Interview

Since its inception, under Matthew’s leadership, Chang Robotics has experienced rapid growth and was recognized as a Top 10 Global Supply Chain Leader in 2022. The company is celebrated for its expertise in advanced manufacturing, autonomous systems, and supply chain optimization, significantly reshaping industries and spearheading technological advancements.

“Our systems are more cost-effective primarily because we integrate financial engineering into our solutions, focusing on the payback period.”

Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Matthew is deeply committed to community service. He contributes his expertise as a board member at Jacksonville University and Lifework Leadership, influencing their growth and success. Additionally, he co-founded the Jacksonville Venture Competition to support aspiring entrepreneurs, further demonstrating his dedication to cultivating business leadership in the region.

As we sit down with Matthew for an in-depth interview, we are eager to delve into his insights on driving technological innovation and his strategic outlook for the future. A fervent advocate for the transformative power of technology, Matthew Chang is a thought leader who fearlessly drives change, continuously disrupting industry norms to revolutionize the way we live and work through the impactful innovations of Chang Robotics.

BA Pro Tip from Matthew

Q: In 2024, Chang Robotics is experiencing the fastest growth in its seven-year history. I understand that you attribute much of this success to your company’s unique focus on five major priorities: being people-first, maintaining spiritual devotion, ensuring complete transparency, focusing on disruptive automation, and making a significant impact. How do you manage to effectively balance these substantial priorities? 

Matthew Chang: Each day at Chang Robotics begins with a commitment to a service mindset. This approach stems from the belief that each of us has been endowed with unique talents and a finite time on Earth. Our aim is to dedicate these resources to serving our customers and our community to the fullest extent possible. Our decision-making process, particularly concerning the allocation of time and resources, is guided by the principle of giving. We embrace the philosophy of being ‘go-givers.’ By consistently focusing on giving, we find that the receiving part, which is crucial for any business, naturally follows.

Q: How does your proactive approach contribute to your involvement in groundbreaking initiatives and your role in driving global change?

Matthew Chang: We’re often asked how we manage to be involved in so many exciting initiatives and play a role in driving change globally. I believe it largely comes down to our proactive approach: sowing seeds, cultivating relationships, and offering assistance when it’s most needed. As a result, when we receive calls from industry leaders today, they are typically about groundbreaking ideas and technologies. It’s thrilling to be directly involved and to see the impact of our early efforts in these advanced discussions.

Q: Numerous reporters have marked that your company’s entirely virtual structure and diverse demographic composition represent “The Shape of Business to Come”. With initiatives ranging from human/robot “cobotics” in the health sector to warehouse automation, and even hybrid and EV industrial snowblowers, how do you manage such a broad spectrum of innovative projects?

Matthew Chang: The foundation of our company structure is focused on hiring individuals, not just filling positions. We prioritize finding people who are not only a great cultural and intellectual fit but also demonstrate a strong work ethic. Once we identify the right individuals, we tailor the job descriptions and tasks to their unique strengths and capabilities. This approach is key to why our organizational model is effective.

As for managing our operations, we face similar challenges to other growing companies, especially in terms of time and resource management. Our primary strategy to maintain focus and ensure our execution remains sharp involves setting clear performance guarantees at the outset of every project. From our initial conversation with a new client to the final delivery, our focus is always on achieving optimal performance of the systems we design and install.

Q: After launching kodiak technologies at the snow symposium, where your snow removal rigs were recognized as the most robust machines globally, with U.S. airports as initial clients, how did you respond to criticism of the concept being too niche? Why focus on airports specifically?

Matthew Chang: We chose airports because they represent the greatest need. While other sectors already have access to battery electric technology, airports are somewhat underserved in this area. Moreover, the airport market is well-funded and has a high regulatory barrier to entry, which suits our strengths as sophisticated systems engineers. We can meet FAA standards, adhere to the ‘Made in USA’ requirements, and fulfill the performance specifications necessary to keep airports operational even in severe winter conditions.

Additionally, the technology we’ve developed is fundamentally a platform technology. After addressing the needs of airports, we have plans to expand into secondary and tertiary markets. We can adapt our battery electric power systems for use in industrial composting, construction, and mining.

The feedback from large airports and federal government support at the end of the Snow Symposium was very encouraging. We also received positive responses from several other equipment OEMs, including potential competitors, who expressed interest in partnering with us to access our technology. This underscores the transformative potential of our technology not just in terms of product innovation but also in reshaping the workforce. Airports are facing workforce shortages, and by equipping operators with advanced technology, we can help them achieve more with fewer resources.

Q: Some of your Fortune 500 customers and prospects are often surprised by your pricing, which can be millions of dollars less and take years less time than what traditional engineering firms usually charge. How do you explain your pricing to them, and what implications does your lean engineering model have for both your company’s future and theirs?

Matthew Chang: Our systems are more cost-effective primarily because we integrate financial engineering into our solutions, focusing on the payback period. We carefully align the capital expenditures we propose with the operational savings or productivity gains that our clients can expect. As a result, our projects do not appear excessively expensive because our clients can immediately observe enhanced performance and improved bottom-line results in their operations. This approach not only benefits our clients but also strengthens our future as a lean and agile engineering firm committed to delivering value and efficiency.

Q: You are currently in the fundraising phase for Kodiak Technologies, as well as for Chang Robotics, during a period when securing funds can be challenging. Can you describe your funding strategies and how successful they have been so far?

Matthew Chang: We’ve strategically chosen to partner with strategic investors and visionary angel investors, steering clear of conventional investment firms that often seek a cookie-cutter approach. Our focus has been on building relationships with those who are committed to investing in the vision and capabilities of our founders and our team, as well as those who are willing to make forward-looking bets on innovative technologies. This approach has allowed us to cultivate a community of investors who understand that our projects don’t fit the traditional mold, recognizing the unique potential and value of what we’re developing.

Q: Looking ahead, can you share your vision for what Chang Robotics will look like in three years, or even five years from now?

Matthew Chang: In three years, we anticipate continuing with our current initiatives, as we’ve launched several major projects that will require years of sustained effort to complete. By the five-year mark, I expect the impact we’re making on our community to be quite evident. This includes contributions to academia and providing a support network for other startups that seek to scale and enhance their engineering capabilities. Essentially, three years from now, you’ll see the success of what we’re currently discussing, and in five years, you’ll notice a significant influence on various institutions and companies benefiting from our work.

Additionally, I’d like to mention that later this year, we are planning to launch an investment fund. This fund will allow people to access our portfolio of projects on a diversified basis, grounded in professional fundamentals. We’ll be collaborating with Mike Calhoun and our Board of Advisors on this initiative. So, there’s a lot to look forward to in the near future!

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