Meet Tessa Lau '95, Founder & CEO of Dusty Robotics and learn about her journey from Cornell to being a founder.
Construction workers spend hours on their hands and knees snapping chalk lines to mark where walls, plumbing and utilities should go. It’s painstaking, back-breaking labor. And that’s how it’s been done for centuries.
Tessa saw an opportunity — and built a robot that does it faster, safer, and with surgical precision.
Learn how Tessa transitioned from a researcher to a deep tech founder (she’s also got a Ph.D. in machine learning with an emphasis on HCI) and built Dusty Robotics raising $69.5M to date.
If you’re a Cornell founder in Northern California and interested in speaking and hosting an event at your venue/office please reach out to John Lin.
WHEN
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Agenda:
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Food & networking
7:00 PM - 7:45 PM - Tessa Lau
7:45 PM - 8:00 PM - Q&A
8:00 PM - 8:15 PM - robot demo
8:15 PM - 9:00 PM - more networking
LOCATION
Dusty Robotics, 909 San Rafael Ave, Mountain View, CA 94043
Dress Code: Casual; remember to wear your Cornell red!
What’s included:
- Amici’s vegetarian & meat pizza (Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria was established in 1987 by Cornellian Peter Cooperstein’78 with locations all over the San Francisco Bay Area).
- Drinks: water, soda, non-carbonated drinks
REGISTRATION
- Cornell NorCal dues paying members: $10
+1s and children are allowed. Please register your guests (including children) in advance.
Deadline to register: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Due to venue requirements, no refunds on ticket purchases will be allowed. However, tickets are transferable to others for the same event.
TRANSPORTATION
Street parking is available and free around Dusty Robotics. Please allow for some time to park. Also consider a rideshare app if you will be drinking.
Public transportation: drop off at Mountain View Caltrain station. Check Google maps for the quickest bus route from there, take a rideshare app orwalk 26 minutes to the venue.
Questions? Contact John Lin '93
Join Cornell NorCal here, and donate here.
Event proceeds go towards operating costs and supporting Cornell students from the SF Bay Area. We are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, and we receive no funding from Cornell University.
By registering for and/or participating in this event, you agree that you will adhere to the Cornell University guidelines in regard to COVID-19. Stay informed at covid.cornell.edu. If you are sick or showing symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home. Cornell University is not liable in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak. Attendees will participate at their own risk.
