Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Divya Thakur, founder of Yardbot, joins host Jim Belosic to discuss how he’s building a next-gen landscaping company powered by robotics. Instead of chasing full automation, Yardbot combines human crews with custom-built mowing robots to deliver better results at a lower cost.
Divya shares his journey from software engineering and finance to self-driving cars at Cruise, and how a failed Bitcoin startup taught him one of his biggest lessons: build for customers, not just cool tech. We get into the gritty reality of developing hardware, five generations of robot iterations, and what it takes to run a tech-driven business in a traditional industry.
Key Takeaways
•Start with the customer. Great tech means nothing if it does not solve a real problem.
• Build and test in the real world. Hardware improves through failure, not theory.
• Hybrid wins. The best results come from combining people and machines.
• Iteration is everything. Each version teaches what the last one missed.
• Industries are different. What works in software does not always translate.
• Data is leverage. Small teams can scale impact with the right systems.
• Do not quit too early. Progress often comes after multiple failed attempts.
Additional Resources:
Yardbot: https://yard.bot/
⏰ Timestamps ⏰
00:00: Introduction
02:42: Exploring Yardbot
05:21: The Evolution of Yardbot
08:02: Challenges and Innovations in Robotic Lawn Care
10:38: Future Aspirations for Yardbot
13:31: Relocating to Huntsville
16:17: Cost of Living: San Francisco vs. Huntsville
21:40: Divya's Career Journey
22:28: Entrepreneurial Beginnings in Bitcoin
25:23: Lessons from the Bitcoin Venture
27:45: Navigating Human Dynamics in Blue-Collar Work
30:15: Recruitment Strategies for Hybrid Teams
34:27: Leveraging AI for Operational Efficiency
39:35: Expansion Plans and Market Strategies
44:42: Advice on Perseverance and Iteration
Custom sheet metal manufacturing and processing. From prototype to large production runs, get sale and assembly ready custom parts shipped in as little as 2 days; No minimum quantities; free US shipping on orders over $39; made In the USA: bit.ly/4dwW6rU
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/sendcutsend
Divya Thakur, founder of Yardbot, joins host Jim Belosic to discuss how he’s building a next-gen landscaping company powered by robotics. Instead of chasing full automation, Yardbot combines human crews with custom-built mowing robots to deliver better results at a lower cost.
Divya shares his journey from software engineering and finance to self-driving cars at Cruise, and how a failed Bitcoin startup taught him one of his biggest lessons: build for customers, not just cool tech. We get into the gritty reality of developing hardware, five generations of robot iterations, and what it takes to run a tech-driven business in a traditional industry.
Key Takeaways
•Start with the customer. Great tech means nothing if it does not solve a real problem.
• Build and test in the real world. Hardware improves through failure, not theory.
• Hybrid wins. The best results come from combining people and machines.
• Iteration is everything. Each version teaches what the last one missed.
• Industries are different. What works in software does not always translate.
• Data is leverage. Small teams can scale impact with the right systems.
• Do not quit too early. Progress often comes after multiple failed attempts.
Additional Resources:
Yardbot: https://yard.bot/
⏰ Timestamps ⏰
00:00: Introduction
02:42: Exploring Yardbot
05:21: The Evolution of Yardbot
08:02: Challenges and Innovations in Robotic Lawn Care
10:38: Future Aspirations for Yardbot
13:31: Relocating to Huntsville
16:17: Cost of Living: San Francisco vs. Huntsville
21:40: Divya's Career Journey
22:28: Entrepreneurial Beginnings in Bitcoin
25:23: Lessons from the Bitcoin Venture
27:45: Navigating Human Dynamics in Blue-Collar Work
30:15: Recruitment Strategies for Hybrid Teams
34:27: Leveraging AI for Operational Efficiency
39:35: Expansion Plans and Market Strategies
44:42: Advice on Perseverance and Iteration
Custom sheet metal manufacturing and processing. From prototype to large production runs, get sale and assembly ready custom parts shipped in as little as 2 days; No minimum quantities; free US shipping on orders over $39; made In the USA: bit.ly/4dwW6rU
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/sendcutsend
