Meet Our Team
Meet the UP Robotics team — co-founders and instructors bringing hands-on robotics and STEM to kids in Bethesda, MD and across the DMV.
We understand that choosing the right learning environment for your child is one of your most important decisions. Our team combines technical expertise with genuine passion for youth education, creating a safe, supportive space where every student can explore, learn, and thrive.
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Co-founder
Matt Phillips
I'm a retired U.S. Navy Captain and STEM education entrepreneur with over two decades of leadership experience in high-stakes environments—from commanding warships to launching youth robotics programs that empower the next generation of engineers and innovators.
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Co-founder
Tarun Upaday
I build and tinker at the edge of product, technology, and go-to-market. Currently leading Routespring, where we're rethinking how enterprises move people and money. I also advise and serve on boards of high-growth startups in the U.S. and India.
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Director of External Programs
Madeline Smerchansky, PhD
University of Wisconsin–Madison, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, and Georgia Institute of Technology, B.S. in Biomedical Engineering.
Dream robot: A robot that can knead bread using many different techniques and monitor and regulate the dough temperature. I love baking sourdough and my helper robot would enable me to bake a lot of many different types of bread!
Classes: FLL Explore, FLL Challenge, Intro to Robotics
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Lead Instructor
Nils Schofer
American University, B.S. in Computer Science.
Dream robot: A bot like R2-D2, BB-8, or B2EMO. A close companion I could share a bond with, who could also hack control panels if needed.
Classes: Intro to Robotics, FLL Challenge Class and Teams, and FIRST® Tech Challenge
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Marketing Manager
Rita Perez
Georgetown University, M.A. in Communication, Culture, and Technology, and B.A. in Communication Studies (UCLA).
Dream robot: A robot that puts my clean laundry and dishes away!