Feb 26, 2024

373: Tiny Home of the Future with Daizhan Ennals


Summary

On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Daniel Koonce, Claudia Scott, and Harrison Kitson sit down with Daizhan Ennals, the CEO and founder of Renewed Robotics, a manufacturer leveraging robotics and technology to help people become more resource independent. Born in Cambridge, Maryland, Daizhan dedicated five years of service to the United States Marine Corps. where he developed expertise as a mechanic, inspiring him to delve into the rigorous world of mechanical engineering. Throughout the conversation, Daizhan shares his entrepreneurial journey, explains Renewed Robotics Self-Assembling Municipality (S.A.M.) device, and lays out his plan to help end homelessness and home insecurity.

Show Notes

(0:47) Introducing Daizhan

(1:48) About Renewed Robotics

(3:14) Developing the Self-Assembling Municipality (S.A.M.)

(4:30) The Intent behind Renewed Robotics Tiny Home

(5:30) How the S.A.M. Device Works

(7:29) The Research behind the S.A.M. Device

(10:04) Daizhan’s Entrepreneurial Journey

(12:54) Renewed Robotics’ Project Timelines

(15:42) Renewed Robotics’ Ideal Customer

(18:31) The Future of Renewed Robotics’ Manufacturing

(19:36) About the S.A.M. Referral Program

(23:27) The Challenges of Business Ownership

(25:42) Achieving Sustainable Drinking Water

(29:02) Daizhan’s Motivation behind Helping Others

(32:20) Advice to Younger Self

Links

Daniel Koonce

Claudia Scott

Harrison Kitson

Daizhan Ennals

Renewed Robotics

Quotes

“[The S.A.M.] will be a self-assembling and self-sustaining tiny home that can not only dig its own foundation, but unfold on its own and have solar panels on the outside to power the onboard battery bank, HVAC lights, water filtration system, and everything else. It will ideally be used for people who don’t have access to luxury, first-world amenities, so it can bring everyone up to speed with one device.” – Daizhan Ennals, (2:10)

“These technologies that are going into the S.A.M. are being developed and promoted independently. There’s just no one gluing them together. And that’s what Renewed Robotics is doing, we’re more of a technology integrator, not necessarily a technology inventor.” – Daizhan Ennals, (8:03)

“One of the most difficult parts of founding such a capital intensive product is getting a lot of people to actually understand the full scope of what you’re doing and then having faith that you can execute on that.” – Daizhan Ennals, (10:19)

“The referral program is to incentivize those who have already placed a pre-order. Right now, a lot of people who are interested in the device have been advocating for free, telling people about the device, but it would be even better if we could reward those people who are spreading the word about the S.A.M.” – Daizhan Ennals, (19:37)

“Currently, my number one need is actually being met, and that is, there’s a collaborative space being built in Bentonville where you can have an idea go from concept to reality.” – Daizhan Ennals, (22:00)

“I think one of the bigger things that people don’t really talk about when it comes to sustainability, that maybe we should approach going into the future, not only is electricity, but access to clean and healthy drinking water.” – Daizhan Ennals, (25:56)

“The aspiration of everybody being united for one force and solving our problems by focusing on something bigger has always been a driving factor…I would like to focus on making something that no matter how you look at it makes sense that it’s there for good.” – Daizhan Ennals, (30:10)

Tiny Home of the Future with Daizhan Ennals

On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Daniel Koonce, Claudia Scott, and Harrison Kitson sit down with Daizhan Ennals, the CEO and founder of Renewed Robotics, a manufacturer leveraging robotics and technology to help people become more resource independent. Born in Cambridge, Maryland, Daizhan dedicated five years of service to the United States Marine Corps. where he developed expertise as a mechanic, inspiring him to delve into the rigorous world of mechanical engineering. Throughout the conversation, Daizhan shares his entrepreneurial journey, explains Renewed Robotics Self-Assembling Municipality (S.A.M.) device, and lays out his plan to help end homelessness and home insecurity.

“These technologies that are going into the S.A.M. are being developed and promoted independently. There’s just no one gluing them together. And that’s what Renewed Robotics is doing, we’re more of a technology integrator, not necessarily a technology inventor.” – Daizhan Ennals, (8:03)

Pioneering Autonomous Living Spaces

Renewed Robotics’ flagship product, S.A.M. (Self-Assembling Municipality), is designed to tackle the pressing issues of natural disaster response, rapid housing relief, and global homelessness. With a solar-powered and water filtration-equipped home that unfolds itself, Renewed Robotics promises a future where access to a sustainable living environment isn’t just a distant dream but an attainable reality.

“[The S.A.M.] will be a self-assembling and self-sustaining tiny home that can not only dig its own foundation, but unfold on its own and have solar panels on the outside to power the onboard battery bank, HVAC lights, water filtration system, and everything else. It will ideally be used for people who don’t have access to luxury, first-world amenities, so it can bring everyone up to speed with one device.” – Daizhan Ennals, (2:10)

At two hundred and ten square feet, S.A.M. homes can drop onto your property, unfurling with a small motor, eliminating the tedious construction chain, and reducing urban sprawl. Targeting both humanitarian efforts and the commercial market, S.A.M. responds to a growing need for adaptable and autonomous living spaces.

Revolutionizing Sustainability

To stimulate early adoption and foster a community around their pioneering product, Renewed Robotics has introduced a compelling referral strategy where advocates of the S.A.M. can offer a five percent discount to new customers while also receiving the same discount benefit for themselves, with the discount culminating with each successful referral.

“The referral program is to incentivize those who have already placed a pre-order. Right now, a lot of people who are interested in the device have been advocating for free, telling people about the device, but it would be even better if we could reward those people who are spreading the word about the S.A.M.” – Daizhan Ennals, (19:37)

Renewed Robotics also plans to introduce ‘pedal,’ a solar panel that tracks the sun, providing energy wherever it’s perched, be it urban roof tiles or rural hillsides. Currently, the company is excited about a collaborative space being developed in Bentonville where ideas can transition from concept to tangible product, aiming for fundraising and prototyping milestones that will pave the way for large-scale production in 2026.

“Currently, my number one need is actually being met, and that is, there’s a collaborative space being built in Bentonville where you can have an idea go from concept to reality.” – Daizhan Ennals, (22:00)

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