Nataly Horner

About

Hello! I am Nataly Horner, a Brazilian entrepreneur currently based in the Bay Area, CA, USA. With a background in Physics and Computational Neuroscience, I am passionate about applying Science and Technology to improve people's lives and foster sustainable development.

For the past 10 years, I have been Partner and COO of UNIMAGNA, an electromechanical contract manufacturer in Brazil, and Founder of Touchsky, a venture for cleantech solutions.

I advocate for industrial automation as the key to national economic resiliency, especially targeting tasks with workforce shortages. The latest advances in the fields of AI and robotics have set the stage for exciting business opportunities to be harnessed in the coming years. I am currently interested in learning about and developing solutions for industrial applications.

I am happy to contribute my expertise in manufacturing, cleantech, and the Brazilian market. If you're interested in collaborating, please feel free to reach out!

Work

Education

California Institute of Technology 🇺🇸

Control & Dynamical Systems. Undergraduate Student under Prof. Richard Murray supervision.

Universidade Estadual de Campinas 🇧🇷

BSc in Physics.

Universidade de São Paulo 🇧🇷

MSc in Physics. Computational Neuroscience Research.

Albert Ludwig Universität Freiburg 🇩🇪

ISE Fraunhofer. MSc in Photovoltaics.

Technical Skills

Coding Languages

Python, Matlab.

Tools & Libraries

NumPy, pandas, SciPy, pvlib.

Softwares

AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor.

Expertise

Project Management, Product Management, Cross-Cultural Negotiation, Cost Engineering, Metal Manufacturing Processes and Design (2D/3D)

Languages

Work Experience

Partner | Chief Operations Officer
UNIMAGNA METALURGICA LTDA.

(ELECTROMECHANICAL CONTRACT MANUFACTURER, BRAZIL)

January 2013 – December 2024

1. Increased Profitability and Operational Efficiency:
   • Enhanced administrative efficiency by 50% through data analytics and ERP system implementation, unifying all business operations on a cloud platform.
   • Boosted profitability by twofold through data-driven management and processes optimization
2. Led Strategic Investment for Growth:
   • Drove a $3M investment initiative in talent acquisition, machinery upgrades, and international certifications
   • Expanded the company's manufacturing capabilities
   • Attracted new high-profile S&P500 clients directly contributing 40% (USD 2M) to the company's revenue.
3. Managed the Development of Environmentally Compliant Portfolio of Electrical Connectors for Automotive Industry.


4. Achieved Energy Self-Sufficiency with the development and commissioning of a 545 kWp photovoltaic plant, positioning the company as a pioneer in Brazil for solar energy in industrial applications.


5. Established and strengthened partnerships with international customers and suppliers across Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Founder | General Manager
TOUCHSKY TECNOLOGIA DE SISTEMAS

(CLEANTECH, BRAZIL)

April 2017 – December 2023

• Developed, sourced, built, and commissioned solar power plant monitoring systems for the TOP 5 largest solar companies in Brazil.

Additional Information

Research, Grants and Prizes

• Overirradiance in the context of sizing and operation of PV Plants (2019). Data analysis of solar irradiance data (3 years span – 10 sensors) using Python (pandas, pv-lib).
  DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.24411.28969
• FAPESP Master Research Grant: Experimental work and computational analysis on blowfly neural code data using tools from Complex Systems and Information Theory. Multifractality in the neural code of the blowfly (2008)
  DOI: 10.11606/D.76.2008.tde-16022011-080323
• FAPESP Undergraduate Research Grant: Introduction to Astrophysical Dynamo Theory (2005)
• IFGW Acquisition Prize 2005 for Best Project in STEM Devices: Cosmic Rays Cloud Chamber (2005)

Projects

I am currently interested in how to make robots programming more accessible for factory workers.

Quick Facts

• Manufacturing labor shortage is an increasing problem worldwide.
• In the post COVID world, we are shifting away from unrestricted globalization to prioritize supply chains resilience and to foster an American dynamism mindset
• Significant advancements in hardware, software, and middleware have emerged in robotics in the last 10 years, offering a powerful toolbox for work automation at an unprecedent scale
• The three elements above result in the perfect storm for a technological leap. However, the adoption curve for robotics solutions in industry is still lagging behind. Why?

Motivation

The answer to the question above is multidimensional and it is not my goal to discuss all causes here.

After spending more than a decade in the manufacturing industry and interacting daily with people from a wide range of educational and technical backgrounds, I have developed a deep respect for all my peers, regardless of their position or background. Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, it remains a reality that highly intelligent and capable individuals lack access to basic education. When education is available, it is often of low quality, limiting learning opportunities and career paths for these workers. However, when empowered with the right tools, they are able to overcome many limitations and master advanced concepts.

Significant progress has been made over the past 20 years in making robotics programming more user-friendly and less abstract for the layman. Yet, there is still a long way to achieve a hospitable ecosystem akin to what the personal computers and CNC machines unlocked in the 1980s and 1990s.

A final layer that will empower the end user in every factory has yet to be built, since a large percentage of manufacturing companies that would benefit most from these technologies cannot afford to maintain a dedicated robotics technician in-house.

Currently Learning

• Machine Learning
• ROS 2
• Gazebo
• NVIDIA Omniverse, Isaac Sim

Reach out if you're interested in discussing ideas, sharing learning resources, or collaborating on innovative solutions!

Fun

Cybernetics

I am fascinated by the human brain and an avid learner of all topics related to cybernetics. In the 1940s, it laid the groundwork for so many important technologies today: AI, neural networks, control systems, information theory, neuroscience. Norbert Wiener - Cybernetics: Or Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine

Music

As a music freak, I am always on the hunt for new artists, new tunes and exchanging musical recommendations!
🎵 Listen to My Brazilian Music Selection.

Outdoors

I love hiking and biking with my husband! All the photos on this website are from hikes here and there. Ping me for travel advice in Brazil. Our current bucket list:

1. Patagonia
2. Amazonia
3. Mount Kailash
4. Lençois Maranhenses
5. Mount Whitney
6. Salcantay - Machhu Picchu

Man in the arena

Theodore Roosevelt - April 23, 1910

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

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