Welcome to the first installment of Monogoto Unplugged, our quarterly series where we go behind the scenes to introduce you to the people behind the network. It’s only fitting that we kick things off with Co-Founder and CEO, Itamar Kunik. Whether he’s strategizing over a morning game of chess or experimenting with Raspberry Pi, Itamar’s approach to life and leadership is all about staying hands-on with a developer mindset. Join us as we go “unplugged” with the man helping to build the “picks and shovels” of the Physical AI era.
Q: What does your morning routine look like? How do you get motivated to conquer the day?
My mornings are pretty intentional. I start with a short workout, nothing extreme, just enough to wake up the body and clear my head. Then I quickly scan the day ahead: key priorities, urgent emails, anything that might need immediate attention.
One of my favorite rituals is spending about 20 minutes practicing chess with my son. It’s our time together, and it sharpens strategic thinking in a fun way. After breakfast with the family, I take the kids to school and then the workday officially begins.
That mix of movement, strategy, and family time gives me energy and perspective before diving into everything else.
Q: Paint us a picture of your workspace? What do you have on your desk and why?
I’m a big fan of simplicity and efficiency. I use an ultra-super-wide monitor instead of multiple screens. With Windows PowerToys and FancyZones, I can control the layout exactly how I want. Switching from several monitors to one continuous screen actually helped me focus more.
Interestingly, I moved family photos to the side of the room. I realized that having a clean, distraction-free background, no clutter, no windows behind the screen, gives me the best ability to concentrate.
There’s always a Raspberry Pi on my desk for side projects. Right now, I’m experimenting with OpenClaw and Home Assistant. Staying hands-on with open-source tools keeps me connected to the developer mindset (which is important for what we build at Monogoto).
Q: Who has influenced you the most in your life? Personal or professional. And why?
Intellectually, I’ve been deeply influenced by Isaac Asimov. His writing wasn’t just science fiction; it was about systems, long-term thinking, and how infrastructure shapes the future. That perspective has stayed with me: think in decades, build foundations, and understand the larger system you’re operating in.
On a personal level, my family has been just as influential. Watching resilience and discipline play out in everyday life teaches you more than any management book ever could.
Q: If you could fast-forward five years, what do you hope Monogoto will be known for?
Being the de facto connectivity provider for anyone building a connected device, empowering the world of Physical AI.
When someone builds the next autonomous drone or delivery robot, I want the stack to feel natural:
- AWS for backend.
- Twilio for messaging.
- Monogoto for connectivity.
If we can lower the barrier to programmable, reliable connectivity, we can empower developers to build incredible real-world products without worrying about the infrastructure underneath.
Q: What would your five-year-old self say if they saw what you do for a living today?
He would say I found a way to work hard, and more importantly, still play hard.
At the end of the day, I still get to build things and experiment. It doesn’t feel that different from being a kid tinkering with something new just on a much bigger scale.
Q: What does “connectivity” mean to you beyond the technical definition?
Connectivity is the “picks and shovels” of the Physical AI era. It’s foundational.
Imagine autonomous cars or robots operating with their “ears shut and mouths closed.” Without connectivity, they can’t learn, coordinate, or improve. They become isolated machines.
Connectivity gives physical products awareness and the ability to evolve as part of a system. It turns hardware into something alive and adaptive.
Q: How do you see Monogoto doing things differently in the IoT space?
The world has shifted. We’ve gone from deeply embedded, closed systems to what I sometimes call “Linux on wheels, Linux with wings, Linux with legs.”
Modern products are software-defined. They’re cloud-native. They need observability, automation, and security built in from day one.
We approach connectivity the same way developers approach software: programmable, API-driven, observable. It’s not just a SIM card or a data plan. It’s infrastructure that needs to behave like part of your DevTools stack.
That’s where we’re focused: giving builders the tools they expect, while keeping cybersecurity, compliance, and resilience at the core.
Monogoto Unplugged: Behind every connected device is a team making it happen. Interested in learning more about the team pioneering software-defined connectivity? Follow along as we continue to spotlight the people behind Monogoto.
