Bio by Arq. Lucas Jagodnik - CEO Apelie Robotics

I’m Lucas Jagodnik, born in Córdoba city on June 5, 1978. Since I was a child, I have been curious, introverted, and deeply committed to fulfilling my responsibilities. My father, José Luis, is a civil engineer, and my mother, Anahí, is a homemaker. Due to my father's profession, my family became somewhat nomadic, moving along as construction projects arose. I have three siblings: Pablo, who is 8 years older than me; Martín, who is 7 years older than me; and Gabriela, who is 8 years younger. I am the third.

My childhood was calm but perhaps unusual. From the age of 8, I began studying computing, something that was not widely seen as important in 1986. I grew up playing with Playmobil, building with Rasti blocks, and working on computers. I read comics and always loved drawing. From a young age, I was very creative and proactive. At 10, I sold my drawings at the door of my house.

I was a shy child with few but good friends. I didn’t play sports, which made me feel like I didn’t quite fit in with my peers. I lived in Posadas, Misiones, from ages 8 to 13, before moving back to Córdoba.

At 15, I taught computing classes and worked for printing companies. Since then, I’ve earned money and invested in my personal development.

I studied Architecture because it seemed to align with my creativity and love for drawing. During my studies, I had a strong introspective period, during which I built a healthy sense of self-esteem. I balanced my studies with my passion for computers. I financially supported myself by teaching AutoCAD courses, and by 19, I was financially independent from my parents.

As an architect, I’ve built around 10 family homes and 3 seven-story buildings. I founded and developed a construction company called SUL while also offering architectural visualization services internationally, as the internet allowed at the time.

In 2008, I decided to focus entirely on digital architecture and stopped building physical structures. I co-founded a virtual studio called Archelier with Leonardo Londero, and with two large clients from Canada and France, we developed a company that is still operational today: www.archelier.com.

In 2012, after some surplus funds, Leonardo and I started a new venture. We bought a BOBCAT loader and began renting it for earth-moving jobs. This new company was named www.movisuelos.com. I became CEO of Movisuelos and left the operational roles at Archelier to focus all my energy on growing it. Within 5 years, it became one of the most important excavation and demolition companies in Córdoba, with a fleet of 14 vehicles. We added a third partner, Juan Urioste.

In 2018, we had to demolish an 8-story building in the city center. During this project, we decided to incorporate technology and discovered a Swedish robot, BROKK, that we wanted to rent or buy. As it wasn’t available in Latin America, we decided to build a similar one ourselves. This moment became a turning point. I realized there was untapped talent capable of creating powerful solutions. It was the spark that ignited my interest in robotics.

We built the robot, demolished the building, and I went through a significant mental crisis. Movisuelos no longer presented the challenge I was seeking, and I realized that I had accumulated vast experience as a business leader and project manager, yet I was wasting my digital skills. This prompted me to read books like The Robots Are Coming and Passport to the Future, and I presented the idea to my partner, Leonardo, about starting a robotics company. We saw an opportunity: Córdoba had the human resources needed to take on this battle.

In 2019, we founded Apelie (originally APPELIE), and I decided to hand over the leadership of Movisuelos to my partner, Juan, to focus entirely on this new venture. Leonardo’s involvement was pivotal, as he guaranteed the financial resources needed for several years of research and development without sales or revenue.

We started with no clear direction, investigating and learning new tools. We assembled a multidisciplinary team of professionals, blending design, mechanics, electronics, and programming to achieve great results. The rest is the story of Apelie Robotics.

I believe that among my strengths are the ability to solve large problems by breaking them down into smaller pieces, building teams that cultivate a culture of commitment and excellence, and removing barriers that hinder people from accomplishing powerful things.

I’m good at assembling teams and delegating responsibilities. I’m convinced that my contribution is to enable my collaborators to express themselves professionally to the fullest, acting as a facilitator of the resources they need to achieve their goals.

In 2004, I married María Magdalena, a psychiatrist, who has been a fundamental part of my development. She brought order into my life and taught me about the workings of the human mind. Together, we’ve always dreamed of continuing to learn while enjoying good moments. We have three children: Justina (born in 2008), Tomás (2012), and Felicitas (2016).

Today, I lead Apelie with an agile, dynamic, and ambitious management approach. I financially support my family through my role as CEO and also from the dividends of my other companies, Archelier and Movisuelos. In March 2024, I sold Movisuelos to one of the partners.

One of my aspirations is to make Apelie Robotics a success story, paving the way for future generations from my region. This is already happening, as we have been invited to a conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in May 2025, to showcase the Apelie Robotics case in Europe.

In September 2024, after a crucial effort to obtain the investment visa, I moved with my family to Johns Creek, a city 40 minutes from Atlanta, to streamline the operations of Apelie Robotics. From here, the mission is to build the team that will take over the operations starting in 2026.