies. With more than 24 years at Wells Fargo, Huber serves as a trusted advisor to commercial relationship managers across the country, helping early-stage to mid-corporate tech firms access the right banking solutions.

Gina Chung, Locus Robotics

Gina Chung is Chief Strategy Officer at Locus Robotics, a global leader in AI-powered warehouse automation with over 17,000 robots deployed across 360+ sites around the world. At Locus Robotics, Gina is responsible for shaping global strategy, product direction, go-to-market, M&A, and strategic partnerships. Previously, Gina was VP of Innovation at DHL, where she led global innovation and R&D, technology partnerships, and deployment of AI and automation across supply chain operations. She launched and operated DHL’s Americas Innovation Center in Chicago and worked with DHL’s top 100 customers to drive measurable competitive advantage. Gina is from New Zealand and holds two degrees from the University of Auckland.

Charlie Wood, Ph.D., CAT Digital

Charlie Wood is the Director of Artificial Intelligence Digital Product Management at Caterpillar, where he leads AI initiatives that help scale digital capabilities across CAT Digital's application ecosystem. His team leads the development of AI Agents and other generative AI services built on data from 100 years of experience, millions of connected assets, and a world-wide dealer network servicing and repairing machines. Charlie brings a multidisciplinary technical background across what is now called physical AI, ranging from materials engineering and digital twins to advanced manufacturing and Agentic AI.

Aaron Toppston, GS Futures

Aaron Toppston is the Managing Partner of GS Futures' early stage venture investment fund focused on technology for the built environment. Previously, Aaron worked at Navitas, a proptech venture fund, and The Walsh Group, an ENR Top 20 contractor. Aaron attended Kellogg (MBA) and Miami University (BS) and lives in Chicago with his wife and two daughters.

Vince Zuppa, Prologis

Vince Zuppa is Vice President of Property Management for Prologis’ Chicago portfolio, where he leads the strategic oversight, operations, and performance of approximately 81 million square feet of industrial real estate. He is responsible for driving operational excellence, enhancing asset value, and delivering high-quality customer experience across one of the company’s largest Markets. In addition to his leadership role, Vince serves as Director of the Change Through Innovation Council (CTIC), where he champions the adoption of innovative technologies and forward-thinking solutions to better serve Prologis customers and improve operational efficiency. With 39 years of experience in commercial real estate, Vince brings deep industry expertise and a strong track record of leadership. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Benedictine University and a Master of Business Administration from St. Xavier University.

Moderator: Fred Hoch, TechNexus Venture Collaborative

Fred Hoch is the Founder and General Partner of TechNexus Venture Collaborative, where he leads the firm's investment strategy and corporate partnership development. Over the course of his career, Hoch has accelerated the growth of thousands of technology entrepreneurs — a track record built across the birth of the SaaS era, software industry advocacy, and international venture development.

By Alex Chen at TechNexus Venture Collaborative