About
Tom Wagner is the founder and former CEO and chairman of Berkshire Grey, a company developing AI-driven robotics for logistics and retail that was acquired by SoftBank in 2023. He previously served as Chief Technology Officer at iRobot and as a program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where he managed programs in artificial intelligence, robotics, and related fields, and earlier held roles at Honeywell and the University of Maine. Wagner holds a Ph.D. in computer science and artificial intelligence from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, an M.S. from the University of New Hampshire, and a B.S. from Michigan State.
Founder at Berkshire Grey
Intro paths
→
In turn, Tom can intro founders to Berkshire Grey's investors below.
Experience
- With an acknowledgement that "you" is not defined here in a satisfying fashion.Coming For You (Respectfully) | No Title / Pick Onecurrent2026 — present
- University of Massachusetts AmherstAdvisory Boardcurrent2019 — present
- University of New HampshireAdvisory Boardcurrent2011 — present
- The arc is only beginning. Left one mission and not yet defined the next.Momentarily Unstructured | No Title / Many Titles / Pick One2025 — 2026
- Berkshire GreyChairman of the Board and Founder2025
- Berkshire GreyCEO, Chairman of the Board, and Founder2013 — 2025Greater Boston Area
- Void Pointer TechnologiesSenior Untitled Person Creating A Mission2012 — 2013
- iRobotChief Technology Officer (CTO)2008 — 2012
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)DARPA Program Manager2004 — 2008
- HoneywellTechnical Staff2001 — 2004
- Various - UMaine as a professor, small companies, startup, General Motors, startup advisory, etc.Various Leadership and Other1988 — 2001
Skills & more
Artificial IntelligenceStart-upsRoboticsSystems EngineeringProgram ManagementLeadershipStrategyMachine LearningDoDComputer ScienceSoftware DevelopmentAlgorithms
+8 more
Distributed SystemsSoftware EngineeringSoftware DesignEmbedded SystemsSecurityIT StrategyEngineeringProduct DevelopmentFrom Tom's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Tom Wagner, Ph.D.?
- Tom Wagner is the founder and former CEO and chairman of Berkshire Grey, a company developing AI-driven robotics for logistics and retail that was acquired by SoftBank in 2023. He previously served as Chief Technology Officer at iRobot and as a program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where he managed programs in artificial intelligence, robotics, and related fields, and earlier held roles at Honeywell and the University of Maine. Wagner holds a Ph.D. in computer science and artificial intelligence from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, an M.S. from the University of New Hampshire, and a B.S. from Michigan State.
- Where does Tom Wagner, Ph.D. work?
- Tom Wagner, Ph.D. is Founder of Berkshire Grey.
- What companies did Tom Wagner, Ph.D. found?
- Tom Wagner, Ph.D. founded Berkshire Grey.
- Where did Tom Wagner, Ph.D. go to school?
- Tom Wagner, Ph.D. studied at University of Massachusetts Amherst (Ph.D., Artificial Intelligence & Computer Science); University of New Hampshire (M.S., Computer Science); Michigan State University (B.S., Computer Science).
Founder mafias
University of Massachusetts Amherst mafia38
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ivan BercovichBSFounded Unwrap +1Wayne ChangDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)Founded Crashlytics +1Barun KarPh.D.Founded Auradine +1Jared StenquistBAFounded HqO +1Brett OlsherBachelors of Business AdministrationFounded GVP ClimateArvind NithrakashyapMaster of ScienceFounded Rubrik
+ 31 more
Michigan State University mafia33
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Bryan BeshoreBachelor of Science - BSFounded Keychain Logistics +1John NovakMaster of Science (MS)Founded Standard Cognition +1David YuDropoutFounded YouLearn +1Soami KapadiaBachelor's degreeFounded YouLearn +1Christopher GolecB.S.Founded Demandbase +1Matt MaloneyBachelor of ScienceFounded Grubhub +1
+ 26 more
University of New Hampshire mafia14
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Rebecca WilsonBachelor of ScienceFounded AesculaTechTim BowePhysicsFounded Full SpectrumGeorge HowardMaster's degreeFounded Music Audience ExchangeConor CullinaneSummer CoursesFounded Pirouette PharmaCaleb PefferComputer ScienceFounded FirecrawlEric CiarlaEconomics and PhilosophyFounded Firecrawl
+ 7 more
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) mafia9
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Zakir DurumericISAT Study Group MemberFounded Censys +1George NgSenior Research ScientistFounded Ggwp +1Brandon AlexanderEntrepreneur in ResidenceFounded Inevitable TechRamesh RaskarDARPA ISAT MemberFounded EyeNetraJohn SpirtosSenior Commercial AdvisorFounded GridPointOlivia RamosEntrepreneur in ResidenceFounded Deepblocks
+ 2 more
iRobot mafia9
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Rodney BrooksCo-founder, CTO, Board memberFounded Rethink Robotics +1Ivan KiriginSoftware EngineerFounded YesGraph +1Helen GreinerCo-FounderFounded CyPhy Works +1Timothy SetoMechanical Engineering InternFounded Forge AutomationMitchell FogelsonTech Org Robotics InternFounded Beyond Reach LabsAli AbdallaMechanical Engineering InternFounded shotwell.ai
+ 2 more
Same school
Also attended University of Massachusetts Amherst148
Larry BohnInvestment Team at General CatalystQuentin ClarkInvestment Team at General CatalystRavi RajamonyVice President at March Capital PartnersJason MorrisVice President, Investor Relations at Sapphire VenturesRobert SeveroPartner, Chief Compliance Officer at Sapphire VenturesJonathan BavaroAccounting Manager at Founder Collective
.png)
+ 142 more
Also attended University of New Hampshire48
Jessica DowdInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersRosemary SullivanOperations Manager at RET VenturesAndrew BrochuController at Castle Island VenturesBryce BlairAdvisory Board at Navitas CapitalChris StoneInvestor at EPIC VENTURESDillon HealyHead of Business Development & Capital Formation, North America at Sora Ventures
+ 42 more
Also attended Michigan State University153
Sumant MandalCo-Founder & Managing Partner at March Capital PartnersJay W. SchmelterCo-founder of RiverVest Venture Partners, funding and founding life science companiesSteve HoltzmanBio Advisor at Amplify PartnersKevin NovakFounder at Rackhouse Venture Management LpTrina WellerInvestor at Ulu VenturesTamara SteffensManaging Director at Thomson Reuters Ventures
+ 147 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Berkshire Grey3
Also worked at Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)33
Houman HaghighiPartner, Business & Corporate Development at Menlo VenturesBrandon AlexanderEntrepreneur In Residence at Crosslink CapitalTaylor SargentPartner at Industrious VenturesDr. Michael NayakAdvisor at Industrious VenturesEvan LoomisVenture Partner at Audere CapitalWilliam YoungInvestor at Green Flag
+ 27 more
Also worked at Honeywell77
Sriram KrishnanStartup builder and investorGretchen McClainInvestor at EPIC VENTURESSiddhi GuptaIndia Investment Analyst at Beyond Capital VenturesBrett McMickellAdvisor at Tall Grass VenturesSunir KapoorNon-Executive Chairman at Kibo VenturesMayur MaheshwariHead - Finance & Operations at Sauce.vc
+ 71 more