Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This Week In Startups is made possible by:
Squarespace
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Agree
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Today’s show:
Cytronic built a robotics-first fulfillment network, packing and shipping orders for cents instead of dollars, from small, city-adjacent micro-warehouses. Alex chats with CEO and co-founder Kevin Gibbon about how he can build a fulfillment warehouse for $1.2 million, and why it costs Amazon 50M-100M.
PLUS Eyebot delivers low-cost doctor-reviewed eyeglass prescriptions following 90-second vision tests, conducted in everyday kiosks. We asked CEO and co-founder Matthias Hofmann how he’s trying to simplify vision care and caught up with his Walmart and Sam’s Club pilot programs.
Guests:
Kevin Gibbon on X: https://x.com/kevingibbon
Cytronic: cytronic.ai
Matthias Hofmann on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mchofmann
Eyebot: eyebot.co
Relevant Links:
Axios: Cytronic seed round: ****axios.com/pro/supply-chain-deals/2026/07/15/robotic-fulfillment-cytronic-13m
Airhouse acquired by Syncware: airhouse.io
Amazon News: 10 Years of Robotics: aboutamazon.com/news/operations/10-years-of-amazon-robotics-how-robots-help-sort-packages-move-product-and-improve-safety
Serve Robotics: serverobotics.com
Zipline: flyzipline.com
TechCrunch: Manna plots major US expansion: techcrunch.com/2026/07/08/autonomous-drone-delivery-startup-manna-plots-major-u-s-expansion
TechCrunch: Eyebot Series A round: techcrunch.com/2025/08/26/eyebot-gets-20m-series-a-to-boost-to-expand-eye-care-access
CNET Eyebot coverage: cnet.com/health/medical/i-took-a-vision-test-in-90-seconds-with-a-robot-and-saw-the-future-of-vision-care
Walmart & Sam’s Club announcement: eyebot.co/resources/walmart-and-sams-club-pilot-fast-affordable-eyeglass-prescriptions-using-eyebots-technology
Formlabs: formlabs.com
Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses: meta.com/ai-glasses
Google Android XR AI announcement: https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/platforms/android/android-xr-gemini-glasses-headsets/
World Health Organization: Blindness and vision impairment fact sheet: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment
Timestamps:
0:00 Kevin Gibbons of Cytronic joins the show
4:54 How small is a micro fulfillment center?
9:24 Squarespace - Turn your idea into a beautiful website! Go to squarespace.com/twist for a free trial. When you're ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
10:58 Understanding the unit economics
19:49 Got a new business idea? Northwest Registered Agent helps you bring it to life. Get a free domain, email, phone number, and more - with no purchase required! — Learn more at northwestregisteredagent.com/twistdomain
21:54 Why fulfillment costs rise as you scale
29:11 Automatons Roll Out
29:37 Matthias Hofmann of Eyebot joins the show
29:56 Agree.com - Stop chasing invoices and automate your entire contract-to-cash stack. Go to agree.com and tell them Jason sent you to get 50% off for life!
30:54 Vision tests vs. eye exams
41:53 The terrifying doctor shortage
46:47 Fundraising and partnerships
56:32 Will we always need human doctors in the loop?
Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: ticker.thisweekinstartups.com
Check out the TWIST500: twist500.com
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
Follow Alex:
X: https//x.com/alex
Follow Lon:
X: https://x.com/lons
Follow Jason:
X: twitter.com/Jason
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
Check out all our partner offers: partners.launch.co
Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: substack.com/@calacanis
Follow TWiST:
Twitter: twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: youtube.com/thisweekin
Instagram: instagram.com/thisweekinstartups
TikTok: tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups
Substack: twistartups.substack.com
This Week In Startups is made possible by:
Squarespace
squarespace.com/twist
Northwest Registered Agent
northwestregisteredagent.com/twistdomain
Agree
agree.com
Today’s show:
Cytronic built a robotics-first fulfillment network, packing and shipping orders for cents instead of dollars, from small, city-adjacent micro-warehouses. Alex chats with CEO and co-founder Kevin Gibbon about how he can build a fulfillment warehouse for $1.2 million, and why it costs Amazon 50M-100M.
PLUS Eyebot delivers low-cost doctor-reviewed eyeglass prescriptions following 90-second vision tests, conducted in everyday kiosks. We asked CEO and co-founder Matthias Hofmann how he’s trying to simplify vision care and caught up with his Walmart and Sam’s Club pilot programs.
Guests:
Kevin Gibbon on X: https://x.com/kevingibbon
Cytronic: cytronic.ai
Matthias Hofmann on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mchofmann
Eyebot: eyebot.co
Relevant Links:
Axios: Cytronic seed round: ****axios.com/pro/supply-chain-deals/2026/07/15/robotic-fulfillment-cytronic-13m
Airhouse acquired by Syncware: airhouse.io
Amazon News: 10 Years of Robotics: aboutamazon.com/news/operations/10-years-of-amazon-robotics-how-robots-help-sort-packages-move-product-and-improve-safety
Serve Robotics: serverobotics.com
Zipline: flyzipline.com
TechCrunch: Manna plots major US expansion: techcrunch.com/2026/07/08/autonomous-drone-delivery-startup-manna-plots-major-u-s-expansion
TechCrunch: Eyebot Series A round: techcrunch.com/2025/08/26/eyebot-gets-20m-series-a-to-boost-to-expand-eye-care-access
CNET Eyebot coverage: cnet.com/health/medical/i-took-a-vision-test-in-90-seconds-with-a-robot-and-saw-the-future-of-vision-care
Walmart & Sam’s Club announcement: eyebot.co/resources/walmart-and-sams-club-pilot-fast-affordable-eyeglass-prescriptions-using-eyebots-technology
Formlabs: formlabs.com
Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses: meta.com/ai-glasses
Google Android XR AI announcement: https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/platforms/android/android-xr-gemini-glasses-headsets/
World Health Organization: Blindness and vision impairment fact sheet: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment
Timestamps:
0:00 Kevin Gibbons of Cytronic joins the show
4:54 How small is a micro fulfillment center?
9:24 Squarespace - Turn your idea into a beautiful website! Go to squarespace.com/twist for a free trial. When you're ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
10:58 Understanding the unit economics
19:49 Got a new business idea? Northwest Registered Agent helps you bring it to life. Get a free domain, email, phone number, and more - with no purchase required! — Learn more at northwestregisteredagent.com/twistdomain
21:54 Why fulfillment costs rise as you scale
29:11 Automatons Roll Out
29:37 Matthias Hofmann of Eyebot joins the show
29:56 Agree.com - Stop chasing invoices and automate your entire contract-to-cash stack. Go to agree.com and tell them Jason sent you to get 50% off for life!
30:54 Vision tests vs. eye exams
41:53 The terrifying doctor shortage
46:47 Fundraising and partnerships
56:32 Will we always need human doctors in the loop?
Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: ticker.thisweekinstartups.com
Check out the TWIST500: twist500.com
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
Follow Alex:
X: https//x.com/alex
Follow Lon:
X: https://x.com/lons
Follow Jason:
X: twitter.com/Jason
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
Check out all our partner offers: partners.launch.co
Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: substack.com/@calacanis
Follow TWiST:
Twitter: twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: youtube.com/thisweekin
Instagram: instagram.com/thisweekinstartups
TikTok: tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups
Substack: twistartups.substack.com
