WE WORK FOR THE FUTURE
Arron Acosta
VP of Business Development
Blake Sessions
Chief Technology Officer
Hiten Sonpal
Chief Executive Officer
Toomas Sepp
Chief Engineer
Tom Phelps
Chief Operating Officer
Scott Bryce
Chief Financial Officer
Kyle Dell’Aquila
Head of Customer Experience & Industrial Design
Welcoming Hiten Sonpal: RISE® Robotics' New CEO
RISE is thrilled to introduce Hiten Sonpal as its new CEO. With an impressive background in robotics and automation, Hiten brings a wealth of experience from his roles at Electric Sheep Robotics, Mowbot, and iRobot.
In his first month, Hiten has already begun implementing a strategic vision focused on innovation and rapid market impact. One notable initiative is the introduction of an "innovation time" carve-out, allowing employees to dedicate Friday afternoons to passion projects that could drive technological advancements.
Hiten’s vision for RISE is clear: to revolutionize industrial machinery by replacing traditional hydraulic systems with our cutting-edge belt technology. This shift promises greater productivity and efficiency, aligning with global sustainability goals.
With a dynamic team and Hiten’s leadership, RISE is poised for significant growth and innovation. Stay tuned as we embark on this exciting new chapter.
With years of experience in a wide range of senior leadership roles in high technology fields, including robotics, space propulsion, semiconductor testing, and telecommunications, Tom Phleps, now RISE® COO, was looking for a new opportunity that would bring him back to his roots in robotics and heavy hardware.
He was searching for a revolutionary technology with the potential to change an industry and a committed and brilliant founding team.
"RISE Robotics checked all of those boxes and aligned well with the next step in my career," he points out.
"It's a fascinating place to be," he adds. "We are at a point where there are more opportunities than bandwidth. Part of my role is filtering those opportunities and ensuring we can meet and exceed our customers' expectations. I want to ensure we over-deliver to customers and build the RISE Robotics brand and reputation.
"RISE® Technology is truly revolutionary and will enable the development of the highest-performance and most efficient heavy machinery on the market. I look forward to helping RISE grow and become an industry technology leader."
To hear more about Tom's journey to RISE and what has him so excited for the company's future, listen to "InsideRISE® - Tom Phelps" live on the RISE Inside podcast!
Co-Founder, VP of Business Development, and former CEO of RISE® Robotics, Arron Acosta, joins host Justin Starbird to discuss how RISE® Robotics is the future of machinery.
As industrial machine collaborators, we need much more from hydraulic systems. We need something just as powerful, but far more efficient, reliable, and durable.
We challenged the status quo and developed RISE® Cylinder - a ground-breaking alternative that simply works.
RISE® Cylinder is a fluid-free, electro-mechanical alternative to hydraulic cylinders for heavy equipment and machinery that addresses the battery-electrification problems inherent in hydraulic systems by delivering hydraulic-like forces at unprecedented speed, weight, precision and efficiency.
RISE® Cylinder uses up to 90% less energy compared to hydraulic cylinders and recharges batteries through regeneration.
RISE® Cylinder compacts steel reinforced polyurethane belts that revolutionized high-speed elevators into a package that replaces a hydraulic cylinder.
RISE® Cylinder provides continuous remote monitoring of system health, predictive maintenance and performance.
Listen as Arron tells Justin about the early history of RISE® , and discusses some of the incredible steps that have led to where we are today.
Blake Sessions, co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer, and Ken Gray, former Vice President of Business Development at RISE® Robotics join host, Justin Starbird to share more about the early days of RISE®, its foundation, and where it's headed.
Blake explains that as a group, "RISE® just loves efficient, effective machine design. We're here to reimagine how machines are designed from an architectural perspective and from a usability perspective. The energy at RISE® centers around making machines that are just beautiful to use."
Listen as Blake and Ken tell Justin about RISE®'s unique intersection of elegant mathematics and practical applications to build beautiful machines.
MIT-educated engineer, co-founder of RISE® Robotics, and current VP of Engineering Toomas Sepp has been a part of the company's evolution from its initial exoskeleton concept to the recent launch of its first commercial product in partnership with Anthony Liftgates, the ReGEN RAILTRAC with RISE® Inside.
"It's been an exciting journey over the years, constantly trying to find what RISE’s place is in the marketplace. We have a pretty coherent and compelling story on the technology front, but it's just as exciting now to see how we fit that technology into the value chain.
"Over the next 5 to 10 years, we plan to make several different load classes of electric linear actuators to provide OEMs and integrators with that base, that component, that they can use to make higher-performing, more efficient, lower-total-cost-of-ownership machines.
"It's exciting to know that now we can invest in personnel, person hours, engineering hours, and partner relationships, which will ultimately yield even bigger results and more growth at the end of the day. That growth will lead to an impact in the real world and measurable results in lower energy usage in the machines that our technology ends up taking a foothold in."
To hear more about the evolution of RISE™Technology and the company's vision for the future, listen to "InsideRISE™ - Toomas Sepp" live on the RISE Inside podcast.
Co-Founder & Head of Industrial Design and Customer Experience Kyle Dell'Aquila and former Vice President of Business Development Ken Gray join host Justin Starbird for a deep dive into the unique story that is the history of RISE®. They talk about the RISE® philosophy and approach to investment and how it differs from most companies in similar situations.
Kyle and Ken explain that the bulk of hydraulics and the limitations of linear actuators drove the brilliant team at RISE® to develop something electric that had much more capacity and capability than electric actuators. To deliver the performance of hydraulics, that is, the force, the speed, the stroke without the bulk.
This creative perspective of the ever-evolving RISE® story inspires even the non-engineering folks to defy the rules to create new solutions as we explore and understand the incredible technology that is RISE®.
As a student at Northeastern University with a couple of co-ops under his belt, Nolan Hobart was looking for the next step on his journey—one that would allow him to build a solid technical base as well as an opportunity to work in the green space.
RISE® Robotics provided him with that.
"Boarding the rocket ship, 30 seconds before blast off," as he describes it, Nolan joined the founders in testing and designing their alpha cylinder, a demo unit for a relationship they were chasing with Anthony Liftgates.
Three years later, as the company prepares to launch its first commercial product in partnership with Anthony Liftgates, the ReGEN RAILTRAC with RISE™Inside, a revolutionary all-electric liftgate, Nolan finds himself in the position of Mechanical Engineer and assumes much of the technical responsibilities as an essential member of the Liftgate team.
"Throughout this journey, I grew confident to make a decision, know that it was the right one, or at least the best one at the time, and go from there. I've recently been operating with much more ownership over my design decisions. Now, I'm confident and have the technical prowess to back it up."
To hear more about Nolan's vision of RISE Robotics and how his love for snowmobiling at a young age ignited his engineering career, listen to "InsideRISE- Nolan Hobart" live on the RISE Inside podcast now!
With a combined Mechanical Engineering and Experience Design major from Northeastern University, Erika Murray, Mechanical Engineer & Engineering Project Manager, joined the RISE® team with a vision centered on people and their experiences to drive design, processes, environments, and strategies.
"Half of the time, I'm in the CAD world doing mechanical testing and designing systems to prepare us for manufacturing. The other half of the time, I'm helping the team focus on how they can improve, what tools we can gather, and what methods we can put in place to make us the best we can be."
Following her passion for sustainability to RISE also makes her days very fulfilling.
"The thing that hooked me was that this technology is in everything. We're designing cylinders that are everywhere you look. Everything could be based on them. The idea that, through our technology, everything can be a little bit greener was exciting to me.
"At the end of the day, all I need to say is that it was good work. I know that the work I put in is valuable. If it's a long day, then all the better that it was worthwhile work that I spent that time on.
"I'm proud to say that I work at RISE."
To hear more about Erika's journey, her vision for success, and her work at RISE, listen to "InsideRISE™- Erika Murray" live on the RISE Inside podcast now!
At RISE®, we take pride in our exceptional team members who bring diverse expertise and a passion for innovation to the table. In this month's Employee Spotlight, we introduce Ben Dwyer, Director of Embedded Systems.
Ben's professional journey began in the landscape of MedTech, where he played a pivotal role in developing life-saving devices for hospitals. His background includes working on critical care devices, where failure modes could have severe consequences, emphasizing the need for rigorous system development. Ben's experience encompasses everything from embedded software development to architecture, underlining his commitment to building reliable and safe solutions.
Beyond MedTech, Ben ventured into the realm of robotics, gaining extensive experience in motion control and actuation. His portfolio boasts projects in surgical robotics, robotic prostheses, and consumer robotics. This dual expertise positions him uniquely at the intersection of consumer development and the systematic, highly reliable approach demanded by the MedTech sector.
As the Director of Embedded Systems at RISE, Ben's role involves steering the technical aspects of solutions, supporting the team in defining architectures, and contributing to the development of cutting-edge technology that breaks the dependence on fossil fuels.
With a keen focus on fail-safe design, Ben underscores the importance of reliable systems, especially in industries like heavy machinery and automotive, where malfunctions can have serious consequences. His commitment to building technology that not only advances industry standards but also contributes to a sustainable future aligns seamlessly with the RISE mission.
Ben's journey exemplifies the spirit of innovation and dedication that defines our team. His dual expertise in MedTech and robotics, coupled with a commitment to sustainability, makes him a driving force behind our mission to pioneer advancements in large-scale linear electric actuators.
Eric Kong's journey to RISE® wasn't always straightforward. Despite initial plans to pursue a career in law, a pivotal moment in the sixth grade—when he successfully designed a parachute for a rocket project—ignited his passion for engineering. From that moment on, Eric knew he had found his calling and hasn't looked back!
Joining RISE after stints at Veo Robotics and Boston Micromachines, Eric wasted no time immersing himself in the RISE environment. Today, as a Senior Electrical Engineer, Eric is tasked with navigating multiple projects simultaneously. His role on the embedded team has him involved in every stage of the electrical engineering process, from schematic capture to board design, fabrication to debugging.
Eric's determination to find solutions is unwavering. His hands-on approach ensures that our projects not only meet but exceed expectations. With the support of his team and management, Eric embraces each obstacle as an opportunity for growth, never shying away from getting in over his head to achieve breakthrough results.
Outside of work, Eric's interests extend beyond the realm of electrical engineering. A self-proclaimed strategy game enthusiast, he finds solace in the intricate challenges of games and relishes the opportunity to share his love for strategy with his newborn daughter.
Looking ahead, Eric is eager to take on new challenges and explore exciting opportunities, including potential collaborations with the wind technology testing center. With his sights set on demonstrating RISE's value through innovative solutions, Eric's enthusiasm and expertise are sure to propel us toward even greater heights of success.
Jamison Go, Senior Mechanical Engineer at RISE™Robotics, brings a wealth of experience and passion to his role. With a background in additive manufacturing and a lifelong fascination with robotics, Jamison's journey spans from exploring cutting-edge technologies at MIT to over 19 years in fighting robots.
At RISE™, Jamison aligns with the company's vision for pioneering electric technology in heavy machinery. His meticulous approach to mechanical design ensures each project meets RISE™'s standards of excellence, driving the company's mission forward.
Beyond work, Jamison's dedication to robotics shines through his continued involvement in BattleBots, showcasing his commitment to pushing engineering boundaries. With an eye on future technological frontiers, Jamison's contributions solidify his role as a key player in shaping RISE™'s electrifying future.