In this episode of "Taste of Four," hosts Ron and Max interview Keith Tan, the founder of Crown Digital, who developed Ella, the world’s first fully autonomous barista. Keith shares his journey from running a small coffee shop in Singapore to creating Ella, which serves high-quality coffee through a robotic arm. He discusses the challenges he faced, such as labor shortages and high rent, which inspired the automation of the coffee service.
Keith elaborates on the different types of coffee and the evolution of coffee culture. He also delves into the technical aspects of creating Ella, including his experience with robotics, AI, and the Internet of Things (IoT). He explains the hurdles in building and scaling deep tech solutions, especially in the context of Singapore’s investment landscape.
Ella’s deployment in various locations, including hospitals and airports, highlights the robot’s success in providing consistent, 24/7 coffee service. Keith also touches on his ambitions for expanding Ella globally, with plans to enter markets like Japan, the Philippines, and the Middle East. He shares his vision of using robotics to solve real-world problems and his commitment to continuous innovation.
Keith emphasizes the importance of family support throughout his entrepreneurial journey and reflects on the impact of Ella on people's lives, particularly in making a positive difference in their daily routines. The episode ends with Keith expressing his long-term vision of integrating robots into everyday life to solve global challenges, beyond just serving coffee.
Meet Keith Tan, the Man Behind the Robot Barista - Ella
