Pitchfire Robotics Startup Competition
October 15
4-4:45 PM in Keynote Theater
Santa Clara Convention Center
Robotics startups deliver 5-minute pitches to compete for $5,000 and invaluable feedback from industry investors.
The industry’s hottest robotics startups compete in Pitchfire for a $5,000 first-place prize and eternal bragging rights.
Startups deliver 5-minute ‘pitches’ to a panel of judges describing their solution, business model, value proposition and more. Judges pick a winner and two runners-up based on the startup they believe to be best primed for commercial success.
RoboBusiness is seeking startups that are:
- Developing robots or related enabling technologies
- Less than 5 years old
- Fewer than 30 employees
- Unfunded or have received Seed funding
Participating startups receive a booth on the expo floor, can schedule one-on-one meetings with investors, can network with industry leaders, and have an open invitation to appear on The Robot Report Podcast.
The deadline to enter is July 16, 2025.
Robotics 88 Wins Pitchfire 2024
In Episode 182 of The Robot Report Podcast, editors Mike Oitzman and Eugene Demaitre interview Erin Linebarger, co-founder and CEO of Robotics 88. Linebarger discusses the innovative use of drones in wildfire management, particularly through prescribed fire techniques.
She also describes the genesis of the Boston-based company, the importance of data in fire management, the technology behind its drones, and the future of wildfire mitigation efforts globally. Robotics 88 won the Pitchfire competition at the 2024 RoboBusiness event with Linebarger’s presentation about the startup and its application. The judges were impressed not only with the detail of her business plan, but also with the company’s potential with robotics for good.
Glidance Wins Pitchfire 2023
In the U.S., around 1 million adults are blind. Yet, only 2% to 8% use a white cane for navigation. Most instead rely on guide dogs or sighted companions, according to the Perkins School for the Blind. This reliance limits independence and mobility, a challenge Glidance is addressing through robotics.
The company’s flagship product, Glide, offers autonomous mobility assistance for the visually impaired, incorporating advanced guiding technologies and a unique mechanical design to foster independence. CEO Amos Miller, himself blind, brings a firsthand perspective to Glidance’s mission.
Tatum Robotics Wins Pitchfire 2022
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