Hard Fork Why Roomba Died + Tech Predictions for 2026 + A Hard Forkin’ Xmas Song
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Dec 19, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Colin Angle, co-founder and former CEO of iRobot, unpacks the company's recent bankruptcy and the factors that led to its decline. He sheds light on fierce competition from Chinese firms and the implications for U.S. robotics. Angle also explores the missteps in iRobot’s product strategies, including navigation choices and a failed Amazon acquisition. Plus, bold tech predictions for 2026 are revealed, alongside a humorous, tech-themed Christmas carol to wrap up the conversation.
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Failure Was Market, Not Just Product
- iRobot lost market dominance as fast-following Chinese firms scaled using advantages in the Chinese market and subsidies.
- Colin Angle argues regulatory barriers and market dynamics, not product quality alone, drove the decline.
Founder Reflects On Long Leadership
- Colin Angle recounts iRobot inventing consumer robotics and leading the category for nearly two decades.
- He frames bankruptcy as needing external help to take the company to its next chapter.
Asymmetric Market Advantages Explained
- Chinese competitors benefited from protected local markets, subsidies, and scale advantages that iRobot could not match.
- Angle says that asymmetric market conditions turned the category into a brutal "cage match."