Gurley Powers Texas Robotics

An exciting new addition to UT’s already world-changing robotics program

Bill Gurley, MBA ’93, is one of the world’s most successful venture capitalists. A general partner at the venture capital firm Benchmark, Bill was an early backer of tech companies such as OpenTable, Uber, Zillow and many others.

Bill is now investing in Texas Robotics’ new undergraduate program at UT. His matching gift will establish the Amy and Bill Gurley Endowment for Texas Robotics and provide one-for-one matches for other donors who make gifts to create new endowments supporting Texas Robotics.

The Texas Robotics Honors Undergraduate Program, launched in fall 2025, is believed to be the first in the nation to accept applications from incoming freshmen. Texas Robotics received more than 3,500 applications for an estimated 50 slots in the inaugural class.

“High school makerspaces are filled with some of the most intelligent and creative students, captivated by the possibilities of robotics. This program will establish The University of Texas as the premier destination for them to continue their passionate journey.”

Bill Gurley

Peter Stone, director of Texas Robotics, says, “This gift will set us apart from other programs around the country by allowing us to attract top students and faculty in robotics, sustain one of the nation’s first undergraduate robotics honors programs, and bring cutting-edge equipment into our labs.”

The Gurleys’ gift will initially support the Freshman Research Initiative, which allows first-year students to engage in real-world research with UT faculty laboratories. It will also fund improvements to the Texas Robotics lab, including updated equipment, computing power and materials. These investments will provide students with hands-on experiences that prepare them for leadership roles in robotics and technology fields.

The undergraduate program is an exciting new addition to UT’s already world-changing robotics program. Researchers at UT are developing robots to assist nurses in hospitals, replace humans in hazardous environments, provide physical therapy for patients recovering from strokes or injuries and assisted care for elderly or disabled people. UT is also home to the Good Systems ethical AI initiative and the National Science Foundation’s Institute for the Foundations of Machine Learning, which involve essential research into AI that underlies numerous advances in applied robotics.