Texpand, a robotics team from Pinelands, made history as the 2025 South African Champions in the First Tech Challenge (FTC), dominating the competition with their technical expertise and strategic mastery, while also launching a STEM outreach program to support under-resourced communities and seeking sponsorships for their journey to the 2025 World Championships in Houston.
Texpand, a robotics team founded in Pinelands, has made history by becoming the 2025 South African Champions in the First Tech Challenge (FTC), an international robotics competition featuring over 9 000 teams globally.
Competing at the National Championships hosted at Amazon’s new headquarters in Observatory, Texpand secured the title in a thrilling finale, showcasing both technical brilliance and strategic mastery.
“Texpand is more than a robotics team; it’s a movement that’s inspiring young minds across South Africa,” says Michelle Buckle, the team’s manager and advocate for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education.
“We started in Pinelands within the home-schooling community with a small dream, and now we’re creating real opportunities for (learners) to shine on a global stage” she added.
The team, consisting of young engineers and programmers aged 13 to 18, has been redefining competitive robotics nationally.
The 2025 FTC challenge, Into the Deep, required teams to build robots capable of collecting and securing “samples” from a submersible environment, culminating in a dramatic endgame where robots had to climb and suspend themselves from a high bar.
Texpand dominated their qualifying rounds, winning all their matches before forming an alliance with Astrovo (from Cape Academy) for the final showdown.
They triumphed against the SYRE and Fairobots alliance with a decisive score of 301 to 171. Not only did they claim the title, but they also set a new South African high score of 318, surpassing their own previous record of 218.
Beyond the competition, Texpand is committed to making robotics accessible to all. The team has initiated a grassroots STEM outreach programme, providing robotics kits and mentorship to under-resourced communities.
“We’ve seen first-hand how exposure to robotics can ignite a passion for engineering and problem-solving in (learners) who might otherwise never have the opportunity” Buckle explains.
Through sponsorships and fundraising efforts, Texpand has supported nine teams with funding and provided mentorship to 11 new teams across the country. Three of these teams reached the National Championships, and two advanced to the final playoff rounds, proof of the impact Texpand is making.
Texpand’s cutting-edge autonomous programming is drawing attention on the international stage, positioning them as strong contenders for the 2025 World Championships in Houston.
However, despite their technical prowess, the biggest obstacle standing in their way is funding. Unlike many international teams, South African teams receive no financial support for travel, accommodation, or entry fees.
“This is a chance for companies and individuals to invest in the future of technology in SA,” she added.
Texpand is actively seeking sponsorships and donations to make their journey to Houston possible. By supporting this team, corporate sponsors and individual backers will play a role in showcasing South African innovation on the world stage and expanding STEM access in local communities.
For more information or to contribute, contact Texpand at teamtexpand@gmail.com or visit www.texpand.org.za.
