News Release

Greiner Joins Major Global Undertaking to Shape the Future

BURLINGTON, Mass., Jan. 13, 2005 - iRobot Corp. today announced that its Co-founder and Chairman, Helen Greiner, has been named one of 237 young leaders who have been selected to take part in The Forum of Young Global Leaders, working in close cooperation with the World Economic Forum. A new global undertaking, The Forum of Young Global Leaders brings together outstanding leaders, 40 years or younger, who have committed to devote part of their knowledge and energy over the next five years to collectively work toward a better future for the world.

Drawn from a pool of 8,000 candidates from around the world, the Young Global Leaders nominated in 2005 have been selected by a nomination committee of 28 eminent international media leaders, including Marjorie Scardino, Arthur Sulzberger, Tom Glocer and Katsuji Ebisawa. The committee is chaired by Her Majesty Queen Rania of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan .

"Rising leaders of today need to forge viable partnerships to spearhead a process of change," said Her Majesty Queen Rania. "The Forum of Young Global Leaders will activate a network of insightful, innovative and energetic young people whose vision and dynamism can lead to a future of hope, progress and positive change."

Helen Greiner is the chairman and co-founder of iRobot, a company whose mission is to free people from tedious and hazardous jobs using robotic technology. iRobot's flagship consumer product, the Roomba® Robotic Floorvac, is already the best-selling consumer robot in the world, having sold over 1 million units to date. iRobot's PackBot®, a bomb disposal and reconnaissance robot, is credited with saving the lives of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan . Greiner was named Regional Entrepreneur of the Year 2003 by Ernst and Young and has been honored as a Technology Review magazine "Innovator for the Next Century." She was also selected as one of the country's top ten innovators by Fortune magazine in 2003. Her 17 years of experience in robotic technology includes work at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Computer Science, both from the MIT.

"I hope to use the business skills and knowledge of technology that I have gained in creating iRobot and the growing robotics industry to further the mission of the World Economic Forum - improving the state of the world - through participation in The Forum of Young Global Leaders," Greiner said. "It is an honor to be a part of such a talented and diverse group of peers."

The Young Global Leaders will engage in the 2020 Initiative, a comprehensive effort to address today's complex challenges in order to shape a better future for the world. The Young Global Leaders will meet for the first time as a community at their Inaugural Summit in Zermatt, Switzerland, June 24-28, 2005 , where they will assess current and future trends, risks and opportunities at global and regional levels. The Young Global Leaders will then develop global strategies and put forward concrete actions to be taken.

"We would like to integrate the Young Global Leaders into processes that will allow them to have a real impact on global affairs and to make sure that global decision-making preserves the interests of the next generation," said Klaus Schwab, executive chairman of the World Economic Forum. "The Forum of Young Global Leaders will be a strong force from all walks of life to shake up traditional thinking and to bring a bold, forward-looking approach to the world."

For more information and a detailed list of all Young Global Leaders, please visit www.weforum.org/ygl or www.younggloballeaders.org.

About The Forum of Young Global Leaders

The Forum of Young Global Leaders, based in Geneva , Switzerland , is in the process of being incorporated as an independent, not-for-profit foundation, under the supervision of the Swiss Government. The Forum of Young Global is comprised of leaders, 40 years and younger, committed to shaping the future. The Young Global Leaders include leaders from each of the seven geographic regions and from the worlds of politics, business, society, learning, arts and culture. Each year, around 200 Young Global Leaders are nominated to serve for a period of five years, ultimately forming a community of 1,111 by 2009. The Forum of Young Global Leaders was created by Professor Klaus Schwab in 2004 and acts in close cooperation with the World Economic Forum in their joint commitment to improving the state of the world.

About the World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world. The Forum provides a collaborative framework for the world's leaders to address global issues, engaging particularly its corporate members in global citizenship. Incorporated as a foundation, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. The Forum has NGO consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

About iRobot Corp.
iRobot has a long commitment to building robotic products that make living safer and easier for people in many walks of life. Over the past 15 years, iRobot has developed and built innovative products for the government, law enforcement, and industrial cleaning industries, as well as the popular line of Roomba® Robotic Floorvacs for the consumer marketplace. In 2003, co-founders Helen Greiner and Colin Angle were named Ernst & Young regional Entrepreneurs of the Year for their innovative work in technology. In 2004, iRobot's talent base grew by over 40 percent and the company will continue to hire outstanding talent to meet its business plan. For employment opportunities and other information about iRobot, please visit www.irobot.com.