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Why iRobot went bankrupt — and how the company is starting over

WBUR | By Here & Now Newsroom
Published March 17, 2026 at 11:58 AM EDT
Roomba vacuums by iRobot are displayed at Best Buy store on January 19, 2024 in San Rafael, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Roomba vacuums by iRobot are displayed at Best Buy store on January 19, 2024 in San Rafael, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The company that created and manufactured the robotic vacuum Roomba filed for bankruptcy late last year and is now owned by one of its Chinese creditors.

Here & Now‘s Scott Tong talks to Colin Angle, who was the co-founder and CEO of iRobot, about the challenges at the company that led to the bankruptcy.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

Copyright 2026 WBUR
Here & Now Newsroom