From University Lab to $7.2M Pre-Seed: The Allonic Story

Robotics will not scale on intelligence alone. It also needs better bodies and better ways to manufacture them. In this episode of The Emergents Podcast, Mary Alcantara sits down with Benedek Tasi, Founder & CEO of Allonic, a Budapest-based robotics production company building manufacturing infrastructure for the next generation of robotics. Allonic uses a complex textile-based manufacturing technology inspired by how ropes, sailing lines, and shoelaces are produced. The goal: create robust, compliant, dexterous robotic bodies in a more automated and scalable way, thus reducing supply chain complexity, assembly overhead, and the cost of producing advanced robotic hardware. Benedek shares how Allonic grew out of university research, why the team chose to spin the technology into a company, and what it took to raise a $7.2M pre-seed round as a first-time founder in deep tech. The conversation covers robotics, physical AI, deep tech fundraising, university spinouts, IP strategy, project-based engineering education, hiring hardware talent, and what it takes to build a globally relevant robotics company from Budapest. Guest: Benedek Tasi - Founder & CEO of Allonic Hosts: Mary Alcantara - Partner, Interactive Venture Partners Csongor Bias - Managing Director, Startup Hungary Powered by: Startup Hungary / Interactive Venture Partners ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:25 Raising a $7.2M pre-seed as a first-time founder 04:14 Fundraising lessons: preparation, confidence, and connections 08:23 Why deep tech fundraising is different 10:37 Why hardware startups need enough capital 17:38 From childhood tinkering to robotics 24:06 Turning university research into a company 25:08 Rethinking how robotic bodies are manufactured 29:32 Spinning out from the university and protecting the IP 34:48 What Hungarian engineering education can learn from abroad 40:23 Hiring engineers for ownership 42:52 Building Allonic’s early team 48:08 Scaling the team internationally 53:09 Allonic’s business model and route to market 56:14 Building a robotics company from Budapest ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1CNlqJuudxjki89eY7nRMU?si=44F45q7AT5ybiIxCdO4ZkQ Follow Startup Hungary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-hungary-io/ Follow Startup Hungary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startup_hungary/ Follow Interactive Venture Partners on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/interactivevp/ Follow Benedek Tasi on…