# What's next for iRobot?

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2024-02-01
- Length: 39m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-02-01-whats-next-for-irobot
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/what-happens-next-to-irobot

## Summary

Hosts Steve Crowe, Mike Oitzman, and Gene Demaitre analyze the collapse of Amazon's proposed $1.42 billion acquisition of iRobot and the subsequent departure of CEO Colin Angle. They discuss iRobot's financial struggles, including a projected $250-300 million operating loss and a 31% workforce reduction, driven by intense competition from Chinese rivals like Roborock and EcoVacs. The hosts explore iRobot's historical difficulty in innovating beyond the Roomba, citing failed product extensions like the gutter-cleaning robot and autonomous lawnmower, and speculate on the company's future as a potential acquisition target.

## Chapters

- [0:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-02-01-whats-next-for-irobot#t=9) Introduction and NASA Ingenuity Recap
- [4:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-02-01-whats-next-for-irobot#t=271) Amazon-iRobot Deal Termination and Layoffs
- [6:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-02-01-whats-next-for-irobot#t=383) Antitrust Concerns and Market Competition
- [12:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-02-01-whats-next-for-irobot#t=774) iRobot's Innovation Challenges and Failed Products
- [19:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-02-01-whats-next-for-irobot#t=1149) Chinese Competitors and Geopolitical Pressures
- [26:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-02-01-whats-next-for-irobot#t=1613) Future Outlook and Potential Acquisition

## Topics

- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- iRobot (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Roomba (product)
- Roborock (company)
- EcoVacs (company)
- SharkNinja (company)
- Dyson (company)
- NASA (company)
- Ingenuity (product)
- Astro (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [iRobot: Colin Angle. How The Roomba Became a Household Icon](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-04-13-irobot-colin-angle-how-the-roomba-became-a-household-icon) (How I Built This)
- [Receipts or Regrets | End of Year Special](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/built-2-scale/2025-12-22-receipts-or-regrets-end-of-year-special) (Built 2 Scale)
- [CES 2019 Special: Interview with Chris Jones, CTO at iRobot](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-01-12-ces-2019-special-interview-with-chris-jones-cto-at-irobot) (EE Times Current)
- [The Elon vs Sam FEUD Explodes + GPT-5 First Look & Remote Construction Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/built-2-scale/2025-08-14-the-elon-vs-sam-feud-explodes-gpt-5-first-look-remote-construction-robots) (Built 2 Scale)
- [Amazon Moves In, Dave Says Run](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-10-16-amazon-moves-in-dave-says-run) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-02-01-whats-next-for-irobot. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Robot Report Podcast.