Remember when running a business meant focusing only on the bottom line?
Daniel Theobald never saw it that way.
As a serial entrepreneur, Daniel has spent his career proving that purpose and profitability aren’t opposites. They are partners.
In this episode of Beyond One Million conversation with Parna Sarkar-Basu, Daniel shares how companies that put people first can outperform those that don’t, why solo founders have a better shot at success and how he’s using technology to make sustainable farming viable again.
Highlights:
Build a Company Around People, Not Profit
Daniel calls himself a “reluctant entrepreneur.” After graduating from MIT, he couldn’t find a company whose mission aligned with his values. So, he created one.
From day one, Vecna offered employees something special- paid time off each week to volunteer in their communities. “People told me it would kill profits, but it did the opposite,” said Daniel.
That policy became a magnet for people who cared — about customers, about colleagues about impact. “The people who give back make the best co-workers. That’s why we succeeded.”
Happiness Can’t Wait
A lesson from a friend changed how Daniel viewed success.
“If you’re not happy now, you won’t be happy then.”
Too many founders, he said, link their happiness to future milestones — the next round, the next product, the next exit.
But a meaningful life can’t be postponed. “If it’s not happening now, it won’t magically happen later.”
Use Technology That Empowers, Not Replaces
After years of advancing robotics in healthcare and logistics, Daniel turned his focus to a different kind of challenge — food security.
He bought a 127-acre farm in California to explore how technology could help small and midsize farms thrive. Using IoT systems and low-cost robotics technology, his team is helping farmers automate irrigation, monitor soil health and grow produce more efficiently.
“It sounds ironic,” he said. “But we’re using technology to farm like we used to. The goal isn’t to replace people — it’s to empower them.”
Rethink the Founder Formula
In a startup world that glorifies co-founders, Daniel points to data that says otherwise.
“More than half of startups fail because of co-founder conflict. Solo founders often have better odds.”
His message: don’t wait for the perfect partner. Build your conviction first — and hire the right team later.
Focus on Customers Before Capital
Daniel’s advice for early-stage founders is straightforward. “Keep your day job as long as possible. Build with customers, not investors.”
Real businesses start with people who are willing to pay for real value, not with pitch decks.
Once you’ve proven that adding investor money produces better results, great. Until then, focus on profitability.
Lead by Instinct
Asked what he’d tell his younger self, Daniel said: “Trust your gut.”
“You’re the one thinking about your business 24/7. You’ll make mistakes, but you have to own them. There’s no safety in following advice blindly.”
His philosophy is simple — listen, learn, but lead with conviction.
The $5 Million Mindset
Daniel’s advice to founders scaling their companies: “Customer, customer, customer.”
The goal, he says, isn’t to grow fast. It’s to grow right.
“The best way to get to $5 million is to be a profitable $100,000 company first.”
Daniel Theobald is a visionary leader in robotics, AI, and IoT, with decades of experience at the forefront of innovation. With 67 issued patents and over 30 patents pending, Daniel has made significant contributions to shaping the future of intelligent technology. As founder of Vecna, VecnaRobotics, MassRobotics, and Mekable, Daniel inspires audiences to explore the transformative potential of technology in creating a sustainable, equitable future.