Meet our Founders: Grace Brown, Andromeda
Founders are people driven to make a real impact. Our resident Grace Brown, a mechatronics engineer and the founder of Andromeda, is one of those people.
Grace's journey began at 15, tinkering with robotics as a hobby. But in 2022, her passion turned into purpose. Based in Melbourne, she founded Andromeda Robotics, aiming to bring empathy and technology together.
Her creation, Abi, is no ordinary robot. It's designed to provide compassionate support in nursing homes across Australia, offering residents not just assistance but a sense of connection.
But Grace’s journey isn’t just about starting a business. It shows how places like Stone & Chalk, with our support and community, can help people grow into leaders who make a real difference in the world.
Grace Brown and the founding of Andromeda
Andromeda, a robotics company, was born from Grace's unwavering desire to push the envelope of robotics in a way that helps people.
“Fundamentally what we’re trying to do is build a product that pushes the state of the art of robotic technology in Australia. It’s designed to solve the loneliness epidemic which has been quite prevalent since the pandemic."
"We’re doing this by building social humanoid robots who are designed to be companions for elderly residents in aged care homes and children in hospitals.” _
Grace’s vision was driven by finding a solution that could truly change lives. And that’s exactly what she’s done with her first robot.
“Our first prototype, Abi, is our flagship robot. She’s a companion robot and she can play games with you, tell stories, dance, and sing. I like to refer to her as an artificial friend.”
How entrepreneurs can change the world
Since she was young, Grace has had a drive to grow and improve.
“I’ve always, always, always had this fire inside of me that has wanted to achieve more and do more, from when I was in primary school right through to high school. I always thought that there could be more."
_"It’s not that I was unsatisfied with where I am and what I’m doing, but I’ve always wanted to push myself to the limits of what I could do and achieve, and that’s always been a very inherent trait that I’ve had with my life.” _
This unstoppable fire has already led her to push the limits of technology, creating meaningful change by blending innovation with a deep focus on human connection.
When discussing the importance of innovation within Australia, Grace says:
“Innovation is important because it’s always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in society. It enhances our living standards and improves our way of life. It ultimately improves the quality of life for everyone.”
Her work with Andromeda Robotics embodies this belief, turning ideas into solutions that make a real difference.
Finding a home for Andromeda
When Grace searched for a place to grow Andromeda, her checklist included the essentials: space for her dogs, a fridge for snacks, and a spot near public transport so her team wouldn’t need a compass to find the office.
“We’re in the middle of the CBD, and it’s such a great, central location,” Grace explains.
“We’re not geographically restricted to talent in certain areas. Most suburbs in Melbourne have direct access or very quick access to the CBD which means we aren’t limiting ourselves to the talent within a certain area.”
On top of that, the help and support from the team and community at Stone & Chalk have been a huge part of Grace’s success.
“When I started this journey, I thought that because all of my intentions were so good, pushing the state of the art of robotics and solving a loneliness epidemic for the most vulnerable groups of people, it would be easy or easier.”
“What I've come to learn is that regardless of how good something is that you're trying to do, it is incredibly, incredibly challenging," she shares.
"And at any point in time I could have given up. But I think it was the people around me that supported me and were sort of there for me.”
Grace knows firsthand how tough the journey of building a business can be. She’s quick to point out that without the right support, it would be all too easy to give up:
“When things are getting really hard, which happens more often than not, I think people would just give up too easily without the support of other people. And the whole team here at Stone & Chalk is great. They’ve really supported me through a lot – not just my business challenges but also my personal challenges as well.”
Build a new tomorrow through tech
Andromeda's story, shaped by Grace’s determination and supported by Stone & Chalk, shows what’s possible when hard work and innovation come together.
It’s a reminder that with the right people and resources around them, founders can turn big ideas into real-world change—and help create a better future for everyone.
Stone & Chalk isn’t for everyone, but it is for the relentlessly curious and brave like Grace. If you’d like to learn more about how you can join Australia’s largest innovation community, find out more about how we support startups.
