Propel-AIR Winner Heba Khamis Commences MassRobotics Residency

BOSTON, 25th September 2026 Australian Robotics expert and Contactile CEO Dr Heba Khamis landed in Boston this morning to begin Contactile's month-long residency at MassRobotics, the world's largest robotics innovation hub; after her firm's Propel-AIR win in August.

Dr Khamis says she's very much looking forward to the trip, especially the one to one connections that the residency brings: "It's much harder to ignore someone when they're in your face in person," Khamis said. "Getting in front of people, where they can't ignore me, that's what I'm looking forward to most. It's very easy to ignore an email."

Dr Khamis (3rd from left) with the MassRobotics team

Khamis will spend four weeks embedded with MassRobotics, working alongside investors, mentors and robotics companies from across the United States. The trip also includes a visit to California for the RoboBusiness expo in Santa Clara.

• Week one: Welcome to Boston and introduction to MassRobotics, meeting the hub's staff, resident companies and network.
• Week two: Investor readiness and mentor meetings, sharpening the pitch and business case ahead of one-on-one sessions with investors and industry mentors.
• Week three: Network building across Boston's robotics and advanced manufacturing ecosystem.
• Week four: Network building continues, alongside travel to Santa Clara for the RoboBusiness expo, before Khamis returns to Australia.

"We're thrilled to welcome Heba and Contactile to MassRobotics", said MassRobotics Director of Growth Marita McGinn.

"Tactile sensing is one of the hardest problems in physical AI, and Heba is exactly the kind of founder our community is built to support. Over the next month we'll connect her with the investors, mentors, and companies who can help Contactile scale in the U.S."

Behind the trip, Contactile is working on a new range of fingertip sensors aimed at the humanoid robot, foundation model and world model markets, with basic functionality already built and form factor mock-ups underway. We're looking forward to sharing further updates from the trip.

Contactile's residency forms part of MassRobotics' broader push to connect international robotics founders with the US innovation ecosystem, following the organisation's own Australian tour earlier this year through its partnership with ARM Hub. Updates from Khamis's residency, including her investor and mentor meetings, will be shared throughout October.

ENDS

About Propel-AIR

ARM Hub's Propel-AIR program, delivered by ARM Hub's AI Adopt Centre, is Australia's AI and Robotics Sprint, designed to fast-track Australian robotics and AI innovators by equipping them with tools, guidance, and networks to scale their business. This pioneering program provides business opportunities for AI and robotics companies, culminating in a virtual pitch to an international panel of experts. The winner receives a month's residency in Boston with MassRobotics. The program was supported by key partners including NVIDIA, MassRobotics, and the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources through the National AI Centre, which funds the AI Adopt Program.

About ARM Hub

The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub is an independent, not-for-profit company based in Brisbane, dedicated to advancing AI, robotics and design-led manufacturing across Australian industry. More at armhub.com.au.

Media contact: 
Mike Woodcock, Communications Director, ARM Hub
P: 0411 969 248
E: mike.woodcock@armhub.com.au