Helen Greiner

Abstract

Helen Greiner, born in 1967, is CEO of CyPhy Works, Inc., a start-up company that acts as a “skunkworks” to design and deliver innovative robots. In 1990, she co-founded iRobot, which has become the global leader of mobile robots from the success of the Roomba vacuum cleaning robot, and the PackBot and SUGV military robots. Greiner served as the president of iRobot until 2004 and as chairman until October 2008. Specifically, she developed the strategy for and led iRobot’s entry into the military marketplace. She created a culture of practical innovation and delivery that led to the creation and deployment of 4,000 PackBots with US troops. She also ran iRobot’s financing projects, which included raising $35 million in venture capital and a $75 million initial public offering. Greiner holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in computer science, both from MIT. She was presented with an honorary degree by Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2009.