VEX Robotics
VEX Robotics designs and sells an integrated K-16 educational robotics platform spanning Pre-K through college, unifying eight hardware lines under a proprietary VEXos operating system and shared VEXcode programming environment, sold via direct e-commerce and fueling the world's largest student robotics competition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersGreenville, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What VEX Robotics does
VEX Robotics, Inc. designs and sells an integrated K-16 educational robotics platform organized as the 'VEX Continuum,' spanning eight hardware lines tuned to specific grade bands: VEX 123 (Pre-K+), VEX GO (Grades 3-5), VEX AIM (Grades 4-12, AI/ML), VEX IQ (Grades 5-8), VEX EXP (Grades 8-12), VEX V5 (Grades 9-College), the VEX CTE Workcell (industrial robotics training), and VEX AIR (drone, Grades 9-College). All hardware runs the proprietary VEXos real-time operating system written entirely in-house, and is programmed through VEXcode, a unified environment supporting block-based, Python, and C++ across platforms. Supporting software includes VEXcode VR (virtual robotics) and a VEX Library knowledge base exceeding 1,700 articles, complemented by STEM Labs curriculum and VEX PD+ educator certifications.
The company monetizes primarily through one-time hardware sales: classroom bundles priced $999.99-$9,899.99 with free US shipping, and competition kits priced $729.99-$2,149.99. Distribution combines direct e-commerce via regional storefronts in the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, Asia/Pacific, and China (vexstore.cn) with regional distributors and a direct education sales team. A secondary services stream comes from VEX PD+ professional development. The VEX Robotics World Championship — described as the world's largest robotics competition — and annual competition-game refreshes form a recurring engagement engine that drives replacement demand across IQ, V5, GO, AI, and AIR leagues.
VEX Robotics, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Innovation First International, Inc. (IFI), which owns all related trademarks, copyrights, and patents (including patents pending). The company is incorporated in Texas with headquarters in Greenville, operates as a private entity, and has no disclosed funding rounds, headcount, or revenue figures.
VEX Robotics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VEX Robotics
- Legal name
- VEX Robotics, Inc.
- Website
- https://vexrobotics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- VEX Robotics designs and sells an integrated K-16 educational robotics platform spanning Pre-K through college, unifying eight hardware lines under a proprietary VEXos operating system and shared VEXcode programming environment, sold via direct e-commerce and fueling the world's largest student robotics competition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VEX Robotics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational Robotics
- NAICS
- Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (334118), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (3341), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)
- SIC
- Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Competition Robotics Teams & Coaching (FLL/FTC/FRC, VEX) (EDAMADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Robotics Learning Platforms (EDAFANAB), Robotics Kits, Parts & Lab Equipment Providers (Education-Focused) (EDAMADAN), Math & STEM Learning Technology (incl. Coding/Robotics Platforms) (EDAJAMAG), AI & Machine Learning for Robotics Programs (EDAMADAK), Digital Labs, Simulations & Virtual Practicals (Non-XR) (EDAFACAF), Teacher Training & Curriculum Providers (Robotics/Maker Education) (EDAMADAM)
Keywords
Where VEX Robotics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Greenville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
VEX Robotics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Robotics Hardware Sales: Sale of robotics platforms, competition kits, robot components, and accessories across multiple product lines (123, GO, IQ, EXP, V5, CTE, AIM, AIR). Revenue generated through direct e-commerce and regional distributors.
- Classroom Bundles and Kits: Pre-configured classroom bundles for educational institutions containing robots, accessories, and curriculum materials at various price points from $999.99 to $9,899.99.
- Competition Products: Competition-specific products including game element kits, field components, robot kits for teams, and scoring accessories. Competition kits range from $729.99 to $2,149.99.
- Professional Development: VEX PD+ certification programs and educator training services for professional development credits.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | VEX 123 Classroom Bundle - Grades Pre-K+ |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | VEX GO Classroom Bundle - Grades 3-5 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | VEX AIM Classroom Bundle - Grades 4-12 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | VEX IQ Classroom Bundle (2nd gen) - Grades 5-8 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | VEX EXP Classroom Bundle - Grades 8-12 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | VEX V5 Classroom Starter Bundle - Grades 9+ |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | VEX V5 Classroom Super Bundle - Grades 9+ |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | VEX CTE Workcell Robotic Arm Kit |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | VEX AIR Classroom Bundle - Grades 9+ |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | VEX V5 Competition Starter Kit |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | VEX V5 Competition Super Kit |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | VEX IQ Competition Kit (2nd gen) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
VEX Robotics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VEX Robotics designs, manufactures, and sells K-16 educational robotics platforms and supporting software, including the VEX 123, GO, AIM, IQ, EXP, V5, CTE Workcell, and AIR product lines. The company also provides the VEXcode programming environment and operates the VEX Robotics Competition, the world's largest student robotics competition. Offerings are sold to schools, districts, and STEM programs through direct e-commerce and a network of regional distributors.
Product overview
VEX Robotics provides a comprehensive K-16 educational robotics platform called the VEX Continuum, spanning from Pre-Kindergarten through college and career education. The portfolio includes ten distinct product lines: VEX 123 (Pre-K+) for early coding with button/card/block programming; VEX GO (Grades 3-5) for plastic construction STEM learning; VEX AIM (Grades 4-12) for AI vision and machine learning education; VEX IQ (Grades 5-8) for snap-together robotics with competition pathways; VEX EXP (Grades 8-12) for metal construction robotics; VEX V5 (Grades 9-College) for advanced metal-based robotics; VEX CTE Workcell for industrial robotics and manufacturing education; and VEX AIR for drone-based aeronautics learning. Supporting these hardware platforms are VEXcode (unified block-to-text coding environment), VEXcode VR (virtual robot coding), VEX Professional Development Plus (educator certification), STEM Labs curriculum, and VEX Library (technical support resources). The VEX Robotics Competition program hosts the world's largest robotics competitions spanning multiple leagues. All platforms share the VEXos firmware ecosystem and are programmed through the VEXcode environment, providing a cohesive learning progression from early childhood coding through advanced robotics engineering.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- VEX 123: Interactive, programmable robot for Pre-K+ grades that takes Computer Science and Computational Thinking off the screen and brings them into students' hands
- VEX GO
- VEX IQ
- VEX EXP
- VEX V5
- VEX AIM
- VEX CTE
- VEX AIR
- VEXcode
- VEX PD+
- VEX Robotics World Championship
Products and services
- VEX 123 An entry-level robotics kit for early elementary classrooms that introduces coding and computational thinking without screens. Targeted at teachers and early elementary students.
- VEX GO An elementary robotics construction and coding kit for primary classrooms and after-school STEM programs. Targeted at elementary teachers and students.
- VEX AIM A robotics kit positioned between elementary and middle school platforms in the VEX continuum. Targeted at upper elementary and middle school classrooms.
- VEX IQ A snap-together robotics kit for middle school classrooms and VEX IQ Competition teams. Targeted at middle school teachers, students, and competitive teams.
- VEX EXP A metal-based robotics kit for upper middle school and introductory high school STEM programs and competition teams. Targeted at upper middle school and early high school classrooms.
- VEX V5 A high school and competition-grade robotics platform used in the VEX Robotics Competition and advanced high school engineering courses. Targeted at high school STEM programs and competitive teams.
- VEX CTE Workcell Industrial automation and manufacturing pathway system for CTE, technical high school, and community college programs. Targeted at CTE directors and post-secondary technical programs.
- VEX AIR An aerial robotics platform (drones) for classroom and competition STEM programs. Targeted at schools and STEM programs exploring drone-based robotics.
- VEXcode Programming environment and software toolchain for VEX 123, GO, IQ, EXP, and V5 hardware, supporting block-based, Python, and C++ coding. Targeted at students and teachers using VEX hardware.
- VEX Robotics Competition Recurring student robotics competition program operated by VEX Robotics, characterized as the world's largest student robotics competition, with seasonal game releases and local/regional/world championship events. Targeted at student teams, schools, and competition organizers.
Quantifiable outcome
- World's largest robotics competition ecosystem
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use VEX Robotics
Customer profileSegments7 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
VEX Robotics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature4 records
VEX Robotics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Innovation First International, Inc. (IFI)coreVEX Robotics, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Innovation First International, Inc. (IFI), which owns all VEX trademarks, copyrights, and intellectual property. IFI is the parent company that develops and owns the VEX robotics brand, products, and competition ecosystem.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
VEX Robotics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wonder Workshop: Wonder Workshop's Dash, Dot, and Cue robots are aimed at elementary and middle school STEM classrooms, directly competing with VEX 123, VEX GO, and VEX IQ for early-grade coding adoption.
- Makeblock: Makeblock sells the mBot, Codey Rocky, and mBuild platforms with block-to-Python coding targeting K-12 STEM classrooms and competitions, directly overlapping VEX IQ and EXP at similar price points.
- Sphero: Sphero's BOLT, RVR, and indi educational robots target K-12 STEM classrooms with programmable robots, paralleling VEX's block-coding approach and competing for the same school-budget dollars.
- LEGO Education: LEGO Education's SPIKE Prime, Mindstorms, and WeDo kits are among VEX's most direct competitors in K-12 STEM robotics, sharing the same classroom-bundle go-to-market and coding-progression narrative across grade bands.
Others
- FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology): FIRST runs the FLL, FTC, and FRC competition programs that share the K-12 competitive robotics ecosystem with VEX; it is complementary in mission but partially competitive for team participation and educator mindshare.
- Raspberry Pi Foundation: The Raspberry Pi Foundation supports STEM and computer science education broadly, including microcontrollers and coding platforms that enable DIY robotics; while not a direct hardware competitor, it overlaps with VEX's high school and college coding-and-engineering audience.
Broad incumbents
- Arduino Education: Arduino's education kits and CTC program serve K-12 and university STEM with open-source electronics and robotics, providing a broader, more developer-oriented alternative to VEX's curated continuum.
Emerging players
- Modular Robotics: Modular Robotics' Cubelets are magnetic, snap-together educational robots aimed at K-8 STEM; smaller scale than VEX but competing in the early-grade hands-on robotics category.
- BirdBrain Technologies: BirdBrain Technologies produces the Hummingbird Bit and Finch robots for K-12 STEM and maker education, competing with VEX's snap-together platforms at smaller scale.
- DJI Education / RoboMaster: DJI's Tello EDU, RoboMaster, and drone education kits overlap with VEX AIR's drone-based STEM and competition proposition, particularly at the high school and college level.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
VEX Robotics social profiles
Digital presenceVEX Robotics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VEX Robotics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
VEX Robotics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VEX Robotics 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 VEX Robotics
What does VEX Robotics do?
VEX Robotics designs, manufactures, and sells K-16 educational robotics platforms and supporting software, including the VEX 123, GO, AIM, IQ, EXP, V5, CTE Workcell, and AIR product lines. The company also provides the VEXcode programming environment and operates the VEX Robotics Competition, the world's largest student robotics competition. Offerings are sold to schools, districts, and STEM programs through direct e-commerce and a network of regional distributors.
Is VEX Robotics a public or private company?
VEX Robotics is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was VEX Robotics founded?
VEX Robotics was founded in 2004. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is VEX Robotics based?
VEX Robotics is headquartered in Greenville, United States, in the North America region.
How does VEX Robotics make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Robotics Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are classroom Bundles and Kits, competition Products and professional Development.
Who are VEX Robotics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wonder Workshop, Makeblock, Sphero and LEGO Education. Others are FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and Raspberry Pi Foundation. Arduino Education is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Modular Robotics, BirdBrain Technologies and DJI Education / RoboMaster.
Does VEX Robotics have an API?
No public API is recorded for VEX Robotics.
What industry is VEX Robotics in?
VEX Robotics's product category is Educational Robotics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMADAE, Competition Robotics Teams & Coaching (FLL/FTC/FRC, VEX), with a secondary code of EDAFANAB, Robotics Learning Platforms. Its NAICS code is 334118 and its SIC code is 3944.