MIT research scientist Jerry Pratt is making waves again. After departing from Boardwalk Robotics—a humanoid startup he founded—in 2022, he joined the Bay Area robotics firm Figure as its CTO just months before the company exited stealth mode. However, last month, Pratt and Figure parted ways quietly.
Last week, Pratt announced his departure on LinkedIn, using the moment to introduce his latest venture: Persona AI. Officially founded just a month ago, this startup aims to carve a niche in the increasingly competitive humanoid robotics landscape.
Persona AI is the collaboration between Pratt and his longtime associate Nic Radford, who boasts an impressive background that includes seven years with NASA’s robotics division as well as founding roles at Nauticus Robotics and Jacobi Motors.
“We wanted to gauge interest from potential collaborators and investors on LinkedIn before fully launching our initiative,” Radford explained.
The announcement served as both a brand debut and a call for talent. “Hey LinkedIn!” Pratt remarked with enthusiasm. “Ever dreamt of creating your own Iron Man suit without the billionaire playboy part?”
Radford and Pratt are looking to recruit an additional 10 to 20 “founders” to help define the company’s vision. “While Jerry and I are integral to this, the next 18 people will also play a crucial role,” Radford noted. “We aim to establish a strong sense of camaraderie within the team.”
At this point, Persona’s vision aligns closely with many humanoid firms vying for market share. The startup’s website emphasizes remarkable advancements in technology that are making this an exciting time for humanoid robotics.
The founders articulate:
“The time is ripe for the commercialization of humanoids. Breakthroughs in computer vision enable motion detection, object identification, and real-time pose estimation; compact and high-performance electronics are now fully integrated into robots without draining energy resources; mobility and manipulation algorithms are sophisticated enough for effective operation in diverse environments; machine learning is enhancing robot capabilities while reducing programming burdens; investors are increasingly optimistic about humanoid potential; and businesses are requesting humanoid robots for applications that deliver real value."
This pitch represents the extent of Persona’s messaging outside of investor presentations and employee discussions. At this early juncture, it remains unclear how Persona plans to differentiate itself from established names like Agility, Boston Dynamics, and Figure.
“In some aspects, we’ll be similar, while in others we’ll be distinct,” Radford cryptically responded. “It's akin to how GM positions itself against Ford or Toyota. Every company believes it has unique advantages, yet ultimately, all are providing similar solutions. Do we have our version of the Dodge Hemi? We certainly aspire to."
Pratt’s confidence in Persona's vision prompted him to leave a prominent role at one of the best-funded companies in humanoid robotics, Figure. He emphasized that his departure was amicable, and Figure’s founder, Brett Adcock, expressed his admiration for Pratt during our recent conversation about Cover, another new project. For Pratt, geographical challenges played a role in the decision.
“I was commuting between Pensacola, Florida, and California every two weeks,” he shared. “Initially, I thought my wife and I could relocate to California in a couple of years. However, that plan just didn’t pan out. It was a mutually agreed parting.”
Instead of establishing its operations in traditional robotics hubs like Boston or Pittsburgh, Persona will function from two locations: Pratt’s home in Pensacola and a primary headquarters in Houston, which will eventually house about two-thirds of the team.
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