From early prototype to real-world product. Three founders, three very different hardware bets, and one honest conversation about what it actually takes.
This panel brings together founders building across robotics, climate tech, and consumer hardware, hosted in partnership with StuCo — a platform connecting students to startups.
Each founder will share their journey: how their idea developed, the engineering and product challenges they faced, and what it takes to design, build, and scale a physical product.
Featuring:
🤖 Hassan Shahzad, Founder of ELO An autonomous wheeled humanoid robot built for under $1.5K, designed with a companion-first, tool-second philosophy to make robotics more accessible and approachable.
🌊 Tarek F , Co-founder & CEO of Wavelight Energy A climate-tech startup developing salinity-gradient energy systems that generate clean electricity from water using advanced membrane technology.
💧 Thor R, Founder of BeyondHydration A consumer hardware startup building a portable device that filters, flavours, and carbonates water anywhere, anytime.
The Session Will Include
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Founder journeys from prototype to product
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Panel discussion across robotics, climate tech, and consumer hardware
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Live prototype demonstrations
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Audience Q&A
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Networking with founders afterwards
