How Forward Deployed Engineering 10X'd Revenue for HappyRobot (YC AI Startup)

🎙 In this podcast, we interview Pablo Palafox co-founder and CEO of Happy Robot the AI agents startup that's automating logistics and supply chain. Pablo studied industrial engineering and pursued a Ph.D. in computer vision in Munich. Alongside his brother Javier Palafox (COO) and Luis Paarup (CTO), they were part of Y Combinator's in 2023, where they pivoted from their initial idea to what Happy Robot is today. Recently, Happy Robot raised $44M in its Series B, led by funds like Base10 and a16z. Their "Forward Deployed Engineering" approach allowed them to grow their revenue 20x since their Series A. Today, they work with over 100 clients, including the largest freight brokerage firms in the U.S. In this episode, we talked about: 6:45 — How did Pablo’s background in Spain and his early projects influence the creation of Happy Robot? 9:35 — What challenges did the Happy Robot team face when transitioning from Europe to San Francisco and scaling logistics automation? 15:45 — How is AI transforming the logistics and supply chain industry, and what resistance or adoption patterns have emerged from customers? 22:00 — What lessons has Pablo learned about communicating AI’s value and managing customer expectations in traditional industries? 30:35 — How does the Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) model help bridge the gap between technology teams and enterprise clients to ensure successful AI deployment? 53:55 — How does Happy Robot approach customer partnerships, pilot programs, and scaling long-term collaboration in AI-driven operations? GET THE BEST OF THE INTERVIEWS IN OUR NEWSLETTER🗞️ Read it: https://rebrand.ly/tssnwsrss Pablo's LinkedIn:   / pablorpalafox   Enzo's LinkedIn:   / enzo-cavalie   Do you want AI powered productivity? Get 3 Months Free of Notion: Business Plan + Unlimited AI 👉 http://rebrand.ly/NTN8YTR3