 One of the most rewarding parts of our work at Roversa Robotics is partnering with teachers to co-design learning experiences that bring computer science (CS) to life in creative and meaningful ways. Whether it's a farm full of waddling ducks or a deep-sea mission to the ocean floor, we’ve seen how world-building through robotics can open up new dimensions of learning. Why Robotics? Why World-building? There’s a growing body of research showing that robots are more than just cool gadgets in the classroom—they’re powerful tools for learning:
Here is what we’ve discovered through working directly with teachers and their students: world-building might be the secret ingredient that makes everything click. When students create and explore imagined worlds with Roversa, they:
In short, world-building turns robotics into a launchpad for learning across every dimension.  Duck Duck Robot: Math Meets Storytime One of our favorite examples of this creative integration is Duck Duck Robot. It all started with a read-aloud favorite in a K–1 classroom: Quack and Count by Keith Baker. A teacher reached out to explore how she could extend the story’s math concepts with a robotics twist. Together, we developed a story-based activity kit that uses Roversa to explore addition, grouping, and sequencing—all while helping a duck waddle its way through the world students helped create. The result? A joyful, standards-aligned activity that connects math, literacy, and CS through play and storytelling. Underwater Mission: Dive Into Integrated Science + CS Another inspiring collaboration emerged in a 4th grade classroom studying the ocean floor. The original lesson had students code a model of the terrain. The teacher saw an opportunity to make it more engaging—and that’s when Underwater Mission was born. With Roversa, students didn’t just code about the ocean—they built an ocean world. They navigated underwater missions, identified topographic features, and explored environmental science, all while applying CS concepts like sequences and loops in a physical space. The World is Their Workshop At Roversa, we believe the best learning happens when students are creators, not just consumers. Through our co-designed activity kits and teacher partnerships, we’re seeing how world-building can:
Student-Created Resources Coming Soon What makes these learning experiences even more special is that they were brought to life—literally—by a student creator. One of our talented student interns, Sona Tomy, took the world-building concept and ran with it, designing custom mats, costumes, and character cards to enhance classroom storytelling and exploration. In her own words, “I was deeply inspired by Roversa’s mission to reach students in every classroom, regardless of their prior experience with or access to STEM. When I saw that teachers were open to integrating Roversa into their classroom lessons, world-building felt like something worth exploring. The ball started rolling when a 4th grade science teacher asked us to design an underwater exploration mat to supplement his lesson. While drawing that mat, I thought, ‘Well what if we gave his students characters and robot costumes to explore the ocean with?’—and that’s where it all began! As I created more materials for a variety of lessons, I started to see the greater scope of what I was doing. I started to realize the potential of integrating CS education into any subject and any age group. CS doesn’t have to be secluded into computer labs or stand-alone classes. The concepts can be learned alongside math, science, reading, and even art. Seeing my original mats being used by students in an elementary classroom was a profound experience for me. The creative world that Roversa opens up, combined with fundamental CS concepts, may be just the spark that inspires them to become the leading thinkers, dreamers, and creators of tomorrow."  These beautifully crafted resources—and the accompanying activity kits—will soon be available for purchase, making it even easier for teachers and families to dive into immersive robotics adventures.
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 Roversa took on SXSW with Kim this spring, joining the global conversation about the future of learning and innovation. We connected with parents, educators, and technologists about the future of STEM education and discovered they want more hands-on, more creativity, and less screen time. That’s exactly where we shine. Whether it's storytelling, world-building, or transforming cardboard into a robotic creature, Roversa helps kids create with technology—not just consume it  Key Takeaways from SXSWThe Power of Open SourceOpen source is more than just a tech trend—it's a movement that unlocks possibility. It gives educators the freedom to adapt and build on tools like Roversa to meet their students' unique needs. By keeping our platform open and accessible, we’re helping schools break down barriers, foster collaboration, and fuel innovation from the ground up. The Interdisciplinary Future is HereForget silos—the future of education is connected. At SXSW, we saw a growing demand for learning experiences that blend science, storytelling, social-emotional learning, and design. Roversa is built for that kind of flexibility. It’s not just a robot—it’s a launchpad for cross-curricular creativity and critical thinking.  Rewriting the Entrepreneurship PlaybookThe next wave of entrepreneurs isn’t just building startups—they’re building systems of change. At SXSW, we saw a movement toward mission-driven, inclusive innovation. Roversa reflects this mindset: we’re not just selling a product; we’re co-creating a future where every student can see themselves as a maker, an inventor, and a storyteller.
SXSW reminded us that the future of learning is open, integrated, and hands-on—and Roversa is ready to help lead the way.  At Roversa Robotics, Charlottesville isn’t just where we started—it’s where we thrive. From collaborating with UVA faculty and students to pitching at the Tom Tom Festival, we've been embraced by a vibrant, values-driven startup community that is as innovative as it is supportive. Our journey so far has included some incredible opportunities right here in town—like participating in the UVA Licensing & Ventures (LVG) I-Corps program, presenting our story at Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC), and being selected for the 434 Accelerator, which supports early-stage, tech-driven companies based in and around Charlottesville. This place is more than a launchpad. Charlottesville is our long-term home. We’re proud to grow Roversa’s global headquarters right here in Central Virginia. The region’s unique blend of educational talent, innovation infrastructure, and collaborative spirit makes it an ideal hub for building an edtech company that’s committed to equity and impact. Powered by Educators, Inspired by Community Roversa Robotics was founded by two educator-entrepreneurs who’ve been part of Charlottesville’s education ecosystem for years:
 Building the Local Tech Talent Pipeline Our growth is fueled by the incredible student talent right here in Virginia. With support from a Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) CCF grant and matching funds from UVA LVG, we’ve built a strong internship program that brings students directly into the world of educational robotics. So far, we’ve welcomed eleven UVA interns and two from Virginia Tech, giving them hands-on experience in product development, marketing, and classroom integration.
We partnered with student teams through UVA’s First-Year Engineering Program and the Youth and Social Innovation Capstone, helping students tackle real-world problems through human-centered design. These collaborations are shaping the next generation of creative, community-minded innovators. As we prepare to bring Roversa to even more classrooms around the world, our roots in Charlottesville continue to guide us. We’re building something that’s not only globally scalable, but deeply local—grounded in the belief that education, innovation, and equity go hand in hand. Whether you’re a parent, educator, student, or fellow entrepreneur, we invite you to join us on this journey. Charlottesville made us who we are—and we’re just getting started. Learn more and be part of the launch! |
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Research and development has been generously funded in part by an ITEST grant from the National Science Foundation, a Commonwealth Commercialization Fund grant from the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation with matching funds from the Licensing & Ventures Group at UVA and Global Programs of Distinction grants from UVA.
