How YC-backed Bucket Robotics survived its first CES

Bucket Robotics, a YC-backed startup founded by CEO Matt Puchalski, made its debut at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas despite logistical challenges posed by bad weather. Puchalski personally drove 12 hours in rain to ensure the company’s booth and equipment arrived safely. The San Francisco-based company, part of Y Combinator’s Spring 2024 batch, focuses on automating quality inspections of surfaces using advanced vision systems. Their technology addresses a traditionally manual and labor-intensive task—detecting surface defects such as color inconsistencies, burn marks, and scuffs on manufactured parts like car door handles—by leveraging CAD files to generate simulated defects for training their AI models. This approach eliminates the need for manual labeling and enables rapid deployment and adaptation on production lines. Bucket Robotics’ solution stands out by integrating seamlessly into existing manufacturing lines without requiring additional hardware, which has attracted customers in both automotive and defense sectors. Puchalski’s background in autonomous vehicles