Every kid who wants to build robots deserves a team.
The Robotics Catalyst Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that starts youth robotics teams, pays their first-year costs, and keeps them running.
Wilton, CT · competition day
A first season costs more than most families can cover.
Kits, field elements, registration, travel. Typical costs by program. The first year is where most would-be teams stall.
- FLL FIRST LEGO League$800 then $300/yr
- VEX IQ VEX IQ$1,200 then $500/yr
- NHRL National Havoc Robot League$1,546 then $762/yr
- VEX V5 VEX V5$2,300 then $1,000/yr
- FTC FIRST Tech Challenge$2,500 then $1,200/yr
- FRC FIRST Robotics Competition$10,000 then $6,000/yr
Run the whole season from one place.
We build and operate Robolyst — a free team management platform and a worldwide competitive robotics directory. Roster, build schedule, engineering notebook, parts money, and your public site, on the same account your team uses to scout the field.
Free for every team · run by our 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Every dollar so far.
We’re a young foundation, so we can show you all of it. Here’s where funding has gone, by program.
| Program | Teams | Invested | Mentor hrs | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLL | 2 | $600 | 290 | 34 |
| VEX V5 | 1 | $560 | 15 | 23 |
| NHRL | 1 | $500 | 47 | 13 |
| FTC | 2 | $1,300 | 15 | 1,456 |
| Total | 6 | $2,960 | 367 | 1,526 |
Plus $964 processed for teams through fiscal sponsorship.
No VEX IQ or FRC teams yet. $1,200 starts a VEX IQ team.
Put a team on the field.
Pick an amount and see where it goes. Every gift is tax-deductible.
- $300 keeps an FLL team competing for another year
- $800 starts an FLL team from nothing
- $2,500 starts an FTC team, robot and all
