FIRST was founded by Dean Kamen in 1989. The first robotics competition took place in 1992 with 28 teams in a New Hampshire high-school gym. FIRST provides students of all ages around the country, and even around the world, to apply science, math, and engineering to build robots for competition. Even more notably, through the FIRST experience students gain the knowledge and skills that ultimately motivate them to go into higher education and pursue careers they never thought possible. FIRST presents four areas of competition that are available from students as young as six to those in their senior year in high school.

FIRST's mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.