Applied Lab vs RD Lab

Menlo is an applied lab, not an R&D lab.

Both matter. But as a startup, we win by obsessing over real problems and users, not methodology for its own sake.

We don’t organize around research domains, like a “world model” team.

We organize around problems:

• The robot hands cannot close a water bottle tightly.
• The robot can’t take the escalator.
• The robot speaks with a 2 second lag.
• The robot doesn’t remember me.

You are here to solve concrete problems and ship working solutions. Use whatever methods are required — and own the outcome end to end.

Methods serve the mission. Don’t let the tail wag the dog.