In a landmark achievement for India’s growing presence in global STEM competitions, Team Sigma #9692—mentored at RFL Academy—has made history as the only Indian team to win awards at the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) World Championship in Houston for two consecutive years.
Widely regarded as the “Olympics of Robotics,” the FRC is the world’s premier high school robotics competition, bringing together thousands of brilliant young minds from over 30 countries. Hosted annually in Houston, Texas, the event showcases engineering excellence, innovation, and teamwork at its highest level.
In their debut year (2024), Team Sigma clinched the Rookie All-Star Award, which recognizes exceptional potential and outstanding community impact. Returning in 2025, they elevated their performance and secured the Judges’ Choice Award—a prestigious recognition for teams that demonstrate excellence across multiple dimensions, including technical expertise, outreach, innovation, and team spirit.
Comprised of students from leading Mumbai institutions such as Bombay Scottish (Mahim), Podar International, AVM, and others, Team Sigma is a testament to collaborative excellence across schools and disciplines. Beyond the arena, their impact has been deeply felt in the community.
Through their outreach initiatives, the team has introduced robotics and coding to over 3,000 underserved students across Mumbai. With ₹2 million raised from Indian corporates, they’ve set up robotics labs in 10 municipal and low-income schools—creating real access to STEM for those who need it most. Their grassroots efforts earned recognition from the Maharashtra Skill Development Ministry, which invited the team to host a statewide webinar for 50,000 ITI students.
The initiative even prompted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to personally congratulate the team for their work in advancing STEM inclusion.
Girls from Team Sigma have been at the forefront of both technical innovation and outreach. One of the FRC judges remarked:
“What’s truly inspiring is how this team is fostering the next generation of female tech leaders. The girls on Team Sigma are participants, innovators, builders, and changemakers. They’re setting a powerful example for STEM education in India.”
With consecutive international victories and a replicable model of social innovation, Team Sigma is driving a powerful wave of Indian innovation, inclusion, and global recognition.
