From circuits to meaning: a deep dive with robotics engineer and entrepreneur Max Lungarella
In this episode of Tech & Thrive, we sat down with Max Lungarella, robotics engineer, interdisciplinary thinker, and co-founder of Dynamic Devices (DD Robotech). With a career spanning academia, deep-tech innovation, and startup building, Max shared raw and thoughtful reflections on the state of physical AI, the beauty of movement, and what it really takes to build meaningful companies in a world dominated by fast innovation.
From physics to robotics and into the unknown
Max didn’t grow up with robotics in mind. He began with a strong foundation in physics, driven by an early interest in how the world works. Over time, his curiosity took him from theoretical science toward building things that interact with the real world, systems that sense, move, and support humans.
His path led him to the University of Zurich’s AI Lab, where he deepened his focus on embodied systems: robots that don’t just process information but exist and act physically in space. These experiences laid the foundation for his next venture, starting a robotics company.
Today, Max co-leads DD Robotech, a Zurich-based company building robotic systems to support human movement, particularly in the context of health, rehabilitation, and aging populations.
The case for physical AI
“Real intelligence is not just about language. It’s about how we move, how we interact with the world.”
While much of the world’s attention is fixed on software-based AI, from chatbots to generative tools, Max emphasizes that intelligence is more than words. True intelligence, he argues, is about how beings move through the world, interpret feedback, and make decisions with their bodies. That is the terrain of physical AI.
This domain brings challenges: hardware is expensive, mechanical systems are hard to scale, and real-world safety is non-negotiable. But it is also where some of the most impactful innovation is happening, especially in health tech.
At DD Robotech, the mission is to create robots that enhance human capabilities, whether that means helping people recover movement, maintaining physical well-being, or reducing long-term healthcare costs through automation and personalization. These are not distant, sci-fi applications. They are practical solutions designed to improve everyday life and extend what Max calls our health span.
Unlike lifespan, which measures the number of years lived, health span focuses on the quality of those years: how mobile, independent, and pain-free we remain as we age. For Max, this is one of the most powerful promises of robotics, not just helping us live longer, but helping us live better for longer.
Robots, startups, and “cool shit”
Max is candid about the highs and lows of building a startup. In the early days, their focus was almost entirely on engineering. They didn’t have a finance person, and the business side came later.
“We just cared about making cool stuff, or as we call it, ‘cool shit.’ The business part came later.”
This worked for a while, but he now sees the importance of balance. Tech alone doesn’t guarantee success. Especially in the startup world, the ability to sell, fund, and sustain matters as much as building great products.
“If I had to start again, I’d still build cool tech. But I’d also make sure we had a strong business person from day one. Because if you don’t sell, you die.”
Why team composition matters
Another recurring theme in our conversation was team dynamics. Max doesn’t believe in the lone genius myth. He emphasized that the most powerful startups are built by teams of people who complement each other.
He credits his co-founders and team for creating an environment where creative and technical minds work together. They have built a team that combines expertise in hardware, software, branding, and client interaction, all while staying grounded in shared values.
A reskilling wave on the horizon
Max also shared a broader trend he sees coming: a shift back to physical work. As generative AI automates large parts of digital work such as writing, coding, and design, he predicts many people will retrain into more tangible fields like hardware, robotics, and manufacturing.
“In the next 5 to 10 years, we’ll see a wave of people move into physical domains. Web development and digital design are being automated. Physical AI is next.”
This shift opens doors for young professionals and students willing to engage with physical tools, whether in hardware startups, industrial robotics, or medical devices.
Entrepreneurship as meaning-making
Throughout our conversation, Max returned to one core idea: technology should serve people, not the other way around.
Whether discussing robotics, team dynamics, or startup life, his perspective was always human-centered. In an age obsessed with scale and speed, his grounded approach was a reminder that thoughtful innovation, built on integrity and curiosity, still matters.
He stressed that entrepreneurship is demanding, often involving trade-offs in time and energy. But it can also be deeply rewarding, especially when you are aligned with your mission and surrounded by the right people.
“You are in the driver’s seat. You take decisions. If you work for a big company, someone else decides for you. But when you start something yourself, you own it.”
Final words of advice
Max left us with a piece of advice that echoed throughout the conversation: don’t go it alone. Whether you are a founder, engineer, designer, or creative, surround yourself with people who strengthen your weak points and challenge your assumptions.
“Be a team. Complement yourself with others. That’s what I learned early on. Even the best people at NASA said it: surround yourself with people who fill your gaps.”
Want to dive deeper into max’s work?
Visit Dynamic Devices (DD Robotech) or follow Max Lungarella on LinkedIn. His Zurich-based team regularly hosts student groups and events focused on robotics, movement health, and rethinking the boundaries of AI.
Listen now on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4TKDJHNFTRuVveJf0lSPw8?si=00cd936745954de2
Listen now on Youtube: https://youtu.be/7fCQYo0su48
