What started as a lockdown passion project to cure personal isolation has quickly turned into a $100M robotics company. In this episode, host Lisa Lie chats with Grace Brown, the visionary founder and CEO behind Andromeda Robotics and their flagship companion robot, Abi. Grace breaks down the journey of challenging an aggressive, male-dominated robotics culture, pitching to over 100 investors, the power of a "30-year-old alter ego," and why the future of AI and robotics relies on social intelligence over raw utility.

On today’s episode, you’ll learn:


Why you don't need a polished sales strategy to test an idea—and how literally walking through the front door with an early prototype can prove real-world demand.


How changing your messaging to match your audience's language can unlock funding from skeptical investors.


Actionable strategies for building rejection resilience, leaning into shameless persistence, and navigating dozens of "no's" to get to a "yes".


Practical ways to shift your mindset from tinkering with the product to designing the business as an scalable system – and how to outgrow your company.


How envisioning a wiser, more confident future version of yourself can give you instant clarity during high-stakes decisions.

THE END BITS

Support independent women's media.

Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss - send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. You can remain anon! 

HOST: Lisa Lie 

GUEST: Grace Brown, CEO of Andromedia Robotics and founder of @abi_humanoid

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Courtney Ammenhauser

SENIOR CREATIVE PRODUCER: Thom Lion


ASSISTANT PRODUCER: Sasha Tannock

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

What started as a lockdown passion project to cure personal isolation has quickly turned into a $100M robotics company. In this episode, host Lisa Lie chats with Grace Brown, the visionary founder and CEO behind Andromeda Robotics and their flagship companion robot, Abi. Grace breaks down the journey of challenging an aggressive, male-dominated robotics culture, pitching to over 100 investors, the power of a "30-year-old alter ego," and why the future of AI and robotics relies on social intelligence over raw utility.
On today&rsquo;s episode, you&rsquo;ll learn:
<ul>
<li>
Why you don't need a polished sales strategy to test an idea&mdash;and how literally walking through the front door with an early prototype can prove real-world demand.
</li>
<li>
How changing your messaging to match your audience's language can unlock funding from skeptical investors.
</li>
<li>
Actionable strategies for building rejection resilience, leaning into shameless persistence, and navigating dozens of "no's" to get to a "yes".
</li>
<li>
Practical ways to shift your mindset from tinkering with the product to designing the business as an scalable system &ndash; and how to outgrow your company.
</li>
<li>
How envisioning a wiser, more confident future version of yourself can give you instant clarity during high-stakes decisions.
</li>
</ul>
THE END BITS
<a href="https://mamamia.com.au/subscribe/?utm_source=shownotes&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=quicky&amp;utm_content=mm-birthday&amp;code=TQBIRTHDAY">Support independent women's media</a>. Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss -<a href="https://help.mamamia.com.au/en-US/send-a-podcast-voice-note-467960"> send us a voice note</a> or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. You can remain anon!&nbsp;
HOST:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lisa.lie_learna/?hl=en">Lisa Lie</a>&nbsp;
GUEST: <a href="instagram.com/grace.jbrown">Grace Brown</a>, CEO of Andromedia Robotics and founder of <a href="instagram.com/abi_humanoid">@abi_humanoid</a>
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Courtney Ammenhauser
SENIOR CREATIVE PRODUCER: Thom Lion 
ASSISTANT PRODUCER: Sasha Tannock
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

BIZ is a podcast about work and how to make it work for you.

This season, we're promising new wisdom, fresh energy, and zero fluff. Co-hosts Em Vernem (ambitious but efficient) and Lisa Lie (founder of Learna) bring real talk, real hacks, and real experience. No vague inspo, no recycled advice—just smart, straight-up strategies that actually work. Because work is hard enough without having to figure it all out yourself.

Because work is hard enough without having to figure it all out yourself.

BIZ is a podcast about work and how to make it work for you.
This season, we're promising new wisdom, fresh energy, and zero fluff. Co-hosts Em Vernem (ambitious but efficient) and Lisa Lie (founder of Learna) bring real talk, real hacks, and real experience. No vague inspo, no recycled advice&mdash;just smart, straight-up strategies that actually work. Because work is hard enough without having to figure it all out yourself.
Because work is hard enough without having to figure it all out yourself.

Biz 

Can You Engineer Human Connection? Andromeda's Grace Brown On Emotionally Intelligent Robots

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/3ea926be-9be7-482a-8ac3-a44f016e43d1/clips/5ab0ff75-897c-43a6-9606-b4f7002bd3f4/transcript