Last week, Amazon said it would solicit bids from cities and states across North America as it searches for a second headquarters that the company says could be 8 million square feet and eventually house 50,000 employees.

Colin Angle, chief executive of Bedford-based iRobot, said he would push hard for Boston the next time he sees Bezos, whom he considers a mentor. Bezos visited iRobot offices for years in the early 2000s, speaking to employees and sitting in on strategy discussions.

If I see him, I will do whatever I can to encourage him to come to Boston, absolutely, Angle said. This is a great thing if it can come to pass.

MassChallenge, a local startup competition and incubator, was a key part of Bostons pitch to GE, showing off the strong tech landscape in the area. Kiki Mills Johnston, managing director of MassChallenge Boston, said the organization would do the same for Amazon.

We believe that Boston is the best place in the world for businesses from young startups to established corporates, Johnson said. Wed welcome the opportunity to show off all the innovation activity happening across the state.

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