Qualcomm selected 10 robotics companies to take part in their Accelerator Program, and two of the CEOs in the group are women.
After 16 weeks with access to funding, resources and guidance from industry professionals, the participants gave demos and presented their products to investors Thursday in Del Mar.
The ballroom of the Grand Del Mar was filled mostly with men, but Carbon Robotics CEO Rosanna Myers held her own.
"We build a robotic arm, it's called KASTIA," she said. "It stands for 'kick ass trainable intelligent arm,' and she is an incredibly easy-to-use modular device that's designed for people rather than industrial environments."
Myers said the product will be used by filmmakers and designers who utilities 3-D printers.
Myers said she craved a career in engineering since childhood.
"I think that instinct has always been there, but it got a little bit better, more sophisticated as I got older," she explained.
Diva Tommei designed a sphere that reflects sunlight to any space to cut down on the use of artificial light. She said she's faced some adversity in the industry.
"They don't think that I came up with it or don't think that I have the capabilities to do it, but just like a minute into a conversation they get the value that's behind," said Tommei.
Myers and Tommei hope to see more women get excited about science and engineering.
"Just do it with whatever you have, wherever you are, build, create something," Myers said.
