We Sold the House and Both Cars to Build a Robot That Prints Houses | Anna Cheniuntai, Apis Cor

Anna Cheniuntai is the Co-Founder and CEO of Apis Cor, the deep-tech company building robots that 3D print full-scale houses on site. By 23, she'd already run a multi-million-dollar Olympic infrastructure contract in Sochi. Then she and her husband Nick sold the house, sold the luxury cars, and put everything into building a robot that didn't exist yet."You are the main resource. Every startup needs a budget for a coach for the founders. 'Ride or die' is not a wise approach if you really want to build a big business."In this episode, Anna shares:✨ Growing up in Siberia in a family of physicists — and her first business at age 7✨ Running the Sochi Olympics navigation contract at 23 (and the surgery that almost stopped it)✨ "99% of your problems can be solved with a phone call. Except one."✨ Selling the house and the luxury cars to fund the prototype✨ Winning NASA's competition to 3D print on Mars — and bringing that tech back to Earth✨ Why their robots have names: Frank, Gary, and Mary✨ The housing crisis math: 5 million homes needed, 400,000 trades workers✨ Origin Homes — their new spec house program in California and Florida✨ The first $10,000 check that kept the company alive✨ Why founder mental health is a fiduciary responsibility, not a luxury✨ The TV show she watches when she can't crack a problem✨ Why "impossible" is the signal, not the deterrentWhether you're building deep tech, raising your first round, or just tired of being told to grind harder, Anna's story is a masterclass in conviction without delusion.About Anna Cheniuntai: Anna is the Co-Founder and CEO of Apis Cor, headquartered in Melbourne, FL. Apis Cor's mobile concrete printers — Frank, Gary, and Mary — print structural walls of buildings up to two stories tall, including the current Guinness World Record holder for largest 3D printed building. The company is now launching Origin Homes and ADUs in California and Florida.🏠 Learn more at https://apis-cor.com/The growth engine for women who mean business.http://www.f5collective.com0:00 Opening: You Are the Main Resource0:46 Welcome to F5 Collective2:14 Family of Physicists in Siberia2:25 Growing Up in a Siberian City (Not the Wild)7:48 The Sochi Olympics Contract11:37 "They Thought They'd Be Fired" — Showing Up as Kids12:37 Her First Business at Age 717:11 The Tumor Found Mid-Olympics18:54 "99% of Problems = One Phone Call"20:48 From Olympics to Houses with Robots24:21 Nick's 3D Printer Idea24:49 Selling the House and the Luxury Cars26:38 Why "Impossible" Drags Her In27:52 Addressing the Housing Crisis28:08 What Apis Cor Actually Does31:41 The Challenges of Building Deep Tech37:09 Meet Frank, Gary, and Mary43:00 The NASA Competition to Print on Mars50:24 Origin Homes & ADUs in California and Florida52:38 The Guinness World Record House1:02:41 The Skilled Labor Shortage Math1:08:16 Why "Apis Cor" — The Bees Were First1:09:26 If Someone Gave You $500,0001:10:18 LinkedIn vs. Reality: Founder Mental Health1:12:55 The First $10,000 Check That Changed Everything1:14:06 No Fears, No Plan B1:16:24 Take an Hour for a Silly TV Show1:17:04 Tribe Over Networking Events1:17:37 Walk With the Dog1:18:35 Side Projects: Charity in Africa & Ukraine1:19:01 Rapid Five Q&A1:22:00 Closing