DENVER, April 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — At the recent FIRST® Championship in Houston, an international event for youth robotics and an annual celebration of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), young innovators showcased their brilliance in robotics. This renowned event, which took place April 17-20, 2024, ignited engineering excellence and camaraderie among 600 teams from across the globe, with 14 proudly representing Israel.
The Steampunks, a team from Ra’anana, Israel sponsored by Varana Capital, displayed remarkable vision, ingenuity, and cooperation as they advanced to the championship finals. The spirited presence of Varana Capital investors cheering and exhorting the Steampunks during the Championship exemplified the captivating excitement of the event.
Varana Capital Co-Founder and CIO Ezra Gardner commented, “Empowering young minds involves nurturing character, curiosity, and confidence. We take immense pride in sponsoring this remarkable team. As FIRST® Founder Dean Kamen once said, ‘We’re not using kids to build robots; we’re using robots to build great kids.’ We echo his sentiment and reaffirm our commitment to fostering the next generation of leaders and creators.”
Another Israeli team, the Orbit from Binyamina, Israel, made history by becoming the first Israeli team to clinch the prestigious world championship title. As cheers resonated throughout the stadium and Israeli flags adorned the shoulders of triumphant youth, the scene epitomized the power of innovation and the resilience of the Israeli spirit.
Congratulations to all the teams for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to shaping the future of technology and innovation.
About Varana Capital:
Founded in 2012 by Philip Broenniman and Ezra Gardner, Denver-based Varana Capital, LLC, focuses on investing in and actively engaging with public and private companies worldwide. The firm partners with visionary leaders to foster global impact. For more information, please visit Varana Capital’s website or connect with us on LinkedIn.
About FIRST®:
Founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a global nonprofit (501(c)(3)) organization that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (PreK-12).
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SOURCE Varana Capital, LLC