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Colin Angle
CEO, Chairman and Founder of iRobot @colinangle
Colin Angle is a prominent entrepreneur and technology executive who currently serves on the Board of Directors at Ixcela, Inc., a position he has held since 2013.12 He is best known as the co-founder, former CEO, and chairman of iRobot Corporation, a company he established in 1990 while still a graduate student at MIT.15
Angle stepped down as CEO of iRobot on January 29, 2025, after leading the company for 33 years.4 During his tenure at iRobot, he played a crucial role in developing and commercializing the Roomba, a pioneering floor vacuuming robot that established the home robot category.5
In addition to his role at Ixcela, Angle holds several other positions:
- Board Member at Plug Power, Inc. since 20243
- Executive Chairman and Board Member at RSE: Robots in Service of the Environment since 20115
- Chairman of the Board at Science from Scientists since 20105
Angle has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including:
- Lifetime Achievement Award from DEMO in 2009
- Innovation Award from The Economist in 2014
- Named one of the World's 50 Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company in 2018
- Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young in 20035
He holds both a bachelor's and master's degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.12
Highlights
Today I step down as CEO of iRobot - a company I co-founded 33 years ago while still a graduate student at MIT. iRobot has an exciting future ahead of it. I am not done either. 😊
On this occasion, it is worth asking the question, ‘what makes iRobot special?’ Because, if you look at its accomplishments over the past 3 decades, it is a question worth asking.
iRobot built the first micro rovers and changed space exploration forever. iRobot built the first practical robots that left the research lab and went on combat missions to defuse bombs, saving 1000’s of lives. iRobot’s robots crucially enabled the cold shutdown of the reactors at Fukushima, found the underwater pools of oil in the aftermath of the deep horizon oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. And pioneered an industry with Roomba, fulfilling the unfulfilled promise of over 50 years for practical robots in the home.
Why?
As I think about all the events surrounding those actions, there is a common thread. We believed we could. And we decided to try with a spirit of pragmatic optimism. Building robots means knowing failure. It does not treat blind hope kindly. Robots are too complex. Robots are too expensive. Robots are too challenging for hope alone to have the slightest chance of success. But combining the belief that a problem can be solved with a commitment to the work to solve it enabled us to change the world.
That is the magic of iRobot.
iRobot is a powerful company, and its mission remains to change the world empowering people to do more. It is the home to talented builders, to optimism, to possibility and to unbridled determination and resilience. To those I have shared this journey with, I am forever grateful. I look forward to serving as a senior advisor and remaining on the board through my current term.
The consumer robot industry is on the cusp of innovation and growth. I am as excited now as I was 33 years ago about what the future holds.
Onward. Colin
Today is an exciting day at iRobot! With the official launch of our fall products, we are introducing an expanded line-up of 2-in-1 robots as well as the latest version of our software – iRobot OS 7, with Dirt Detective technology and SmartScrub. With our flagship Roomba Combo j9+ and Roomba j9+, as well the recent introduction of the Roomba j5+ and Roomba i5+, we've embarked on our most ambitious product launch cadence in company history.
iRobot understands that customers need to trust a robot will deliver on the promise of automated cleaning. If a robot is continually getting stuck, losing its way, smearing carpeted surfaces with wet mop pads and so on, then a customer's trust in that product breaks down. The new Roomba Combo j9+ and Roomba j9+ tackle competing product shortcomings head-on with superior engineering, iRobot OS intelligence and thoughtful digital experiences. They are designed so you can trust your robot will get the job done right.
I am so proud of what everyone at iRobot has accomplished. We have an amazing team that has worked very hard to give consumers what they are looking for in launching high performance, beautifully designed hardware powered with thoughtful intelligence. Thank you!
#irobot #roomba #ai
