A Reachy Mini to keep.
Each scholar receives a brand-new Reachy Mini robot from Pollen Robotics. Nine degrees of freedom, computer vision, audio I/O, and a Raspberry Pi compute module. It is theirs, not on loan.
Est. 2026 · Atlanta, GA
Expanding access to robotics for the next generation of engineers and thinkers.
The Finley Robotics Initiative places real robotics hardware, sustained mentorship, and a community of practice into the hands of high school students who would not otherwise have them.
Curiosity is everywhere. Access is not.
Talent for engineering, computer science, and the building of intelligent systems is distributed evenly across communities. The opportunity to develop that talent is not. The Initiative exists to close part of that gap by removing the most concrete barrier first: the hardware itself, along with the people and time around it that turn a kit into a real education.
We are not a kit subscription. We are not a one-off donation. We are a sustained relationship between a student, a piece of meaningful hardware, and a network of practitioners who care whether that student succeeds.
Three commitments to every scholar.
People who answer when you ask.
Monthly virtual sessions with engineers and educators. Project critique. Help when something does not compile, behave, or move the way it should. The hardware is the easy part; the relationships are the program.
A cohort that sees itself.
Scholars meet other scholars. They document their projects in the Showcase. They become the example for the cohort that comes after them, and the network outlasts the program year.
A free course in AI-Epistemic Resilience.
Generative AI produces fluent, confident answers that are sometimes wrong. AI-Epistemic Resilience is a self-paced course that builds the habits to verify well, reason clearly, and stay in control of your own judgment when working with AI. Written for educators, healthcare and legal professionals, and anyone responsible for AI use.
Eight short modules, a final assessment, and a certificate of completion. Free to begin.
The 2026–2027 application window.
Opens September 1, 2026-
September 1 — Applications open
Students entering grades 9 through 11 submit a personal statement, one reference, and a brief proof of access need. An optional short video is welcome but not required.
-
November 30 — Submissions close
Late submissions are accepted only when arranged in advance through the school counselor or sponsoring teacher.
-
January 15 — Finalists notified
A panel of educators and engineers reviews each application holistically. Curiosity and articulated intent weigh as heavily as transcripts.
-
Early February — Hardware ships
Scholars receive their Reachy Mini and join the first monthly mentorship session. Documentation begins immediately.
The Initiative is funded entirely by private contributions. A single scholarship, hardware plus shipping plus mentorship infrastructure for one student for one year, runs in the low four figures. Partial sponsorships, in-kind support from engineers willing to mentor, and school partnerships are all welcome.
Our current campaign is the most concrete need of all: Fund the Fleet is outfitting five Reachy Mini robots for small-group, hands-on workshops. Each $500 robot adds two student seats to every workshop the Initiative will ever run.
The Initiative is incorporated as a Georgia nonprofit corporation (July 2026) and has received its federal Employer Identification Number. An application for federal 501(c)(3) recognition is in preparation. Until the IRS confirms that status, contributions are not tax-deductible. If recognition is granted, deductibility is expected to apply retroactively to contributions made after the incorporation date, but we cannot guarantee this. We say all of this plainly because honesty is part of the work.