About Silicon Valley Robotics Academy
OUR MISSION.
United by core values of innovation, teamwork, and excellence, we want to make robotics education accessible to all students by providing hands-on learning, mentorship, and resources that inspire. innovation, collaboration, and a lifelong passion for STEM.
Teams
In the past five years, we’ve launched and mentored over ten VEX Robotics teams across the Bay Area. Each team is guided through the full engineering design process — from brainstorming/CAD to coding and competition strategy — helping students develop technical expertise and leadership skills. Many of our teams have gone on to qualify for State, U.S. Open, and World Championships.
Initiatives
Beyond competitive robotics, we run hands-on STEM programs ('S23, 'W24, 'S24) and workshops that introduce students to engineering, programming, and problem-solving. From beginner design lessons to advanced automation challenges, our initiatives make robotics accessible to students from all backgrounds and experience levels.
Hosting tournaments
In collaboration with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), we co-hosted one of the largest VEX robotics tournaments in China, bringing together over 350 teams from across the country for the opportunity to qualify for nationals.
Awards & Recognition
Over the years, our teams have achieved consistent success on both national and international stages.
ALl-Time HS World Rank #3
2× HS World Championship Division Semi-Finalist (‘22, ‘24)
2× National Signature Champion
Our Story.
Silicon Valley Robotics Academy was founded by Andrew Zhou, a fervent engineer and robotics leader from the Tri-Valley area.
After leading his VEX Robotics team to multiple national and world-level awards, Andrew realized that many students around him never had the chance to experience the thrill of bringing a robot to life through code. He began hosting small weekend workshops in his garage, teaching students the fundamentals of design, prototyping, and autonomous programming.
The local initiative quickly grew into a nonprofit with over 20 dedicated volunteers, 10+ mentored teams, and support from companies like NVIDIA, Apple, and Google. Through free workshops, mentorship, and full funding for robotics materials and competition fees, the Academy has helped hundreds of students gain hands-on experience in engineering and computer science — many of whom have gone on to achieve state and national recognition.
Today, the Silicon Valley Robotics Academy continues to expand its mission of making robotics education accessible, fostering a community where young engineers can collaborate, innovate, and redefine what’s possible.
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
Andrew Zhou
Leads overall strategy, partnerships, and technical curriculum. Oversees competitions, funding, and program growth. Team Captain of 77787B.
