Andra Keay

Andra Keay is recognized as a global thought leader and ecosystem builder in the emerging sectors of robotics as the Managing Director of Silicon Valley Robotics, an industry group supporting the innovation and commercialization of robotics technologies.

The Silicon Valley area is home to the world’s largest robotics and AI cluster, with over 600 robotics companies, 50 robotics/AI research facilities, and 50% of the world’s global investment in robotics, or $7.5 billion, in 2018 alone. At Silicon Valley Robotics we support the innovation and commercialization of robotics technologies.

Andra is an experienced futurist and is also the founder of Robot Launch, a global robotics startup competition, cofounder of Robot Garden hackerspace, mentor at hardware accelerators, startup advisor, and investor, dedicated to growing equitable and ethical Autonomous Intelligent Systems (AIS).

Andra also cofounded Robohub, the global robotics research news site, building on her background in film, television and media production, internet and computing technologies, with degrees in Interaction, Communication and Human/Robot Cultural Studies and was selected as a Human-Robot-Interaction (HRI) Pioneer in 2010. Andra taught Interaction Design and Theory and started the professional community – https://womeninrobotics.org/.

Andra has keynoted at major international conferences including Future World 2018, Global Female Leaders Summit 2018, Global Talent Summit at Davos 2018, Delphi Economic Forum 2018, SVIEF 2018, 2017, 2016, Ada Lovelace Festival 2017, Road to GES 2017, Singularity U Global Summit 2017, Strata+Hadoop 2017, Design 2017, WebSummit 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, World of Drones 2017, USI 2016, SxSW 2015 and 2018. Andra talks about; a. Good Robot Design; b. Building Successful Value-Driven Technology Clusters; c. Robotics Industry And Investment Trends.

For more information see 52-Insights “The Future is Here: How Robotics Will Change Our Lives” Interview and Women Mean Business Interview.

Keay is a 2023-2024 Vice Chair – Partnerships on the 2024 IEEE Entrepreneurship Steering Committee & the 2022-2023 Deep Tech Core Team Lead on the 2023 IEEE Entrepreneurship Steering Committee.