As one of the co-hosts of this podcast, I had the privilege of interviewing Shamyl Bin Mansoor, the co-founder and chief technology officer of LearnOBots, an edtech company. In our conversation, Shamyl shared his journey, the inspiration behind his work, and the challenges he faced in transforming the education sector.
The Genesis of LearnOBots
Shamyl began by telling us about his experience as an assistant professor in Pakistan back in 2014. He noticed a significant gap in technology exposure among his students, which sparked his interest in finding innovative ways to make learning more engaging and fun. This led him to experiment with 3D printed robots and game design in his coding classes.
Realizing the larger issue of outdated education systems, Shamyl and his co-founder decided to start LearnOBots. Their mission was to design workshops, create curriculum, and collaborate with schools to provide a more interactive and engaging learning experience.
Shamyl and his team discovered the power of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) approach, which combines these subjects in a practical, hands-on manner. They created theme-based learning environments, such as programming robots to find water on Mars, to encourage problem-solving and experiential learning.
Shamyl firmly believes that every child should have exposure to different domains and themes to help them discover their passions. In his country, limited exposure often leads children to pursue only a few careers, such as engineering or medicine. LearnOBots aims to broaden their horizons by allowing them to explore technologies, play with robots, create art, and use programming languages.
Overcoming Initial Challenges
Setting up the business fundamentals for LearnOBots in the complex education sector was not without its challenges. Shamyl shared that initially, it was difficult to convince schools to accept their new model. They faced difficulties in getting meetings and schools didn't understand or want to pay for their services.
To overcome this, they took matters into their own hands and started conducting their own workshops at a university. They targeted parents through Facebook marketing, sharing pictures of the workshops on social media. This organic evolution of their business model eventually led schools to come to them, as parents pushed for similar programs in their children's schools.
Pivoting to a Scalable Business Model
Shamyl explained that they initially had a trainer-oriented model, which was not scalable. They had to train engineers to become trainers and teachers, but realized that this approach had limitations. After three or four years, they developed an e-learning portal for STEM education, incorporating their experiential learning and fun philosophy. They created a gamified learning platform with simulators for robotics and other domains, shifting to a more scalable software-as-a-service (SaaS) model.
The Importance of Advisors
Shamyl emphasized the importance of finding advisors who can provide valuable insights, even if it may initially be uncomfortable to hear. Their advisors have helped them think outside the box and have been instrumental in their transition to a new business model.
Balancing Work and Life
Shamyl admitted that he struggled with work-life balance in the early years of the company, but has come to realize its importance. He acknowledges the need for discipline and scheduling to ensure time for work, personal life, and family.
The Future Vision and Lessons Learned
Shamyl expressed his passion for problem-solving and his affinity for technology. He discussed the ups and downs of their journey, mentioning that there were moments of doubt, but they were always motivated to keep going.
One particular moment that boosted their spirits was receiving an email from MIT, expressing interest in their weekend camp that was covered by Hackaday. This validation from a prestigious institution excited them and kept them motivated.
Financially, LearnOBots initially relied on the founders' savings and Shamyl's part-time teaching job to sustain the company. Eventually, when the company became more stable, Shamyl quit his teaching job and focused on LearnOBots full-time.
Regarding scaling their startup globally, LearnOBots has pivoted from an offline model to a more scalable software-as-a-service (SaaS) model. They have created partnerships in the Middle East and the UK, and are in talks with another partner in the US.
When asked about the best lesson or takeaway from their journey so far, Shamyl emphasizes the importance of passion. He mentions that there will be ups and downs, but if you're passionate about what you're doing, you will always find a way to keep going.
- Spencer Walker-Fooks
