A Missed Opportunity Sparks a New Path: Twin Brothers, One Vision

Genesis of Blast Robotics and Keystone STEM Alliance

The journey of Blast Robotics, FRC Team 10989 and Keystone STEM Alliance Inc. began with twin brothers, Virat and Vivaan Ponugoti, sophomores at Conestoga High School in Berwyn, PA.

In 2024, Virat earned a place in his school’s VEX Robotics program and helped his team advance to the VEX World Robotics Competition in Dallas, Texas. His twin brother, Vivaan already skilled in Arduino, Raspberry Pi, programming, and hands-on engineering — he was unable to join due to limited spots. Despite showcasing his creativity at the Chester County Invention Convention, the lack of opportunity was disheartening.

Rather than step back, Vivaan attended FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) events as a spectator. There he found not just robots, but an inclusive community that welcomed all students to learn, innovate, and lead. Inspired, the brothers co-founded Blast Robotics (FRC Team 10989) to make robotics accessible without barriers. This vision soon grew into Keystone STEM Alliance Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to creating a vertically integrated STEM pipeline (FLL → FTC → FRC) serving hundreds of students.

During a 2024 trip to India, they also envisioned STEM2Ignite, a mobile lab program designed to inspire underserved students globally.

What started as a response to one missed opportunity has become a movement of empowerment; where students not only build robots but also build leadership, teamwork, and resilience. Keystone STEM Alliance and Blast Robotics stand today as proof that passion and perseverance can shape the next generation of innovators and create impact locally and globally.