Robotics Revolution
When Bill Gurley invests, the world listens.
That’s why a recent challenge match powering innovation at The University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Robotics is turning heads and garnering support from other bellwether investors across the state and beyond. Visionary venture capitalist Bill Gurley — a titan in the tech services field responsible for early investments that brought household names like Uber, OpenTable and Zillow to life — aims to help UT’s new undergraduate robotics degree program become the preeminent destination for tech-savvy, entrepreneurial freshman applicants.
The first-of-its-kind program launches in Fall 2025 and will offer experiences in research, hands-on learning and competitive activities. Demand is sky-high, with the program receiving more than 3,500 applications for an estimated 50 slots in the inaugural class.
“High school maker spaces are filled with some of the most intelligent and creative students in our country, captivated by the possibilities of robotics,” said Gurley, who earned an MBA from the McCombs School of Business. “Providing the financial resources to expand and strengthen Texas Robotics will ensure it attracts the most talented students — those with the greatest potential to become our nation’s future innovators and disruptors.”
“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,” said Peter Stone, director of Texas Robotics.
Gurley’s $5 million matching gift, which creates the Amy and Bill Gurley Endowment for Texas Robotics, provides 1:1 matches for other donors who make gifts that fund new endowments to support Texas Robotics. To find out more and join Bill Gurley in strengthening UT’s reputation as one of the world’s premier academic institutions for robotics, visit robotics.utexas.edu or reach out to Zak Richards, Chief Development Officer at College of Natural Sciences, at zrichards@austin.utexas.edu.
“Our state and our University have always been on the frontier of innovation with a shared goal to be the best. Bill’s gift drives that excellence.”
UT Interim President Jim Davis
The new undergraduate program in Texas Robotics joins and amplifies a brimming ecosystem, where researchers are developing robots that can assist nurses in hospitals, replace humans in hazardous environments, care for elderly or disabled people and provide physical therapy for patients. And revolutionary advances at UT in AI are poised to change everything once again, providing the next leap in applied and autonomous robotics.
The new undergraduate program in Texas Robotics joins and amplifies a brimming ecosystem, where researchers are developing robots that can assist nurses in hospitals, replace humans in hazardous environments, care for elderly or disabled people and provide physical therapy for patients recovering from strokes, and much more. And revolutionary advances at UT in AI are poised to change everything once again, providing the next leap in applied and autonomous robotics.
Texas Leader Magazine
More from this series
An Ordinary Man’s Extraordinary Journey
Ray Brimble is creating a legacy inspired by community.
Getting to Know Jim Davis
President Jim Davis shares his thoughts on the bright future of UT and his gratitude for those who so generously support it.
The Power of Connections
As a successful entrepreneur, Shanaz Hemmati is using her gifts to create pathways for others.