Full original interview → https://valiantceo.com/pavlo-pikulin-at-deus-robotics/
Discover how Pavlo Pikulin’s vision at Deus Robotics is reshaping automation for businesses globally. His innovative solutions offer a glimpse into the future of robotics and AI.
Pavlo Pikulin is a serial tech entrepreneur, a tech visionary, and an AI and robotics optimist with over 22 years of experience in AI and 6 years of dedicated research in robotics. Pavlo is the CEO and founder of Deus Robotics, which is on a mission to help businesses efficiently integrate with robots. Founded in 2019, the company offers a revolutionary all-in-one robotic automation solution that includes two components: a unified AI platform to manage, optimize, and enhance robots from any manufacturer, and smart robots designed to automate most warehouse operations. This past summer, the company earned shortlist nominations for several prominent industry accolades, including the Robotics & Automation Awards, and Logistics UK’s Logistics Awards. Most recently, Deus Robotics was named a finalist in the UK’s Tech Impact Awards.
Company: Deus Robotics
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company
Pavlo Pikulin: My passion for technology started with my dad, a tech enthusiast who sparked my curiosity early on. Even before I was born, he bought a personal computer — an unusual sight in my hometown in 1989. By the time I was five, I was writing my first computer programs, fascinated by the idea of controlling a machine, instructing it, and watching it execute my commands.
At seven, I sold my first website for $20. This early experience evolved into building and selling computers, and by thirteen, I had developed a program to bypass captcha for a game, which later transformed into an automatic license plate recognition tool.
At fifteen, it dawned on me that robotics and automation would define the future. This realization fueled my ambition to pursue robotics and AI. But with limited resources, I took a different route: at nineteen, I launched my own game studio. By 2021, we had grown to a team of 700, with several of our games reaching the top download spot in their genre in the U.S.
Yet, my focus on robotics never wavered. I firmly believe that robotics can revolutionize our world by handling difficult, repetitive, and dangerous tasks. By 2017, I was ready to act on that belief as I generated enough funds to launch my own robotics company. I brought together a team of talented engineers and programmers — some I knew from school, others new connections—and after doing research, in 2019, we launched Deus Robotics, stepping forward to shape a new future in robotics and automation.
What emerging technology trends do you believe will have the most profound impact in the next 5-10 years?
Pavlo Pikulin: In the next 5-10 years, AI-powered robotics will be one of the most transformative technologies, particularly in industries like warehousing and logistics. As companies adopt robotics, operational costs will decrease, giving a significant boost to efficiency and scalability. We will see the rise of robot-driven warehouses that can be set up in as little as a week. These warehouses will integrate seamlessly with external robotic logistics, including autonomous trucks, drones, and delivery robots, resulting in the full automation of the product journey from manufacturer to consumer.
In addition to robotics, AI will address two of the biggest challenges in warehouses: optimizing resources — robots, people, and equipment — and creating efficient processes. The goal is to maximize space and cost efficiency while considering all parameters and risks.
Currently, this is managed by a limited number of expensive experts, whose solutions may not always be ideal. Due to the scarcity of such experts, companies often standardize processes across warehouses with minimal adjustments, despite differing conditions like climate, cultural practices, materials, or goods types that may demand tailored approaches.
AI could rapidly develop more efficient, customized solutions for each warehouse, overcoming these limitations.
Can you share a specific technological breakthrough from your company that has the potential to reshape your industry?
Pavlo Pikulin: One of our company’s most groundbreaking innovations is a powerful AI platform designed to future-proof warehouse operations. This cutting-edge system enables seamless control and optimization of both current and future robotics, regardless of provider, significantly enhancing workflow efficiency. What sets our platform apart is its unmatched flexibility — it allows businesses to switch between robotics providers without the need for costly and time-consuming reintegration. As warehouses evolve, our AI solution supports ongoing experimentation with various robotic technologies, ensuring agility and innovation in automation.
This adaptability redefines what’s possible in warehouse automation, positioning our platform as a true industry game-changer.
How do you approach innovation while balancing the need for practicality and market readiness?
Pavlo Pikulin: Innovation is essential for any business aiming for success. It not only enhances your product or service but also keeps you ahead of the competition. Having competitors is a good sign—it indicates demand for what you offer. Innovation is what sets you apart and allows you to meet that demand in a distinctive way.
Balancing innovation with market readiness depends on the stage of your business.
In the early phases, there’s more opportunity for innovation, but it’s crucial to first establish a solid foundation. Before diving into innovation, make sure the core elements of your business are in place and functioning at a high level. This means thoroughly understanding the market and meeting basic needs effectively. Only once these fundamentals are solid should you invest in innovation, ensuring you’re building on a stable base.
When I refer to the basics, I mean that your product should be fully functional without relying on innovation. It should work as it is, and innovations can be added to enhance it. Trying to create something entirely new based solely on innovation can be too risky, and that approach might not succeed.
For a mature business, you can’t risk what’s already generating revenue and satisfying customers. At this point, it’s crucial to allocate resources wisely, investing in innovation without compromising what’s already working. My approach is to invest any funds that aren’t needed to sustain what’s already working directly into innovation.
What challenges do you face in integrating cutting-edge technology into existing business models?
Pavlo Pikulin: Integrating cutting-edge technology into existing business models presents two primary challenges — one from the client’s side and the other from within your own team.
The first challenge is convincing the client team that these innovations are not only necessary but also worth the risks involved. These risks — such as time, money, and effort — must be justified by the potential benefits. It’s essential to show that the advantages will outweigh the costs, making innovation a better choice than sticking with the status quo.
The second challenge lies in managing the complexity of innovation within your own business.
Next, it’s important to recognize that innovation comes in various forms. Some innovations are groundbreaking within your specific business, while others are entirely new on a broader scale—never done before, or at least not in your country. Innovation is often context-specific. For instance, an idea that has been implemented elsewhere may create a completely new experience when introduced in your environment. It’s not just a matter of replication.
The difficulty here stems from the uncertainty surrounding when these innovations will be ready for implementation. Since this may be uncharted territory for your team, careful planning is crucial. This involves anticipating potential roadblocks and preparing strategies for when things don’t go as expected—including knowing when to pause or pivot if necessary.
Not all innovations succeed, and missed deadlines or underwhelming results can occur. To better prepare for setbacks, consider the following:
– Leverage your team’s past experiences.
– Learn from other companies or teams who have undertaken similar initiatives and analyze their challenges and mistakes.
– Break large projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This granular approach makes it easier to assess risks, set realistic timelines, and adjust as needed. The more detailed the breakdown, the better your risk assessment and overall preparation for setbacks in implementing new innovations.
How do you foster a culture of innovation within your organization to stay ahead in the tech race?
Pavlo Pikulin: Driving a culture of innovation within an organization begins with hiring the right people. I prioritize bringing in individuals who will strengthen the team, embrace the challenges of innovation, and have a track record of overcoming serious obstacles in previous roles. This philosophy applies to every position in the company. We seek people who are ready to tackle unconventional problems, adapt to non-standard conditions, and thrive in dynamic environments.
Maintaining a high level of morale is key. It’s essential to clearly communicate the company’s direction and vision, foster creativity by encouraging out-of-the-box thinking, and ensure that every voice is heard. This helps create a culture where team members feel motivated to propose bold, innovative solutions.
Our company, as an innovation-driven organization, regularly faces complex and unique challenges. With the tight deadlines typical of innovative businesses, we must approach problems creatively, as conventional methods are often too slow or insufficient to meet our quality standards. The goals we set for our team are ambitious, but they are what drive innovation forward.
