A robotic arm from Illumo Robotics is capable of identifying and handling more than 1,000 order items in one hour. The equivalent of the work of three people in the same amount of time.

Andrea Inglés (Barcelona, 1991), an aeronautical engineer, founded the startup in France with a clear purpose: to improve the conditions of these warehouse workers, increase their productivity and reduce the operating costs of e-commerce. All this with an intelligent picking solution, capable of identifying and manipulating objects on trays and pallets.

TB: What is the purpose of your project?

AI: We want to improve the conditions of people working in warehouses and create value.

TB: Where do you stand and where do you see it in two years?

AI: Right now we have our first robots in production for Tradeinn in Girona, and we are invoicing. In two years, we will have demonstrated that the project is scalable, with dozens of robots running.

TB: A good idea you’ve had.

AI: In the first company where I worked, I asked untrained and completely unmotivated operators how we could improve the production process. At first it was a disaster because their answers didn’t make any sense. But I kept asking until they started experimenting and coming up with solutions that worked. Not only did they manage to improve the manufacturing process, but they also regained motivation as they felt listened to and valued. This was the ‘Eureka’ moment that made me want to be an entrepreneur. I want to create a tool for operators to feel heard and have their chance to add value, beyond moving boxes.

TB: What is the biggest challenge you have faced?

AI: Not giving up, no matter what. A couple of years ago at Illumo we were going to run out of money in a week. We had several outstanding salaries, no customer willing to pay, no investor willing to put money in, and our prototype wasn’t working. It seemed like it was impossible. But even so, we continued to believe in Illumo. At the last moment, a loan that was supposed to come, but never did, arrived. Three months later, our prototype was working, we had our first customer order and our first pre-seed ticket. What I learned is that there is always a solution and people worth pursuing it with.

TB: Best advice you’ve ever been given.

AI: Jump into the void. There is nothing to lose. Be that as it may, you can only gain experiences or successes.

TB: A role model.

AI: Verónica Pascual, ex-CEO of Asti and many other things since she made her exit. She transformed her family business into a mobile robotics company and now inspires a new generation of women in the technology sector.

TB: A technology that will shape the future.

AI: Humanoid robots, when the technological barriers that still exist have been overcome.

TB: Face-to-face or remote?

AI: Face-to-face, I love the passion and excitement in people’s eyes.

TB: A startup or company.

AI: Pets & Vets. We were in the Esade eWorks accelerator at the same time. The CEO is one of these fantastic people who are great at executing. It’s inspiring the energy she puts in and how radiant she is.

TB: What makes you disconnect?

AI: In order of how often, I play sports, talk to my family and friends, and meditate.

TB: A book to recommend.

AI: ‘The Design of Everyday Things’ by Don Norman. It’s a book that whatever you do you can use when designing experiences, products and interactions.

TB: A series, movie or song that defines your life moment.

AI: ‘The Law According to Lidia Poët’ series. Lidia is a fighter who doesn’t conform to the easy role of her time, the late 19th century.

TB: A recipe, a restaurant.

AI: The family recipe for ‘panellets’. It is one of my favorite traditions that I love to perpetuate wherever I am in the world and I feel connected to my family and identity. I have a similar relationship with Can Roca’s restaurant, homemade Catalan cuisine.

TB: A place in the world.

AI: Castellserà is a small village in the province of Lleida where I made my first adventures, built my first structures with mud and wood and embarked my cousins and my brother on impossible feats.

TB: Where would you invest 100k?

AI: I would build a humanoid robot for myself.

TB: If you were not an entrepreneur…

AI: I would be an entrepreneurship teacher, coach or project manager in a changing and ambitious environment.

TB: What is Tech Barcelona for you?

AI: It’s opportunities, whether it’s to talk business or technology with interesting people at the events, participate in pitch sessions or make connections. One of the best opportunities for me was to learn about the Esade eWorks accelerator program thanks to their newsletter. It was a key moment for Illumo and for me.