Israeli teens’ brilliance shines in Houston Robotics event

At the recent FIRST Championship in Houston, an international event for youth robotics and an annual celebration of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), young innovators showcased their brilliance in robotics. This renowned event, which took place April 17-20, ignited engineering excellence and camaraderie among 600 teams from around the globe, with 14 youth proudly representing Israel.

The Steampunks, a team from Ra’anana and Israel-sponsored by Varana Capital, displayed remarkable vision, ingenuity and cooperation as they advanced to the championship finals. The spirited presence of Varana Capital investors cheering and exhorting the Steampunks during the championship exemplified the captivating excitement of each moment.

“Empowering young minds involves nurturing character, curiosity and confidence,” said Varana Capital co-founder and CIO Ezra Gardner. “We take immense pride in sponsoring this remarkable team.

“As FIRST founder Dean Kamen once said, ‘We’re not using kids to build robots; we’re using robots to build great kids.’ We echo his sentiment and reaffirm our commitment to fostering the next generation of leaders and creators.”

Another Israeli team, the Orbit from Binyamina, made history by becoming the first Israeli team to clinch the prestigious world championship title.

As cheers resonated throughout the stadium and Israeli flags adorned the shoulders of triumphant youth, the scene epitomized the power of innovation and the resilience of the Israeli spirit.