# Sean Hsu

> Sean Hsu is the co-founder and CEO of Botrista, a San Francisco beverage-automation company that builds a countertop machine capable of pouring more than 2,000 craft drink recipes from a four-square-foot footprint. A former Tesla manufacturing engineer, Hsu founded the company in 2017 (originally as Flying Pig Technology) and has since raised roughly $126 million, filed a 27+ patent portfolio, and placed his DrinkBot in restaurants, campuses, hospitals and theme parks. Botrista's Series C in 2025 was led by Jollibee Foods Corporation.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and CEO, Botrista Technology, Inc.
- **Organizations:** Botrista Technology, Inc., Tesla (former), Flying Pig Technology (predecessor to Botrista)
- **Education:** M.Eng., Manufacturing Engineering, University of Michigan, Executive / graduate program, Stanford Graduate School of Business
- **Known for:** Co-founded Botrista and grew it to more than 220 employees across 37 U.S. states., Raised approximately $126M in total funding, including a $120M Series C led by Jollibee., Built a 27+ patent portfolio in beverage automation, with 21 patents filed in 2024 alone.

## Career timeline

- **2009** — Begins working as a serial entrepreneur, launching his first venture.
- **2011** — Sells his first company.
- **2013** — Joins Tesla as a manufacturing engineer; works on battery manufacturing lines and liquid dispensing processes.
- **2017** — Co-founds Botrista (originally Flying Pig Technology) in San Francisco.
- **2018** — Leaves Tesla to focus on Botrista full-time.
- **2022** — Botrista's DrinkBot Pro wins the National Restaurant Association Kitchen Innovations Award.
- **2025** — Botrista closes a $120M Series C led by Jollibee Foods Corporation.
- **2026** — Recognized on World IP Day as a top IP innovator in consumer hydration hardware.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Botrista and grew it to more than 220 employees across 37 U.S. states.
- Raised approximately $126M in total funding, including a $120M Series C led by Jollibee.
- Built a 27+ patent portfolio in beverage automation, with 21 patents filed in 2024 alone.
- Won the National Restaurant Association's 2022 Kitchen Innovations Award for DrinkBot Pro.
- Recipient of the Red Dot Design Award and the MIT Innovation and Entrepreneurship first-place award.
- Placed Botrista's machines in restaurants, college campuses, healthcare systems, and theme parks.

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — Recognized on World IP Day 2026 as a top IP innovator for Botrista's 27+ patent portfolio.
- **2025-05** — Closed $120M Series C led by Jollibee Foods Corporation.

## Links

- Website: https://botrista.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanhsu1024/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/botrista
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqjR7a5FrgY
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/botrista-technology-inc-167518830724682

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/sean-hsu
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-08