BOSTON, MA – 26/09/2025 – (SeaPRwire) – A major initiative to accelerate the development of robotics and intelligent machines has been unveiled with the launch of the Physical AI Fellowship, an international program led by MassRobotics and powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) Startups and NVIDIA Inception. The program is designed to support high-potential robotics startups that are building new solutions in the emerging field of Physical AI, a domain that is rapidly transforming industries through the fusion of artificial intelligence and advanced robotics.
Physical AI represents the next frontier of innovation in technology. While artificial intelligence has already revolutionized areas such as language, vision, and digital workflows, its integration into physical systems—machines that move, interact, and operate in the real world—marks a profound shift. Robots capable of perceiving their environment, reasoning in real time, and executing complex physical tasks are now central to solving challenges in healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, defense, and mobility. For startups attempting to bring these innovations to market, access to resources, expertise, and industry partnerships is often the deciding factor between breakthrough and stagnation. The Physical AI Fellowship seeks to bridge this gap by offering technical, financial, and community support at a scale not previously available.
The inaugural Fall 2025 cohort brings together a diverse set of pioneering companies: Bedrock Robotics, Blue Water Autonomy, Diligent Robotics, Generalist AI, RobCo, Tutor Intelligence, Wandercraft, and Zordi. These startups are tackling challenges across a wide spectrum of industries, from autonomous marine systems to collaborative industrial robots and advanced exoskeletons. Each company will work directly with scientists and engineers from the AWS Generative AI Innovation Center, gaining one-on-one mentorship and access to some of the most advanced AI infrastructure in the world.
According to MassRobotics, this fellowship is not just an incubator but a global accelerator for physical AI. Participants receive up to $200,000 in AWS credits, embedded science and engineering support, and access to the NVIDIA Isaac platform, NVIDIA Cosmos, and educational opportunities through the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute. Preferred pricing on hardware and software, dedicated support channels, and tailored training programs further enable startups to move quickly from prototype to deployment. Beyond technical benefits, fellows will leverage MassRobotics’ community of more than 100 resident startups, over 500 affiliated robotics companies, and 30 corporate sponsors, creating invaluable pathways to customers, investors, and strategic collaborators.
“Physical AI is about moving intelligent systems from research labs into the practical world, where they can address real human and industrial needs,” said Tom Ryden, Executive Director at MassRobotics. “By combining the strengths of AWS in AI, NVIDIA in accelerated computing, and our robotics network, the fellowship gives entrepreneurs an unparalleled platform to validate and scale their solutions.”
Industry leaders echoed this sentiment. Tye Brady, Chief Technologist of Robotics at Amazon, emphasized that “Physical AI is the next frontier of innovation where intelligence from the digital world now shapes how machines act in the real world. With AWS and our partners providing both the tools and the guidance, startups in this program will have the horsepower and the playbook to transform ambitious ideas into world-changing automation.”
NVIDIA highlighted the role of its technologies in bridging simulation and real-world deployment. “Our AI infrastructure and software platforms are empowering companies globally to simulate, train, and deploy robots more efficiently and safely,” said Deepu Talla, Vice President of Robotics and Edge AI at NVIDIA. “Through this collaboration, startups will be equipped with the tools they need to deliver the next generation of intelligent machines.”
The benefits of the program extend beyond technical acceleration. Fellows will have opportunities to present their innovations at major AWS, NVIDIA, and MassRobotics events, gaining global visibility. They will also access MassRobotics’ facilities for prototyping and integration, ensuring that solutions are not only built but tested and validated in environments that mirror real-world complexity.
This fellowship comes at a pivotal time, as industries worldwide race to automate processes in response to labor shortages, rising costs, and the demand for safer, more efficient operations. Supporting physical AI startups today means accelerating innovations that could reshape supply chains, improve healthcare outcomes, enhance worker safety, and redefine mobility in the coming years.
MassRobotics, headquartered in Boston, has established itself as the world’s largest independent robotics hub, with a mission to support the commercialization and adoption of robotics globally. The launch of the Physical AI Fellowship signals a major step in that mission, extending resources and partnerships to innovators across borders and industries. By aligning with AWS and NVIDIA, the initiative demonstrates how collaboration between technology leaders and entrepreneurial startups can spark a new wave of robotics breakthroughs.