Daniel Mika, M&T’26, founder of Dreamfield Labs, is a recipient of the 2026 Kunal Ghosh, M&T’ 03, Prize in Deep Tech. Dreamfield Labs is building what Daniel describes as “the first robot you would actually want to bring into your home”, a safe, playful, character, an alternative to the humanoid robots. In this conversation, he shares the inspiration behind his venture, the technical hurdles of building a prototype from scratch, and how the M&T community has helped shape his entrepreneurial path.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about Dreamfield Labs?
DM: Dreamfield Labs is building the first robot designed for everyday homes – something people want to live with. While many companies are racing to build humanoid robots, those machines are heavy, difficult to make safe, and often intimidating for normal consumers. We’re taking a different approach: an animatronic, character-like device that’s smaller, lighter, and intentionally designed to feel friendly, playful, and safe.
Our long-term mission is to develop a first general world mode – a type of AI that will enable training more advanced robots to operate safely and autonomously in truly complex environments like homes.
Q: What inspired the idea behind your venture?
DM: I kept seeing how uncomfortable people were with humanoid robots. They’re larger, they can be dangerous, and when they fail, it’s scary – there’s a video of one running through a glass door. That image sticks with you.
So, the question became: What kind of robot would people actually want to own? We wanted to build something that looks playful, not scary. Like a Pikachu or R2D2, a sidekick, not a machine. Robot that is light, stays close to the ground, so that when they inevitably make a mistake, it looks cute and funny, not frightening.
Q: What are some early technical or operational challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them?
DM: The first prototype took about eight months of work across mechanical design, AI training, and hardware-software integration. Then, 10 days before the M&T Summit presentation, we hit a major setback: a controller bug caused several motors in our protype received more power than they should, which burned some of the pins of motor electrical components, and we lost communication with the motors. The actuators are sourced from China – and the normal lead time is three weeks, assuming Customs processes the shipment efficiently.
I’m from Poland, so I called a friend of mine there for help. Polish people can travel to China visa-free for 30-days, so I bought her a ticket to fly there, pick up the parts, and bring them to New York. It was a wild scramble, but we got new motors in 3 days and fixed the robot in time for the presentation.
Q: How has the M&T Program directly influenced the direction or success of your start-up?
DM: I’m incredibly grateful for the M&T Program. The combination of engineering and business gave me both the technical foundation and understanding of operations and scaling need to build a supply chain heavy company in robotics. The ability to study, do research in AI, and explore startup idea was the perfect mix for me.
The biggest impact has been the network – mentorship from Gad, support from alumni, and the broader M&T community. That ecosystem has shaped how I think about the company and how I navigate early-stage challenges.
Q: How will the Start-Up Award Help you achieve your goals?
DM: This award is a meaningful distinction, and the funding is extremely helpful at this stage. Robotics is expensive, and this support gives us immediate relief as we work on version 1.5 of the robot. We’ve learned so much from the last eight months, and this next iteration will be far more intentionally designed.
We’re also grateful Kunal joined as an angel investor, and we’re continuing to receive angel investment offers primarily from the alumni community. The award will help us keep momentum as we refine the product and prepare for larger fundraising efforts in the fall.