Saman Farid

I started Formic because American factories are turning down orders — not for lack of machines or materials, but because they can't find enough people to run them. We deploy and fully manage robots on a simple monthly fee, so any manufacturer can automate with no upfront capital and no risk.

Before Formic, I ran the global investment fund at Baidu Ventures, investing in AI and its impact on the physical world, and founded Comet Labs, an AI-focused fund and incubator. Earlier, I built and sold two technology companies — an e-commerce business and an IPTV infrastructure company — worked on alternative-energy infrastructure, and had early stints at Verizon, Microsoft, and Honeywell.

I'm also the founder of Robots for America. Outside of work, I care about youth empowerment and volunteer with East Bay Lights when I can.