U of T '22 grad, former founder: betting my next chapter on commercial cleaning robots in Canada. Looking for a cofounder / sales partners.
First time posting. Figured I'd share what I'm working on and see if anyone wants to build it with me. Or just tell me I'm crazy.
Quick background: I'm Chinese but I grew up in Canada, came here as a kid. Graduated U of T in 2022. Ran a startup in retail before this. My parents are in real estate back in China, so I basically grew up inside business dinners. I learned that sometimes the real negotiation happens during two hours of small talk before anyone mentions business at all. I think that's where the entrepreneurial itch comes from. I've always wanted to build something of my own.
What I'm doing now: I'm working with one of the leading commercial cleaning robot manufacturers. I have a strong direct relationship with them and I handle the supply chain side. We're bringing autonomous floor cleaning robots to the Canadian market. Warehouses, malls, schools, hospitals. Anywhere with big floors and a janitorial labor problem.
Why I'm convinced this is the wedge:
- The labor shortage is real and it's not going away. Try hiring overnight cleaners in the GVA right now. Every facility manager tells me the same story.
- The math is simple. A robot that runs all night, never calls in sick, and costs less than a year of janitorial wages. Short conversation.
- And cleaning is the most mature robotics vertical out there. This isn't some science project. These machines are already running at scale in airports and malls around the world. Proven beachhead.
Bigger picture: I don't want to be the cleaning robot guy forever. Cleaning is the entry point. The plan is to build a full category robotics company over time. Delivery robots, food automation, all of it. Physical AI is coming and I want to be the one deploying it.
What I'm looking for:
- Cofounder / partner: someone extroverted who genuinely believes in robotics. You'd lead Canadian client expansion and own the customer relationships. I'd handle manufacturer relations, procurement, and deployment. You'd be the face of the business here.
- Or, commission based distributors: if you have connections in property management, facility services, retail, hospitality, anywhere with floors, I pay generous commissions on deals that close. No cap. No MLM nonsense. Just real B2B hardware sales.
Why me, why now: growing up between Canada and China turned out to be useful. I can build stable long term relationships with Chinese tech manufacturers, which is where the best robotics hardware comes from right now. Most local distributors can't do that.
So, am I crazy? Anyone else here working on physical robotics or embodied AI? Would love to hear your takes, skeptical or otherwise. If either role sounds like you, or someone you know, DM me.