Connecting WRO India’s Brightest Minds

“My WRO journey included competing nationally twice, where I developed discipline,
teamwork, and the ability to innovate under pressure. These experiences shaped my
mindset early and carried beyond robotics, eventually helping me represent India in
hockey. From WRO Nationals to the national hockey field, the same values of
consistency, resilience, and pride in representing India continue to guide me.”

“My robotics journey began in Class 4 with LEGO NXT and EV3 and progressed through WRO in 2016 and 2018, followed by competing at the FTC Nationals in 2019. Over time, I transitioned from kits to open-source systems using Arduino and Raspberry Pi, and from competitor to mentor—guiding multiple teams from 2022 to 2024. Robotics shaped my technical skills, leadership, and problem-solving mindset, and being a WRO alumnus remains a defining part of my journey.”

“As a WRO India 2022 Gold Medalist and North India Robomission Junior winner with Team High Voltage, WRO was my entry into systems thinking and problem-solving. Beyond qualifying for Nationals and finishing in the top 25% teams nationwide, the experience shaped how I apply STEM today—as Founder of The Teen Debater, impacting 10,000+ students across 15+ countries, and through policy-led initiatives empowering 40,000+ rural women. WRO was the spark that turned technical curiosity into real-world impact.”

“My journey with WRO across 2018, 2019, and 2022 shaped my growth as an engineer. In 2018, I built a foundation in robot design, sensor integration, and problem-solving; in 2019, I focused on iterative design, reliability, and performance under real-time constraints; and by 2022, I approached WRO with a leadership mindset, emphasising modular design, efficient debugging, robust systems, and team-level decision-making. Across these seasons, WRO strengthened my problem-solving, resilience, and leadership.”

My WRO journey taught me critical thinking, collaboration, and innovation under pressure. In 2018, I competed with Team Hot Rods in the Regular WeDo category at the WRO India Nationals in Ahmedabad, and in 2021, I represented Team Circuit Breakers in the Regular Elementary category at the WRO India Nationals in Gurugram. I also competed nationally in FIRST LEGO League Jr., building problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, and resilience that support my academic growth as a 10th-standard student.

WRO India shaped my problem-solving mindset and introduced me to using robotics for real-world impact. The experience inspired me to lead my school’s technology club, mentor students in programming and 3D development, and work on community projects for the visually impaired and underprivileged. Today, as a first-year engineering student, I continue to build on this foundation through advanced projects, competitions, and research.

I began my robotics journey in 2015 as an eighth-grader at RoboGenius. Competing in WRO RoboMission Elementary as Team TRIDENT taught me problem-solving, perseverance, and real-world application of coding and robotics. Reaching the WRO Nationals was a proud milestone, made possible by the guidance of my mentors, Vimi Kaul Ma’am and Dhananjay Pandey Sir.

I competed in my first WRO in 2022 after training in robotics with LEGO WeDo and EV3 since age 7. With Team Trident, we placed 2nd at Regionals and qualified for Nationals, where technical challenges strengthened my debugging skills, resilience, and leadership. The experience deepened my interest in STEM and enabled me to lead my school’s robotics teams for the past two years at state-level and international competitions.

I participated in WRO in 2015. it taught me a lot about creative problem solving, how to do teamwork and having the right mentors. They provided a solid foundation to do well after defining your own version of success. I graduated in Computer Science and currently working with Climate Scientists, and the skills learnt here are interdisciplinary.

My WRO journey began in 2019 at the Elementary level, winning first place at Regionals. In 2022, I returned in junior high, placing Top 5 at Nationals and earning a Silver Badge. Competing in Senior High (2023–24) pushed me to think deeper and perform under pressure, ranking Top 8 nationally. WRO shaped my growth and passion for robotics.

My robotics journey began in 6th grade with First Lego League and led to representing India at the 12th World Robot Olympiad in Doha, Qatar, in 2015 as part of Team Shadow Bots. Our project, ‘Robot Explorers,’ won Silver in the Open Category (Junior Level) against teams from 55+ countries—marking India’s first-ever medal at WRO—and was recognized by the Government of India. Those years (2013–2017) shaped my path into technology, and today, as a Software Engineer at Facets.cloud, I’m still driven by the same curiosity that started with building robots at 13.

“World Robot Olympiad was my first exposure to robotics in school, and it shaped the entire direction of my academic and professional journey. It sparked my interest in working at the intersection of hardware and software, especially in robotics and intelligent systems. Today, I’m in my final year of Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo and have received multiple offers from leading companies across software, AI hardware, robotics, and hardware–software integration roles. WRO didn’t just teach me technical skills—it gave me clarity, direction, and a long-term vision for my career.”

“My journey with WRO transformed my curiosity for problem-solving into confidence and ambition. Competing over several years strengthened my technical skills, resilience, and teamwork, laying the foundation for qualifying in the Astronomy and Chemistry Olympiad OCSCs and securing an All India Rank of 209 in JEE Advanced 2025. I later led a 23-member team and won 1st place in the robotics project category at ManufexLearn, IIT Delhi. WRO nurtured the discipline and curiosity that continue to shape my journey in engineering.”

“My robotics journey began at age 9 and led to winning a Government of India-recognized Road Safety Competition and earning the title ‘Young Scientist’ twice. I set a World Record by launching 150 pico-satellites, won the IIT Delhi Ideathon with ₹2+ lakh funding, and competed at WRO Nationals in Hyderabad with Team AI Avengers. Selected for ISRO’s YUVIKA program, my pico-satellite is now scheduled for launch by ISRO in 2026.”

“I began my WRO journey in 2015 at just 9 years old and participated consecutively for six years, building my foundation in robotics through the RoboMission category until 2019. In 2022, I competed in the Future Innovators category with ‘Smart Spoon’ for Parkinson’s patients, winning 1st place in Germany against teams from 75 countries while representing India and RoboLectro STEAM Studio. The project was featured in The Times of India, The Guardian, and other publications. Today, I’m pursuing my Bachelor’s in Electronics Engineering at the Technical University of Eindhoven, Netherlands.”

“I build robots and products that move beyond the whiteboard. My journey began with WRO at age 10, where I later represented India internationally and learned to think in systems, not just parts. In college, I rebuilt and led a 30-member robotics team, taking our institution to the national level for the first time in its history. Today, that same systems-driven mindset shapes the scalable hardware and robotics solutions I continue to build.”

Driven by the challenge to protect our oceans, our team System Overload from Robogeneious engineered and programmed an autonomous robot to tackle the WRO National stage. Focused on the “Save Marine Life” theme, my solution successfully navigated complex environments to collect marine waste and perform precision rescues of endangered animals. A testament to how robotics can build a sustainable future.

I was introduced to robotics at age seven through a summer camp, where I began building simple LEGO robots and gradually learned to code and design complex bots. I participated in WRO in 2016–2017 and IRO from 2013–2017, learning to work within time and resource limits and solve problems methodically. Inspired, I pursued Mechanical Engineering at IIT Kharagpur, mentored robotics students, researched AI at KRSSG, and now work as an AI-focused software developer.

In 2016, our team DustBot – Gaurav, Akash, and Dipanshu – began a robotics journey at the World Robot Olympiad. Competing nationally was thrilling and challenging, demanding teamwork, logic, and persistence through failures and pressure. After months of dedication, we secured 4th Rank at the National Level and gained global exposure internationally. The experience shaped my leadership, resilience, and problem-solving, which I carry today at Torrent Power.

My journey began at the WRO National Finals in 2014, where simple block-based coding sparked my path into Autonomous Systems. The competition taught me that engineering is a team effort and gave me my first lesson in technical leadership under pressure. Though I earned a Bachelor’s in Biotechnology, my work in AI drew me back to robotics. Today, I’m pursuing a Master’s in Autonomous Systems at DTU, focusing on bio-inspired robotics, pharma automation, and autonomous research agents.

My robotics journey changed at the 2016 World Robot Olympiad, when qualifying for Nationals made me realize robotics was my future. The discipline, problem-solving, and technical rigor I gained there shaped everything that followed, including my Major in Artificial Intelligence certification from IIT Ropar. Today, at City Montessori School, I create transformative learning environments through Applied Electronics curricula and projects like an autonomous drone show—bridging theory with real-world innovation. WRO didn’t just teach me robotics; it shaped my career in technological empowerment.

From childhood curiosity about machines to building robots with Arduino, my journey to WRO was shaped by constant learning. Early failures with sensors, code, and mechanics only made me more determined. Preparing for WRO taught me problem-solving under pressure, persistence, and innovation. Competition day was unforgettable, and winning proved that curiosity and resilience can turn passion into achievement. WRO showed me that success comes from experimenting, failing, learning, and trying again – and this is only the beginning.

From childhood curiosity about machines to building robots with Arduino, my journey to WRO was shaped by constant learning. Early failures with sensors, code, and mechanics only made me more determined. Preparing for WRO taught me problem-solving under pressure, persistence, and innovation. Competition day was unforgettable, and winning proved that curiosity and resilience can turn passion into achievement. WRO showed me that success comes from experimenting, failing, learning, and trying again – and this is only the beginning.

My journey to the World Robot Olympiad began with curiosity and teamwork. Along with my teammates Akash and Gaurav, we formed Team DustBot. We spent months learning, experimenting, and improving through persistence and teamwork. Our efforts led us to secure 4th rank among 100+ teams at the national level, earning the honor of representing India internationally. Competing against teams from more than 50 countries was a proud and transformative experience. This achievement strengthened my problem solving skills, resilience, and confidence, and inspired me to continuously pursue innovation and excellence.

My WRO journey began with LEGO Mindstorms at school, where I learned how sensors, motors, and programming work together. In 2016, I competed in the WRO Regional Championship in the Regular Elementary category as part of Team Vijay Rocker. Through repeated building, testing, and refining under time limits, I developed structured thinking, attention to detail, and teamwork. WRO built a strong foundation in problem-solving that continues to shape my learning today.

I participated in the 2015 WRO Regular Category in 10th grade, where I learned discipline, focus, and the power of refining and improving under pressure. Competing shaped my ambition and long-term mindset. Today, as a cofounder of a San Francisco–based startup backed by Y Combinator, I see the parallels. WRO taught me that meaningful success requires persistence, teamwork, trust, and consistent effort over time.

It started out back in school my curiosity for robotics. Post the event, I took part in multiple robotics events and robo wars. I joined IIT Kharagpur and moved on to drones research for a short stint. My love for robotics never faded, I do pick up short projects of my own here and there. But early experience helped me develop and sharpen my skills and allowed me to be the person I am today.

In 2017, my team and I won a Bronze Medal at the WRO State Level in Bangalore under the guidance of our mentor, Mr. Charles Tony, and qualified for the National Level in Delhi. In 2018, we again participated in WRO at the state level in Bangalore. These experiences strengthened our teamwork and passion for robotics, and we are proud to be part of this organization.

In 2015, as a young innovator, I competed in the World Robotics Olympiad and reached Nationals, where I learned that hard work and teamwork can turn bold ideas into reality. Though my path later led me into our family business in finance and luxury cars, the values WRO instilled—precision, trust, problem-solving, and forward thinking – continue to guide my growth. My journey proves success is about evolving while staying driven.

I can’t fully describe how much WRO inspired and shaped my life’s ambitions. It took me from building simple LEGO models to advancing HRI at one of the world’s top universities. WRO made the challenge of solving real-world problems feel super exciting, and that drive has never left me. I’ve been honing those same skills ever since, always looking for the next creative solution to a complex problem.

My journey began in 4th grade building robots for fun, soon turning passion into competitive success, including 3rd place at the 2015 WRO Regionals and qualifying for Nationals. A 2018 visit to NASA inspired me to pursue space engineering. After meeting Rifath Shaarook in 2019, I joined his team post-12th and worked on a suborbital balloon mission and a satellite launched on ISRO’s SSLV-D3 in August 2024. I now develop satellite and re-entry systems designed to fly and deliver real impact.

My journey began in 4th grade building robots for fun, soon turning passion into competitive success, including 3rd place at the 2015 WRO Regionals and qualifying for Nationals. A 2018 visit to NASA inspired me to pursue space engineering. After meeting Rifath Shaarook in 2019, I joined his team post-12th and worked on a suborbital balloon mission and a satellite launched on ISRO’s SSLV-D3 in August 2024. I now develop satellite and re-entry systems designed to fly and deliver real impact.

Representing my team, Crazy Minds, at the WRO India 2016 National Championship was a defining moment in my technical journey. Competing in the Regular Senior High category under the theme “Rap the Scrap,” I designed and programmed an autonomous robot to solve complex waste-sorting challenges at Netaji Indoor Stadium, Kolkata. The experience strengthened my robotics skills, teamwork, and passion for building sustainable, real-world technology solutions.

With a background in Computer Science and Engineering, I focused on applying theory to real-world problems through data, automation, and AI. A key milestone was publishing a deep learning research paper, where I designed, trained, and evaluated models on real datasets—strengthening my technical depth and research mindset. Alongside academics, I built automation solutions that reduced manual effort and improved efficiency, shaping my approach to engineering and execution.

It was not a success for us in-terms of competition, but yeah we had a great experience and it was fun to participate. Very grateful to district science centre Gulbarga which gave us the opportunity. Special regards to Venkteshwarlu sir , lakshminarayan sir . And also thanks to the ebenezer international school for hosting the event back in 2016!

In 2016, while in 8th grade at DPS Jankipuram, I competed in the World Robot Olympiad in the Robot Sports category. It was my first serious experience building and programming a robot from scratch. Hours of testing, fixing, and improving taught me resilience and problem-solving. That competition sparked my passion for technology, and being featured in the Hall of Fame reminds me where it all began.

My robotics journey began with WRO 2010 and expanded through FTC, FLL Nationals, and multiple IRO Nationals, instilling disciplined, process-driven engineering. From debugging sensors to rebuilding systems under pressure, I learned that excellence comes from structured problem-solving and persistence. I later mentored teams across WRO, FTC, FLL, FRC, and judged at FRC Worlds. Today, as a Member of Technical Staff at OpenAI, I apply that same systems thinking to building reliable AI products.

I am deeply interested in algorithms, computer vision, graphics, learning theory, and mathematics, particularly number theory and geometry. Currently on a break from my undergraduate studies, I am working at NVIDIA at the intersection of AI, vision, and graphics research. I previously interned at Qualcomm AI Research in 2024 on vision-language models and at Civo in 2023 on improving multimodal inference performance. I have contributed to multiple research papers and impactful projects in computer vision and machine learning.

Participating in WRO India introduced me early to systems thinking, where solving problems required structured decomposition, testing under constraints, and delivering under pressure. This foundation continues to guide my work at Smith School of Business, Queen’s University, where I apply analytical thinking to data-driven projects and business strategy. WRO shaped my approach to disciplined problem-solving, which now drives my focus on building ventures at the intersection of AI and business.

Srushti Vaishnavi’s journey began at the World Robot Olympiad (2012–2016), where she developed strong systems thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Her curiosity later took her to France, where she earned a Bachelor of International Business Administration from MBS School of Business and led award-winning initiatives, including an AI-powered legal document simplifier. Today, as a Sales Associate at BOT VFX, she blends strategy, storytelling, and client growth while continuing to embody the WRO spirit of innovation and collaboration.