In a small, packed garage in Palo Alto, Christoph Kohstall is quietly building what could be the future of home-care robotics. His workspace is filled with electrical components, machines, and robotic prototypes that seem reminiscent of Silicon Valley’s early days. While big tech companies have long outgrown their humble garage beginnings, startups like Kind Humanoid keep that spirit alive, developing cutting-edge technology with a lean, three-person team.
Innovation Born in a Garage
Kohstall’s garage might look cluttered, but it’s home to a revolutionary idea. Robotics components line the shelves, and a custom-built gantry system hangs from the ceiling, stabilizing the robotic figures as they undergo testing. Kohstall, who has a strong background in robotics, including a stint at Google Brain, is focused on one primary goal: creating a humanoid robot capable of home care assistance.
In this makeshift lab, Mona, a humanoid robot designed for household tasks, is slowly coming to life. Kind Humanoid’s vision is clear—they want to bring affordable, functional robots into homes to help people, particularly the elderly, live more independently.
Enter Yves Béhar: The Creative Force Behind Mona’s Design
In late 2022, renowned designer Yves Béhar visited Kind’s garage and was instantly captivated by the potential he saw. Béhar observed Kind’s robot-building process, which included parts being 3D printed, assembled, and tested in real time. Inspired by the team’s speed and efficiency, Béhar joined the project to bring his unique design aesthetic to Mona.
Earlier this month, Kind revealed Béhar’s renderings of the humanoid robot. The design blends creativity with functionality—a soft white exterior with rounded edges, a diamond-shaped head, and cloud-like visual cues on a visor. Béhar drew inspiration from surrealist artist René Magritte, aiming to create a robot that feels approachable rather than unsettling. Unlike more mechanical humanoids like Tesla’s or Figure’s stark designs, Mona is meant to be less human-like, avoiding the unsettling “uncanny valley” effect.
A Different Path: Robotics for Home Care
While most robotics companies initially target industrial applications, Kind Humanoid is focusing on home care. Mona is being developed with the aim of assisting in daily activities, particularly in care facilities or private homes for elderly individuals.
“Humanoids are incredibly effective in environments where they need to navigate diverse terrains, like staircases and cluttered spaces,” says Kohstall. He emphasizes that while many robots are built for specialized industrial tasks, humanoids are ideally suited for household settings where versatility is key. Kind sees an untapped market in home care, where the aging population is seeking ways to live independently longer.
Challenges on the Road Ahead
Although Kind Humanoid’s vision is ambitious, the road to market won’t be easy. Kohstall and his team are working on building the first dozen Mona robots, which they plan to field test early next year. Kohstall admits there is still a lot of work ahead—current prototypes are rough compared to the elegant vision Béhar laid out. However, progress is being made. In fact, some of the robot’s outer shells, spray-painted and lying on the ground outside Kohstall’s garage, are already starting to resemble the design Béhar envisioned.
The ultimate goal is to make Mona affordable for mass production. “Most parts are injection moldable, so it can be manufactured at a low cost,” Kohstall says. This will allow Kind Humanoid to scale production while keeping the robots affordable for homes and care facilities.
A Vision for the Future of Robotics in the Home
By focusing on home care, Kind Humanoid is taking a different approach from other robotics companies. While many are chasing the lucrative industrial sector, Kohstall’s team sees a greater need in residential care. Aging populations across the globe are demanding more autonomy, and Mona could be the solution they need.
With innovation happening in a small Palo Alto garage, Kind Humanoid is laying the groundwork for a future where humanoid robots like Mona assist with everyday tasks, making life easier and more independent for those in need. As the company continues to develop and refine its technology, the vision of a humanoid robot in every home seems increasingly within reach.