Get to know the 2026 Ultimate Tech Leaders (Manufacturing) (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Business Journal) — Robert Dahlstrom
Apellix
What technology initiative are you most proud of? I’m most proud that we’ve used autonomous drone technology to eliminate dangerous, hands-on work at height, allowing crews to clean and coat/paint critical infrastructure with greater safety, consistency and speed than was previously possible.
What emerging technology are business leaders underestimating? I think many leaders still underestimate the impact of autonomous robotics and AI-enabled drones for physical work and maintenance, which are quietly transforming how we protect critical infrastructure by making work safer, more precise and data-driven.
What skill set is hardest to find right now? The hardest talent to find today is people who can bridge advanced robotics and AI with the gritty realities of industrial work —leaders who are as comfortable on a jobsite as they are in a lab or boardroom.
What does Northeast Florida need to do to compete with larger tech markets? Northeast Florida needs to double down on supporting startups, celebrating our current tech companies and showcasing that you can build world-class technology companies without leaving this region.
How are you mentoring future technology leaders? I advise and mentor local future technology leaders and entrepreneurs by sharing my failures and succeses of my two startups. For Apellix employees, I give them real responsibility and support early — bringing them into customer meetings, field trials, and strategic discussions — and sharing what I’ve learned building Apellix at the intersection of robotics, safety and industrial work.
What’s one lesson you’ve learned from a failure or setback? One of my biggest lessons is to fail fast and pivot — testing ideas early, even before you start a company if possible — rather than over-listening to individual customers, so you can find true product-market fit quickly instead of building the wrong thing slowly.