Nvidia alum launches fund to back ‘physical AI’ startups in robotics, materials, and life sciences

Amulya Vishwanath, who led product marketing for NVIDIA’s robotics platforms for seven years, has launched Techable Venture Capital (Techable VC), an early-stage fund focused on physical AI. The fund will invest in startups working on foundational components such as actuators, robotic hands, software frameworks, and safety standards, which Vishwanath describes as still being rebuilt in what she calls the “Lego era” of robotics.

Vishwanath argues that physical AI encompasses more than robots—encompassing molecules, materials, medicines, and machines on factory lines. She positions Techable VC to target opportunities where automation can address pressing labor shortages, such as in family-run factories unable to find workers, or in high-burnout fields like surgery.

The fund’s investment scope spans robotics, materials science, and life sciences, reflecting Vishwanath’s view that foundational technologies underpinning physical AI are fragmented and require dedicated capital to rebuild. Vishwanath, one of the first women executives to spin out of Nvidia to launch her own early-stage firm, emphasized the importance of founders seeing their VC as a strategic asset, leveraging her Nvidia network for due diligence and customer introductions.

During the interview, Vishwanath contrasted her view with claims that a single general foundation model could make much of today’s specialized robotics work redundant. She cautioned against expecting a “ChatGPT moment” for robotics, arguing that foundational components and safety standards must mature before such a breakthrough could occur.