Friendship day 2021: The journey of the 2 cubicle friends to Co-founders of STEMROBO Technologies
New Delhi : Working in an office with colleagues offers us uncountable experiences, learning opportunities and unforgettable friendships which last for a lifetime. Contributing to the same task for other companies till contributing to the same task for own company, the co-founders of STEMROBO Technologies have made it all.
It’s said that friendships in the workplace rarely work but Anurag Gupta and Rajeev Tiwari who co-founded STEMROBO Technologies has proved it wrong by becoming an example for all those colleagues who are thinking to start a business of their own.
Having a mutual thought of helping K-12 students with upgraded technology, they both aimed to provide STEM education and help students learn better. No one knew that this single step by two colleagues would one day help thousands of K-12 students to learn in an ever-innovative way. In an exclusive conversation with Anurag Gupta, the CEO and Co-founder at STEMROBO Technologies talks about his friendship quotient and the fruitful journey with his true friend & co-founder Rajeev Tiwari. Excerpts:
1) Please throw some light on how the two of you met each other for the first time and how did the journey from two colleagues to Co-founders start?
Our first meeting dates back to 2009 when we used to work for one of the leading Technology and Electronic firms. We used to sit in cubicles and discuss how we both wanted to start something of our own in the field of Ed-tech. Rajeev had a breathtaking hold in Technology and Finance whereas I had the burning desire to do something related to Technology and Education. We both had 20 years of expertise in our respective fields and wanted to bring a real change in the society for K-12 students through STEM, STEAM, Robotics, IoT, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), allowing them to learn in an ever-innovative and passionate way that we never did in our times.
Back then, we went to colleges, schools, conducted webinars and we realized that every student needs STEM education and Robotic education as they are lacking in technical education and this is the future. We saw the problem and big gap in the market therefore we decided to establish STEMROBO Technologies. So, in 2015, we both started our business together with the thought of a Make in India concept.
2) Apparently, whose idea was to start a venture like STEMROBO that helps so many K-12 students today?
Both of us wanted to start something innovative in the education field, particularly in the edtech sector. We both witnessed foreign countries being very advanced in terms of technology. The reason behind this is that those countries have always prioritized K-12 education more than anything else. It is why small countries like Finland and Netherlands gave birth to world-renowned companies like Nokia and Philips. This would not have been possible if these countries didn’t put their main focus on primary education.
However, the concept of inventing brands or products was missing in India. Witnessing the mindset of Indians of being a consumer always, we wanted to disrupt the education space by introducing STEMROBO Technologies in 2015 by solely focusing on primary education from K-12.
3) What does STEMROBO do to help K-12 students in enhancing their skills?
STEMROBO Technologies was founded in 2016 and the company aimed at providing a platform to students across the globe to harness learning and innovation technologies in the field of STEM Education. At that time, technology and creativity in the country were below average, which, in turn, slowed down the country's progress. New-age inventions and 21st-century skills were seen as something that only the privileged could appreciate. STEMROBO, therefore, believed in encouraging and motivating the students by giving them access to strategic technology that could lead to innovations and the country's development.
We concentrate on six main innovations, including block-based programming, app creation, App-development, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Python, 3D Designing, Arduino Programming and Fun with Electronics. We have developed Tinkering and Innovation Labs in more than 1200 schools and work with more than 5,00,000 students and teachers to foster students' out-of-the-box thinking and technological advancement.
The goal and focus of STEMROBO is to solve real-world problems by using techniques and project-based learning, while providing an Immersive Learning Experience that caters to essential 21st-century skills.
4) How much was the initial investment for the startup by you two?
We both invested our time and money to start our small venture back then. For this, we even compromised our personal lives in the initial days. When others were enjoying family trips and leading happy moments together, our focus was only on launching our startup and make it a success for the betterment of K-12 students. In terms of initial investment, we both have invested Rs 15 lakhs each for our company. Doing that, we both have succeeded and from that time onwards, we never looked back again and are still continuing our journey to disrupt the Edtech sector with STEM education for K-12 students.
5. What are your future plans for STEMROBO?
STEMROBO has setup Tinkering & Innovation labs in more than 1200+ schools enrolled more than 5,00,000 students, over 30 activity centres and over 10 robotics and Do it Yourself (DIY) in house products.
We are committed to high growth in India and abroad. We are now joining global tie-ups and reaching into new markets. By 2025, we are seeking exponential growth by extending our product scope across 70+ countries and we are targeting a revenue of $250mn (INR 2000 Cr).
We have achieved success in establishing our global identity in a very short time. So far, our teams have reached directly or indirectly in more than 20 countries. We are providing online training in 10 countries of the continent of Africa. Apart from Africa, we’re offering services in America, Australia, Sri Lanka, UK and other neighbouring countries.
