Albane Dersy named one of “10 women shaping the future of robotics in 2025”

From a university idea to a global robotics company

Albane’s story doesn’t follow the traditional path of years spent climbing corporate ladders before leading a company. Straight out of university, she and her two co-founders, Rudy & Louis identified a gap in the robotics industry: robots were powerful, but rigid. Their lack of adaptability meant high automation costs, long payback times, and limits to how manufacturers could deploy them.

The trio’s solution was bold: use real-time 3D vision and AI to give robots the ability to track, localize, and adapt instantly. That leap of faith became Inbolt, a startup that today has grown into a 40-person company, with deployments across 50 factories worldwide, from the United States to Germany to Japan.

“Right from the beginning, we weren’t just building a technology,” Albane reflects. “We were building the foundation for a new kind of robotics. One that sees, thinks, and adapts in real time.”

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The making of a robotics leader

As COO, Albane has overseen Inbolt’s transformation from a three-person idea into a global operation. That has meant balancing rapid growth with the discipline of execution: expanding across continents, listening to customers on-site in factories, and ensuring that Inbolt’s solutions delivered measurable ROI.

Her leadership style is pragmatic, customer-centric, and deeply curious. “Robotics moves fast, and it’s easy to get caught up in the hype of AI or automation trends. But the real breakthroughs happen when you spend time with customers, on the assembly lines, seeing how things really work,” she says.

That instinct—to listen before building—has shaped Inbolt’s trajectory and positioned it at the forefront of AI-powered robotics.

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Advice for the next generation of women in robotics

Albane’s recognition comes at a time when the gender gap in robotics is still stark. In Europe, the participation of women engineers in manufacturing is half that of the service sector. For Albane, visibility matters:

“Seeing women in leadership roles creates possibility. When young women can point to someone and say, ‘She’s doing it, so I can too,’ that’s powerful.”

Her advice for women considering careers in robotics is refreshingly practical:

• Ask questions relentlessly. “Curiosity is your greatest advantage. Don’t be afraid to probe, to admit what you don’t know, and to learn fast.”
  
  
• Stay close to the customer. “Technology should solve real problems. The sooner you understand your customer’s pain points, the sooner you can build solutions that matter.”
  
  
• Jump in early. “Don’t wait until you feel ‘ready.’ Robotics is evolving so quickly that no one has all the answers. The best way to grow is to start.”

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Leadership lessons for any industry

Albane’s journey offers broader lessons for leaders navigating complex, fast-moving industries:

1. Diversity drives innovation. “Different perspectives challenge assumptions. That’s how better solutions are built.”
   
   
2. Global scale requires local nuance. What works in an American automotive plant may not translate to a Japanese electronics factory. Leadership means adapting without losing focus.
   
   
3. Resilience is as important as vision. Starting a robotics company at 25 demanded persistence through uncertainty, setbacks, and steep learning curves.
   
   
4. Lead by listening. The best strategies, Albane believes, come from paying attention to customers, to teams, and to emerging signals in the market.

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Shaping the future of robotics

For Albane, being named one of the 10 Women Shaping the Future of Robotics is both an honor and a responsibility. “It’s recognition of what we’ve built at Inbolt,” she says, “but it’s also a reminder that the future of robotics must be inclusive. If we want robots to truly transform industries, then we need a diversity of minds shaping that future.”

As manufacturing faces workforce shortages, sustainability challenges, and the pressure to automate smarter, Inbolt’s vision of flexible, AI-driven robotics is increasingly vital. But Albane is just as focused on the human side of the equation: building teams, mentoring talent, and ensuring that more women see themselves in the story of robotics.

Her journey is proof that the factories of tomorrow won’t just be built by engineers and algorithms, they’ll be shaped by leaders who combine vision, adaptability, and inclusivity.

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Closing reflections

Albane’s recognition is a milestone for Inbolt, but more importantly, it’s a story that resonates across industries. It’s a reminder that the future of robotics isn’t just about smarter machines, it’s about smarter leadership.

And for young women looking at the world of robotics and wondering if there’s a place for them, Albane has a clear answer:

“Yes, there is. And we’re just getting started.”

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