- iRobot, Luminar, and Rad Power Bikes recently filed for bankruptcy, despite operating in different sectors (robotics, lidar, and e-bikes).
- All three companies faced similar challenges including tariff pressures, deals falling through, and difficulty expanding beyond their initial popular products.
- The failed acquisition of iRobot by Amazon and Rad Power Bikes’ battery recall issues are highlighted as potential "final blows," although broader structural problems contributed to their downfall.

A: Did you hear about the news? Three companies filed for bankruptcy!

B: No way! Who?

A: iRobot, Luminar, and Rad Power Bikes. You probably have a Roomba, right? That's iRobot!

B: Really? Wow! I don't have one, they kind of scare me! My mom has a Rad Power bike though, she loves it.

A: Yeah, it’s crazy. They’re all so different - Roombas, fancy sensors for self-driving cars, and e-bikes. But they all faced similar problems.

B: Like what?

A: Well, tariffs really hurt them. And some big deals fell through. iRobot tried to get bought by Amazon, remember? But the FTC blocked it.

A: Rad Power Bikes were really popular during the pandemic. Everyone was buying them. But now their sales are way down.

B: It’s tough, isn't it? It's almost like blocking those mergers can actually hurt companies. Maybe they end up being bought by a Chinese firm instead.

A: Exactly! iRobot relied a lot on China for parts. Maybe it was hard to build a company like that *here* over the last 15 years. It also let other companies copy their ideas!

B: It’s sad, isn't it? It makes you think about these big trade issues.

A: Totally. Sometimes one thing, like the battery recall for Rad Power Bikes, is the final nail in the coffin, but there were lots of things adding up.