TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Aaron Edsinger brings Hello Robot’s Stretch 4 to life onstage

Robots that walk, talk, dance, and perform backflips make great videos. But can they close the blinds? Help someone eat? Scratch an itch?

For people with severe mobility impairments, those everyday tasks can mean greater independence. And they’re exactly the kinds of jobs Hello Robot designed its home-assistance robot, Stretch, to tackle.

At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, Hello Robot CEO and co-founder Aaron Edsinger will bring Stretch 4 to the Real World AI Stage for the session “Come, Meet Stretch. The Robot Built for Real Life, Not a Demo Reel.” The live demo takes physical AI out of the lab and puts it to work alongside people, showing what’s possible when usefulness, safety, and accessibility drive robot design.

The timing couldn’t be better. Stretch 4 launched in May, and its first production run was already sold out when TechCrunch caught up with Edsinger in June. While much of the robotics industry is focused on humanoids, Hello Robot is taking a different route: a compact robot on wheels with a telescoping arm designed to navigate human spaces and perform useful tasks.

Want to see what physical AI can do when usefulness drives the design? See Stretch 4 in action on the Real World AI Stage. Secure your pass to Disrupt and save up to $200 before prices increase on September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Bring a colleague or partner for 50% off, or save up to 30% when you bring a group of four or more.  

What does it take to build a useful robot?

Stretch 4 doesn’t need legs to get around. It rolls. It doesn’t need two arms to pick things up. Its single telescoping arm reaches out to grab and manipulate objects. The robot is compact enough to operate in spaces designed for people and equipped with the sensors, perception, and contact sensitivity needed to work around them.

See Stretch 4 up close on the Real World AI Stage. Register for Disrupt with up to $200 in ticket savings before September 25 at 11:59 p.m. Bring a plus-one and save 50% on their pass.