Making Hands-On STEM Education Accessible for All

Pioneers in Engineering (PiE) is a student-run organization at UC Berkeley dedicated to STEM outreach in the Bay Area. The cost of entry in large-scale robotics competitions often exceeds $10,000, a huge barrier for many schools. Instead, PiE staff creates the competition from scratch so schools only have to pay $100 to access our IDE, manufacture electronics, construct mechanical parts, and workshops.

Our PiE team consists of nearly 50 undergrad students who design new robotics kits and host competition every year for nearly 300 students in the Bay Area. Our goal is to ensure that every high school student gets the opportunity to pursue STEM, regardless of circumstances or previous background.

2024 PiE Spring Final Comp

2014 PiE Spring Final Comp

Each semester our staff works every semester to create an engaging robotics competition for 20 high schools. This consists of developing game rules, field, and software, all from scratch, making sure that every detail is tailored to our students of all skill levels. We also recruit UC Berkeley students to help with this process through our subdivisions (electrical, software, business operations, etc.). Our program develops the passion for STEM for our students while also allowing UC Berkeley students to give back to the community. We plan to use the funds between January and May 2026 to support the design, testing, and production of our annual robotics competition kit, as well as event logistics for Spring Robotics Competition.

If we meet our goal, we will be able to host a high-quality, fully accessible robotics competition for nearly 300 Bay Area high school students. This funding allows us to provide reliable kits, safer fields, and a more enriching competition experience, especially for students from underserved communities. It helps us ensure that every participant feels supported, inspired, and empowered to pursue STEM.

Below is a video from our Fall 2025 Competition, themed PiErates, followed by a sample budget breakdown that outlines the typical costs required to host our competitions!

Projected Spring 2026 Budget Breakdown 

All estimates are rough only, and actual expenditures may vary. 

If we are not able to reach our fundraising goal, we will still realize the core deliverables of our robotics education program by prioritizing essential hardware, field materials, and competition logistics. Any remaining funds will continue to support PiE’s mission and be redirected toward reduced-scope versions of the same project rather than a different purpose.

An overwhelming 70% of high schools we support do not offer any other robotics-related extracurricular activities, which gives PiE a greater responsibility to incorporate STEM into their education. Our project reaches an annual average of 300 students in the Bay Area, and aims to create a lasting impact on each of those students’ lives. With 1 in 3 of our students’ parents lacking a degree higher than a high school education, PiE strives to provide an encouraging environment to support them in their pursuit of higher education.

Any support from you will go towards making an impact in the lives of our student participants. Many have been admitted to UC Berkeley and other top-tier universities. Former participants and staff have also given back to the organization through mentoring, leadership, and pioneering new programs within the organization, including the scholarship and alumni mentoring program. Any support would be greatly appreciated and would significantly help expand our program to better support our community!

Thank you for your support! If you would like more information, or would like to contact us, please visit us at https://pioneers.berkeley.edu/ or email me at stevenwu@pioneers.berkeley.edu.