Hardhat Robotics took the grand prize at the MassRobotics Robotics Startup Pitchfest at IROS 2026 in Pittsburgh, with Strive Robotics named runner-up and Apiary Robotics earning an honorable mention.
MassRobotics brought its Pitchfest to the Innovation Stage on the IROS expo floor, giving early-stage robotics founders a chance to put their companies in front of a panel of industry judges and a large research audience.
The Pitchfest was designed for startups at the beginning of their journey. To be eligible, a startup had to meet all three criteria:
- Incorporated less than 5 years ago
- Raised less than $2M in funding
- Fewer than 20 employees
We received applications from 50 startups around the world who met the criteria. Overall, applications came from 11 countries and 13 U.S. States, including both U.S. coasts and the Midwest, from across Europe, and from India, China, South Korea, Singapore and West Africa.
Applicants spanned a wide range of industries and technical disciplines, a sign of how many sectors robotics is now reshaping.
Eight finalists pitched live on the Innovation Stage on the IROS expo floor:
- Apiary Robotics
- Collective Robotics Ltd
- Drift
- Hardhat Robotics
- Riibotics
- Sensate Robotics, Inc.
- Strive Robotics
- Tall Wall Robotics Inc.
Congratulations to every finalist, including ROPHAI and Inception Robotics who were unable to attend.
Three judges from industry and law evaluated the finalists and provided an interactive Q&A session. Judges included:
- Biren Patel, Head of Mobility Business Unit & Business Development – USA, Maxon
- Colm Prendergast, Sr. Director, Head of Emerging Tech Hub, Analog Devices
- Jennifer V. Audeh, Partner, Foley Hoag
A special thanks to Morten Berenth Nielsen, Senior Innovation Consultant and Senior Adviser, Syddansk Universitet (University of Southern Denmark) who stepped in to act as moderator (serious weather prevented Steve Crowe, from the Robot Report, to attend the event, as well as judges Tom Ryden, MassRobotics Executive Director, and Danielle Lussier, Relationship Manager, Technology Banking Group at Wells Fargo)
The judges scored each pitch on seven criteria:
- Unique core technology
- Understanding of the target market
- Problem-solution fit
- Evidence of traction
- Potential for revenue growth and scalability
- Strength and completeness of the founding team
- Clarity of the business model
Cash prizes were made possible by sponsorship from Analog Devices, Maxon and Wells Fargo.
The Grand Prize included:
- $10,000 cash prize
- $5,000 in complimentary attorney services from Foley Hoag*
- A complimentary ticket to RoboBusiness in Santa Clara, California
- An invitation to the MassRobotics Investor Demo Day
- A dedicated feature article or podcast from The Robot Report
Runner-up
- $5,000 cash prize
- Exposure to the IROS community
(*Subject to Foley Hoag’s standard intake procedures for new clients, including conflict checks and entry into an appropriate engagement letter.)
The grand prize recipient was Hardhat Robotics who takes home the $10,000 cash prize, $5,000 in legal services from Foley Hoag, a ticket to RoboBusiness, a spot at MassRobotics Investor Demo Day and a feature in The Robot Report.
Runner-up went to Strive Robotics who earned the $5,000 cash prize and exposure to the IROS community.
The judges singled out Apiary Robotics for special honorable mention recognition.
Thanks to our judges for their time and insight, and to our sponsors Analog Devices, Maxon, Wells Fargo, Foley Hoag, The Robot Report, RoboBusiness and the IEEE Robotics & Automation Society for making Pitchfest possible. Thank you as well to IROS 2026 for hosting us in Pittsburgh.
Most of all, thank you to all 50 startups who applied and the eight who presented on stage! We can’t wait to see what they build next.
Interested in future MassRobotics startup competitions? Keep an eye on our events page and newsletter for the next call for applications.
