iRobot Buys Root Robotics to Expand Into Coding Education

I AM ROOT: iRobot, the Bedford, Mass-based maker of Roomba and other household robotic devices, has purchased Root Robotics, a Cambridge, Mass.-based maker of robots, apps and curricula that teach coding skills.

Founded in 1990, the publicly-traded iRobot made the purchase to diversify its educational robot product suite, according to a statement earlier this month. iRobot has sold over 25 million robots worldwide.

Root Robotics co-founder Zee Dubrovsky has become general manager of educational robots at iRobot. He previously worked as a senior product manager at iRobot about 10 years ago. Roots products allow users to draw, scan colors, play music and perform other activities to learn about robotics.

Founded in 2016, Root Robotics offers a $199 two-wheeled robot aimed at children 4 and older. That year, the company raised $400,000 in a crowdfunding campaign, and next year secured $2.5 million in a seed round led by TLP Investment Partners.