Investing in the Future of Physical Industry with Scott Walbrun
Scott Walbrun brings a unique perspective to venture capital. Having started his career inside the automotive industry before moving into investment banking and venture, he has spent years helping deep tech founders navigate one of the hardest challenges in robotics: turning impressive technology into repeatable, scalable businesses.
As Principal at BMW i Ventures, Scott sits at the intersection of physical AI, robotics, manufacturing, industrial software, and advanced materials. In this conversation, he joins Greg to discuss what separates great robotics companies from great robotics demos, why commercial urgency often matters more than technical perfection, and how founders can build businesses that survive the long road from prototype to widespread deployment.
Greg and Scott also explore how AI is reshaping the physical world, why venture investors are increasingly focused on real-world reliability over flashy demonstrations, and what founders should understand before raising institutional capital in today's deep tech landscape.
Highlights:
Scott's journey from automotive finance and investment banking to becoming a venture investor focused on robotics, mobility, and deep tech
Why so much breakthrough technology never makes it from the lab into commercial markets, and what successful founders do differently
How BMW i Ventures evaluates Series A and B companies across physical AI, robotics, industrial software, advanced materials, and manufacturing technologies
Why commercial validation is just as important as technical validation when building a venture-scale company
The hidden costs of deploying robotics at scale, including maintenance, field service, reliability, and total cost of ownership
What investors really mean when they ask about repeatability, and why one successful pilot is rarely enough
How physical AI is moving beyond hype into real applications across manufacturing, quality inspection, warehouse automation, and enterprise operations
The biggest mistakes robotics founders make when trying to scale too quickly
Why founders should personally own customer development before building large sales teams
Scott's advice for raising venture capital, building durable businesses, and maintaining the sense of urgency that separates exceptional founders from everyone else
Whether you're building robotics, industrial AI, or any capital-intensive technology company, this episode offers practical insight into what investors look for, what customers actually value, and how to bridge the gap between breakthrough innovation and lasting commercial success.
Learn more about BMW i Ventures: https://www.bmwiventures.com/
Connect with Scott Walbrun on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwalbrun/
Connect with Greg Toroosian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/