KinderLab Robotics History

KinderLab Robotics is dedicated to universal STEAM literacy by providing research-based robot kits to every young child.

Mitch and Marina Playing with KIBO Image

Our Robotics History

KinderLab Robotics emerged from a need to bring Dr. Marina Umaschi Bers’ robotics research on educational technology to a wider audience of young children. When presenting her work at conferences, Marina was being asked: “How can I get a robotics kit?” and not having a good answer.

During a walk with her friend Mitch Rosenberg, a veteran executive at several robotic start-up companies, one afternoon at Walden Pond, near Boston, they decided to join forces to fulfill an old-dream of his: improving STEM education for young children. During that walk, KinderLab Robotics and KIBO was born.

KinderLab Robotics is dedicated to universal STEAM literacy. We aim to accomplish this by providing research-based robot kits to young children. Robotics in early learning introduces STEAM concepts in a playful way and gets even the youngest learners excited about Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math!

Our Co-Founders

Dr. Marina Bers Photo Image

Marina Umaschi Bers

Co-Founder

Dr. Marina Umaschi Bers is an Augustus Long Professor of Education at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College, where she heads the interdisciplinary DevTech Research Group. Her research involves the design and study of innovative learning technologies to promote positive youth development. Marina is also the co-founder and chief scientist at KinderLab Robotics, Inc.

Over the last two decades, Marina has conceived, designed and evaluated diverse educational technologies ranging from robotics to virtual worlds. Dr. Bers has co-developed the ScratchJr, a free app for children 5 to 7 to learn programming; and has received numerous grants that allow her to develop and research new technologies.

Bers’ philosophy and theoretical approach for developing these technologies as well as the curriculum and assessment methods can be found in her many research projects and published books.

Marina is from Argentina. In 1994 she came to the US and received a Master’s degree in Educational Media from Boston University and a Master of Science and PhD from the MIT Media Laboratory working with Seymour Papert.

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Mitch Rosenberg

CEO

Mitch Rosenberg is the CEO at KinderLab Robotics. He brings over 30 years of experience in the technology industry in engineering, marketing, product management and sales. He has executive experience at several successful technology firms, including robotics firms such as Automatix Inc., Kiva Systems (sold to Amazon in 2012) and Rethink Robotics.

Mitch received his BSEE and MSeE degrees from MIT and MBA from Boston University.

Marina at TEDxJackson

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Our Team

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Jack Bennett

Robot Assembler

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Jason Innes

Director of Curriculum, Training, and Product Management

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Dave Jennett

Business Manager

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Christina MacCaughey

Director of Marketing

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Laura Segel

Director of Manufacturing

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Itai Squires-Kasten

Shipping and Receiving Coordinator