About FIRST

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a global nonprofit organization that prepares young people for the future through engaging, hands-on robotics programs. Founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST inspires students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) while building leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

Each year, FIRST challenges teams to design, build, and program robots to compete in themed games that mirror real-world engineering problems. With the support of mentors, educators, and industry professionals, students work together to develop innovative solutions, all while upholding the core values of Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition—principles that promote collaboration, inclusion, and mutual respect, even in competition.

FIRST offers three progression-based programs:

FIRST LEGO League (FLL): For students ages 4–16 (age ranges vary by country), focusing on playful, foundational STEM learning using LEGO bricks and robotics.

FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC): For students in grades 7–12, using mid-sized robots and autonomous programming to solve annual challenges.

FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC): For high school students, featuring large-scale industrial-style robots, complex game strategies, and high-energy competitions modeled after professional sports.

With over 3,700 FRC teams and 700,000+ participants worldwide, FIRST has become a cornerstone of STEM education, preparing students not only for technical careers but for any path where creativity, resilience, and collaboration are essential. For more information, visit FIRSTInspires.org.