WRO, Aramco launch startup-style robotics pitch program in Hyderabad

The World Robot Olympiad Association and Aramco are bringing 20 student robotics teams from 13 countries to Hyderabad on Sept. 28, 2026, for a new entrepreneurship pilot. Four winners will split $20,000 and receive six months of mentorship from industry experts.

Why it matters: - The WRO STEM Entrepreneur Program shifts student robotics from competition judging to an investor-style pitch format. - The pilot is designed to test whether young builders can explain the commercial value of their ideas, not just the technical build. - Four winning teams will share a $20,000 award and get six months of mentoring from industry experts. - The format could help bridge STEM training and real-world venture development for student innovators.

What happened: - The World Robot Olympiad Association and Aramco are launching the WRO STEM Entrepreneur Program in Hyderabad, India. - The international pilot takes place on 28 September 2026. - Twenty WRO Future Innovators teams from 13 countries will pitch live to entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders. - The pilot is organized locally by the India STEM Foundation, the national organizer of WRO in India. - Aramco Ventures, the venture capital arm of Aramco, is among the industry participants.

The details: - Teams will present to a panel that includes venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and leaders from Aramco Ventures. - The panel also includes a representative from South African impact fund Kai Connect and a representative from the India STEM Foundation. - Student teams will be judged on how they communicate their ideas, handle challenging questions and show the value of their robotic projects. - The program is powered by Aramco, WRO's strategic partner. - The pilot brings together teams from Ghana, India, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Africa and Uganda. - Project CARED from the Philippines is one of the participating teams. - Project CARED was developed by John Lee Bacoco, 16, Ahmika Julia Reyes, 15, and Katarina Sening Parungao, 16. - The team's robot-based system is designed to reduce repetitive work for nurses by combining patient-monitoring tools into one system. - The team interviewed nurses, patients and volunteers before testing CARED in community health centers and school clinics. - The students adapted the project based on user feedback. - Katarina Parungao said the team wants to show industry professionals how CARED could move closer to real-world use. - Parungao manages design and functionality for the project.

Between the lines: - The pilot mirrors how startups and early-stage ventures are often evaluated outside school settings. - For WRO, the format adds entrepreneurship to a competition built around robotics and problem-solving. - For Aramco, the program extends its STEM outreach into mentorship and commercialization pathways. - The setup gives students a chance to get feedback from investors and operators who think about viability, scale and impact.

What's next: - The 20 teams will pitch in Hyderabad on Sept. 28. - Four teams will be selected for funding and a six-month mentorship period. - WRO and Aramco are positioning the pilot as a model for future student innovation programs. - The program is expected to help selected teams continue developing their solutions with industry guidance.

The bottom line: - The WRO STEM Entrepreneur Program turns a robotics contest into a startup-style test of student ideas, with money and mentorship on the line for the strongest pitches.