FIRST Robotics Canada
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersPickering, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
FIRST Robotics Canada firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FIRST Robotics Canada
- Legal name
- FIRST Robotics Canada
- Website
- https://firstroboticscanada.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FIRST Robotics Canada industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth STEM Education / Robotics Competitions
- NAICS
- All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Competition Robotics Teams & Coaching (FLL/FTC/FRC, VEX) (EDAMADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- LEGO / Block-Based Robotics Programs (EDAMADAD), Robotics, Engineering & Makers Camps (EDAMALAE)
Keywords
Where FIRST Robotics Canada is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pickering
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
FIRST Robotics Canada business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Team Registration Fees: Annual registration fees for FRC (~$8,800+), FTC, and FLL teams that provide core operational revenue.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Platinum Plus, Platinum, Gold, and other tiered sponsorships from companies including TD SYNNEX, Magna, Hatch, Stellantis, Boeing, and others.
- Government Grants: CanCode 4.0 funding ($40M program), Ontario Skills Development Fund, and other government program funding.
- Event Registration Fees: Canada Cup of Robotics registration fee of $2,500 CAD per team plus optional accommodation packages.
- Donations: Individual and corporate donations supporting youth programs and scholarships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | FRC Team Annual Registration: ~$8,800 + $2,000 robot parts |
| Subscription | Annual | FTC Team Costs |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Canada Cup of Robotics: $2,500 CAD per team |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Affiliated School Board Program: $10,000 total investment |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Scholarships: $1,000 to $15,000 CAD |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
FIRST Robotics Canada product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FIRST Robotics Canada runs youth robotics competitions and STEM education programs for Canadian students ages 4–18, operating the FIRST LEGO League (FLL), FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) programs under licence from the global FIRST organization. It complements these flagship competitions with teacher professional development, summer robotics camps, scholarships, adaptive and hospital-based programs, and skills-training initiatives such as Career Quest, the CanCode Program, and the Girls and Allies Youth Summit.
Product overview
FIRST Robotics Canada operates a multi-tiered robotics education ecosystem consisting of three core competition programs (FIRST LEGO League with Discover/Explore/Challenge divisions, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competition), supplemented by digital learning platforms (FTC SIM virtual robotics simulator and FSSIM skills simulator), youth development programs (Summer Camps, Career Quest, Girls and Allies Youth Summit, STEMathon), inclusive programming (Adaptive and Hospital Programs), educational support (Teacher Upskilling Workshops, CanCode digital skills training), and scholarship opportunities. The organization functions as an educational nonprofit rather than a commercial technology product company.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- FIRST LEGO League (FLL)
Quantifiable outcome
- 80%+ of FIRST Alumni are in a STEM field as a student or professional
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use FIRST Robotics Canada
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
FIRST Robotics Canada technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
FIRST Robotics Canada partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Brock UniversityflagshipPlatinum sponsor hosting the Canada Cup of Robotics Niagara 2026 at Canada Games Park. Provides venue, on-campus housing, and co-development of international robotics event.
- GM CanadacoreSupporting partner of the Girls and Allies Youth Summit 2025, contributing to programs that encourage girls and young women in STEM.
- Centennial CollegecoreHost venue for Girls and Allies Youth Summit 2025 at Scarborough campus, providing facilities and educational partnership.
- Humber PolytechniccoreDelivery partner for Teacher Upskilling Workshops, providing machine shop facilities for hands-on skilled trades training for educators.
- Conestoga CollegecoreDelivery partner for Teacher Upskilling Workshops, offering skilled trades training including woodworking and machine shop instruction.
- Niagara CollegecoreHost venue for Teacher Upskilling Workshops and Ontario FRC District Events, supporting FIRST program delivery.
- Sheridan CollegecoreDelivery partner for Teacher Upskilling Workshops, providing facilities for robotics and engineering professional development.
- McMaster UniversitycoreUniversity partner offering 10 recipients $15,000 CAD per year in scholarships to FIRST alumni, plus hosting events.
- University of WaterloocoreUniversity partner offering $5,000 CAD non-renewable for Mechatronics Engineering plus $12,500 USD additional awards to FIRST participants.
- Nipissing UniversityminorUniversity partner offering 2 recipients full first year domestic tuition plus $3,000 CAD renewable scholarship for FIRST alumni.
- Ontario Tech UniversityminorUniversity partner offering $3,000 CAD non-renewable scholarship to FIRST participants.
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation HospitalcorePartner bringing FIRST LEGO robotics into therapeutic programming for children with disabilities, with support from clinicians and FIRST alumni.
- One Kids PlacecoreTreatment center in North Bay offering LEGO robotics sessions, supported by FRC Team 1305, reaching youth in remote communities.
- Strides TorontocoreUses adapted FLL Challenge activities with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, practicing communication and teamwork skills.
- ErinOakKidsminorLaunched first FLL Explore team in 2023 with adapted robotics sessions using WeDo, LEGO Steam Park, and Spike Prime kits.
- STEM MindscoreCanCode delivery partner offering dynamic workshops on coding, robotics, and AI concepts using creative tools to inspire youth.
- Logics AcademycoreCanCode delivery partner creating engaging coding sessions for students and educators with teacher development components.
- Youth CultureminorCanCode delivery partner running interactive AI and innovation sessions with hands-on experiences for students.
- Jetson InfinityminorCanCode delivery partner introducing students to AI and robotics through immersive workshops using industry-relevant tools.
- Under the GUIminorCanCode delivery partner engaging students in coding challenges while exploring AI concepts with focus on creativity and ethics.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
FIRST Robotics Canada competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology): The US-based parent organization of FIRST Robotics Canada. Operates the same FLL/FTC/FRC competition ladder globally; FIRST Robotics Canada is essentially a regional operating affiliate delivering FIRST's programs in Canada.
- Destination Imagination: Global nonprofit running team-based creative problem-solving and STEM challenges for K-12 students. Competes with FIRST's FLL and FTC tiers for school and community-team participation.
- VEX Robotics (Innovation First International): Operates VEX IQ, VEX V5, and VEX U competition platforms — the most direct global alternative to FIRST's robotics competition ladder. Targets the same K-12 schools and competes head-to-head for team adoption and sponsor dollars.
- RoboCupJunior: International robotics competition program for students under 19 focused on soccer, rescue, and on-stage robot challenges. Targets similar school-age STEM audiences with a research-flavored competition format.
Emerging players
- Wonder Workshop: Educational robotics company (Dash, Dot, Cue) competing for elementary classroom adoption with block-based coding robots. Adjacent in audience and STEM-coding mission though not competition-format-based.
- Botball (KIPR): Educational robotics competition for middle and high school students using autonomous robots. Smaller than FIRST but overlaps in target audience and educational mission.
Regional players
- STEM Learning (UK): UK-based charity delivering STEM enrichment and teacher CPD, including robotics and coding. Operates analogous programs in a different geography but with a similar non-profit, school-partnership model.
- Skills Canada: Canadian nonprofit running skilled trades and technology competitions, including robotics, at regional, provincial, and national levels. Direct domestic peer for older student robotics participation and skilled-trades pathways.
Broad incumbents
- LEGO Education: Supplies the WeDo 2.0 and Spike Prime platforms that power FIRST's FLL Explore and FLL Challenge programs. Also a broad EdTech incumbent with its own classroom curriculum that competes for school budgets.
- Science Olympiad: US-headquartered K-12 STEM competition organization across 23+ events, including some robotics-adjacent challenges. Broader STEM focus with smaller robotics footprint than FIRST.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FIRST Robotics Canada social profiles
Digital presenceFIRST Robotics Canada financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FIRST Robotics Canada leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
FIRST Robotics Canada funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FIRST Robotics Canada M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FIRST Robotics Canada
What does FIRST Robotics Canada do?
FIRST Robotics Canada runs youth robotics competitions and STEM education programs for Canadian students ages 4–18, operating the FIRST LEGO League (FLL), FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) programs under licence from the global FIRST organization. It complements these flagship competitions with teacher professional development, summer robotics camps, scholarships, adaptive and hospital-based programs, and skills-training initiatives such as Career Quest, the CanCode Program, and the Girls and Allies Youth Summit.
Is FIRST Robotics Canada a public or private company?
FIRST Robotics Canada is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was FIRST Robotics Canada founded?
FIRST Robotics Canada was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is FIRST Robotics Canada based?
FIRST Robotics Canada is headquartered in Pickering, Canada, in the North America region.
How does FIRST Robotics Canada make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Team Registration Fees are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, government Grants, event Registration Fees and donations.
Who are FIRST Robotics Canada's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), Destination Imagination, VEX Robotics (Innovation First International) and RoboCupJunior. Emerging players are Wonder Workshop and Botball (KIPR). Regional players are STEM Learning (UK) and Skills Canada. Broad incumbents are LEGO Education and Science Olympiad.
Does FIRST Robotics Canada have an API?
No public API is recorded for FIRST Robotics Canada.
What industry is FIRST Robotics Canada in?
FIRST Robotics Canada's product category is Youth STEM Education / Robotics Competitions. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMADAE, Competition Robotics Teams & Coaching (FLL/FTC/FRC, VEX), with a secondary code of EDAMADAD, LEGO / Block-Based Robotics Programs. Its NAICS code is 61169 and its SIC code is 8200.