Diligent Robotics Adds Cruise Alumni to Leadership Team

Diligent Robotics Expands Leadership to Support Growth

Diligent Robotics is strengthening its executive team as the company prepares to broaden the deployment of its humanoid robots within hospital and pharmacy settings.

New Appointments from Cruise

The Austin, Texas-based firm announced on Thursday the appointments of Rashed Haq as Chief Technology Officer and Todd Brugger as Chief Operating Officer. Both executives previously held positions at Cruise, the self-driving technology subsidiary of General Motors, which ceased operations earlier in the year.

Executive Backgrounds

Prior to joining Diligent Robotics, Haq served as Vice President and Head of AI and Robotics at Cruise. Brugger previously functioned as the Chief Operating Officer for the same company.

Strategic Timing for Expansion

Andrea Thomaz, co-founder and CEO of Diligent Robotics, communicated to TechCrunch that the timing was optimal for these key leadership additions. The company has currently deployed approximately 100 of its Moxi robots.

These robots are designed to assist healthcare facilities with tasks that do not directly involve patient care, and the organization is now positioned to concentrate on scaling its operations.

Focused Growth Strategy

“We’ve intentionally pursued a more measured growth trajectory over the past few years,” Thomaz explained. “This allowed us to refine operational efficiencies and prepare for a more substantial scaling phase.”

“We are now preparing to implement this strategy towards the end of this year and throughout the next.”

Haq’s AI Expertise

Thomaz stated that her initial introduction to Haq highlighted his extensive knowledge of AI and his proven ability to translate innovative AI algorithms into practical applications.

This experience was gained through his work on Cruise’s autonomous vehicle program, moving beyond purely theoretical research.

Brugger’s Scaling Experience

During discussions with Haq, Thomaz was connected with Brugger. She recognized that Brugger’s experience in scaling Cruise from a nascent operation to a fleet of hundreds of vehicles aligned perfectly with Diligent’s needs.

Synergistic Partnership

“Todd and Rashed collaborated effectively at Cruise,” Thomaz noted. “Their combined skills and experience address our need for strong operational leadership, making this a remarkably opportune moment.”

A Natural Progression

Both Haq and Brugger conveyed to TechCrunch that Diligent Robotics represented a logical next step in their careers. The company had already progressed to the deployment phase, and the underlying technology shared similarities with their previous work at Cruise.

Haq further pointed out that autonomous vehicles are, at their core, mobile robots, simply categorized differently.

Demonstrated Product Value

“Many companies experience initial revenue, which I refer to as ‘trial revenue,’ as customers experiment with a service before ultimately cancelling,” Haq said. “However, Diligent’s robots are consistently used on a daily basis and have become essential components within the organizations that employ them.”

“This indicates a highly valuable and enduring product.”

Shared Operational Priorities

Brugger also expressed his attraction to Diligent, citing the similarities in operational challenges and priorities compared to Cruise.

A Consistent Framework

“We identified a clear hierarchy of priorities,” Brugger explained. “Safety forms the foundational base of the pyramid, being absolutely paramount. Above that, we focus on enhancing reliability.”

“Further development centers on achieving product-market fit, often through expanding the robots’ capabilities and utility. The approach to deployments also mirrors our experiences at Cruise.”

Company History and Funding

Diligent Robotics was established in 2017 by Thomaz and Vivian Chu. The company’s Moxi robots are currently deployed across more than 25 healthcare networks.

To date, Diligent has secured over $90 million in venture funding from investors including Tiger Global, True Ventures, and Canaan Partners.