For many years, Roomba has been our best friend at home and our cats’ favorite means of transportation. A robot that learns the key spots in your house and cleans under the sofa while you go on with your daily life felt like a fantasy.
Almost another member of the family, but not everything could be that perfect, and now iRobot, the company behind Roomba, has filed for bankruptcy, hard as it may be to believe. They have confirmed that they will hand over control to their Chinese supplier Shenzhen PICEA Robotics because they have not been able to move forward on their own.
From revolution to bankruptcy
iRobot was born in Massachusetts with the idea of being an autonomous robot that would clean the floor for you. You have probably seen it in countless videos on social media and now it feels very common, but when the first Roomba arrived in our lives it felt like we were already in the future.
And although for years it reigned alone, iRobot began to run into many problems.
The pandemic
At first, COVID worked in its favor. As people spent more time at home, there was much more interest in household products, so sales boomed. But then the problems arrived. Supply chain issues, changes in consumption. Something did not add up and the money started to run out, sending the company down a slope with no brakes.
Amazon to the rescue
In 2022, Amazon offered 1.7 billion dollars to buy iRobot, a lifeline, but it did not work out. European authorities stopped the acquisition for competition reasons, and in 2024 the deal was completely blocked. One closed door for iRobot meant the beginning of the end.
After the failure with Amazon came layoffs, internal cuts and the resignation of CEO Gary Cohen, who had only been in the position for a few months.
And the competition?
Brands like Roborock, Ecovacs or Dreame not only matched Roomba, but surpassed it in several aspects: more features, better mapping, more power and more competitive prices, which is what all consumers are looking for.
A market that no longer forgives
The robot vacuum sector went from having an undisputed king to being full of options, and it was no longer enough to have been first. Innovation was required, and iRobot could not keep up.
What does iRobot’s bankruptcy mean?
The company has confirmed that it will hand over control to Shenzhen PICEA Robotics and one of its subsidiaries. They will restructure the debt and try to keep the brand alive, at least for now.
Will my Roomba stop working?
No. For now, there has been no announcement of ending support or updates, but everything depends on what the new owner decides. Whether they keep Roomba as a separate brand or integrate it into their catalog, for now you will still be able to use it.
That is how the tech world is
And it does not forgive being a pioneer, because that does not guarantee survival. Technology moves very fast and competition bites hard in these sectors. Standing still, even if you were the creator, is never an option. It seemed like we all knew this lesson already.
The legacy of Roomba
Whatever happens from now on, Roomba already has its place in history for having been the first home robot. How many hours of sweeping has this friend saved us?
Is it a final goodbye?
Maybe not, or maybe yes, but what is clear is that the golden era of iRobot has ended and now it is time for its new owner to make the next move.