Client Showcase: STEMVentor
Are you excited about IoT, AI, Blockchain, and Cloud Computing?
But don’t know where to start this learning journey?
This is the problem STEMVentor is trying to solve. This innovative company is dedicated to under-hyping and bursting a whole lot of inflated expectations so that you can get your teams and organization future-ready and make informed investments in technology that are relevant.
They have curated programs that take the learners on an experiential learning journey across the key computing technologies of the future.
They start with the fundamentals and build upon those with advanced concepts, giving every learner a 360° view of the technology landscape. At the end of this journey, they promise to help learners master the art and science of conceptualizing, designing and building futuristic computing solutions for real-world problems.
STEMVentor is also one of our clients at FlexiBees, having hired a couple of part-time and remote-working professionals to assist their existing teams. So we recently caught up with Vikas Mujumdar, Founder & Chief Educator of STEMVentor to understand their business and to know what worked well for them and why they choose to hire flexible talent. What ensued was an interesting conversation about the future of technology and learning journeys for young adults & professionals.
Some excerpts from our conversation:
What is STEMVentor? Can you explain it for our non-tech folks?
Everyone is excited about technology. For example, AI is trending now and everyone wants to learn AI. It's crucial to avoid the temptation of cherry-picking a single technology to learn from, solely because it happens to be trending. Instead, we provide a comprehensive learning journey that encompasses advanced technologies. It's essential to grasp the fundamentals first before delving into advanced courses. We don't offer isolated courses. Instead, we encourage you to embark on a holistic learning experience. So, rather than simply focusing on learning one technology, we encourage you to start with the basics and gradually progress along the journey, where you will inevitably encounter AI and other fascinating subjects.
Our target audience encompasses both young children and adults who share a passion for technology.
While our primary focus is on high school kids, our programs are open to all individuals starting from the 6th grade and above. We recognize that children are becoming increasingly intelligent, and our content reflects this by offering advanced topics with simplified explanations presented in a fun and engaging manner. Our approach includes hands-on projects that allow participants to actively apply their knowledge.
Our perspective on technology is comprehensive, extending beyond the realm of apps and applications. We explore the solutions of the future. Consider a scenario where a person walks out of their home, takes a picture, and sends it to a database to unlock the door. We teach kids how to build such innovative solutions, which incorporate AI and image recognition. Our aim is not just to learn AI for the sake of it but to apply AI in practical contexts.
Additionally, we delve into the realm of physical computing, which may have been overlooked in the past due to limited technological advancements. Our approach emphasizes hands-on problem-solving rather than solely focusing on coding, which is again a trend today. We guide learners through the entire process, from constructing circuits to coding and implementing solutions.
We boast a vast repository of projects, allowing learners to start with simple tasks like making a light blink and gradually increasing the complexity. Our ultimate goal is to foster a deep understanding of the building blocks, empowering individuals to unleash their imagination and create their own projects from scratch.
My passion still lies in working with young adults and helping them navigate the world of technology. But we also have offerings for working professionals.
How did it all start? Tell us the story.
I have been involved in the field of IT for the past 30 years, primarily serving in senior management roles as a CIO. While my managerial responsibilities, such as overseeing people, finance, budgets, and relationships, have been stressful over the past decade, I found solace in building technology projects for fun, which helped me destress. As time passed, I realized the potential of converting my passion into structured knowledge and sharing it with others. This endeavour caught the attention of some individuals, prompting me to consider pursuing it further.
Motivated by my newfound excitement, I made the decision to leave the corporate world behind and dedicate myself full-time to this pursuit. My collaboration with a former classmate from our engineering days proved instrumental in this endeavour. He had established a venture specializing in IoT, and when I came across his work, I contributed ideas for his solutions. This sparked discussions, and we realized that our interests were complementary – he excelled in marketing while I possessed the technical expertise.
And we are just getting started!
What can one expect when they sign up with STEMVentor STEMVentor?
Whether you are a student or a working professional, we strongly advocate embarking on a comprehensive learning journey that starts from the basics and gradually builds upon the foundational building blocks. Our approach prioritizes applied learning, ensuring that individuals not only understand theoretical concepts but also gain hands-on experience in developing practical solutions.
When a student faces a problem, we guide them through the entire process, from constructing circuits to coding and implementing the solution. By offering a complete 360-degree experience, we enable learners to witness their ideas come to life. It's important to note that for professionals, we adjust the emphasis and don't delve as deeply into circuit making or similar domains, as their focus may lie elsewhere.
Consider our approach akin to learning the fundamental building blocks of various subjects before delving into specific areas of passion or current trends. By equipping individuals with a solid foundation, we empower them to tackle any technological challenge and get future-ready.
Can you share a recent success story?
We launched our initiative during the challenging times of the pandemic, engaging with 32 schools entirely through virtual means. We provided comprehensive teacher training and catered to students' needs remotely. While the virtual approach has been effective, we are now working towards transitioning to physical interactions. However, the majority of our activities continue to be conducted online. We have expanded our reach nationwide, operating in four states - Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Delhi. These regions have demonstrated a strong appetite for knowledge, although we have observed some gaps in foundational understanding. Nevertheless, we are dedicated to bridging this gap and ensuring that learners, even at the level of 10th grade, are ready to absorb advanced concepts and skills. Our approach is designed to cater to individuals at varying proficiency levels, ensuring that we adapt to their needs accordingly.
A significant milestone in our journey was when a large enterprise initiated a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) program focused on STEM education. They were highly impressed by our approach and content, which emphasized STEM subjects and their relevance to the future.
We proactively reached out to schools and students, and it was particularly gratifying to witness the impact we had in tier 2 and 3 towns. In contrast to more privileged schools, teachers in these areas were receptive to our message but were largely unaware of the available opportunities. This experience has motivated us to expand our efforts within the CSR domain, as it was exceptionally well received and demonstrated the potential for making a positive difference in the education landscape.
What do you envision for the future of STEMVentor?
Our corporate initiative, which is the training programs for professionals, has gained significant traction and is already showing promising results. We are definitely looking to build on it.
Meanwhile, we have also recognized the importance of catering to young adults who are seeking new opportunities with schools. To ensure success in this endeavour, we have decided to partner with individuals who already have established connections and influence within schooling communities.
While this approach allows us to tap into existing networks, we understand the need to build our own brand identity in the process. Therefore, we are actively engaging in discussions with potential partners to establish physical workshops and labs that would enhance our offerings. By providing opportunities for hands-on learning and the assembly of various components, we aim to make the process not only educational but also enjoyable. However, we believe that there is more potential to explore and are committed to taking our initiatives to the next level.
What made you opt for flexible talent and FlexiBees and how has been your experience?
I saw an ad on social media and it looked interesting, so I decided to explore it.
When I reached out, I spoke to Meenakshi, one of your BD managers.
Despite my initial vague requests, your team responded promptly and executed them flawlessly, leaving a lasting impression on me. This first-hand experience has solidified my confidence in your abilities.
Compared to many other recruiting firms, I think your commitment extends beyond commercial success, as you genuinely aspire to make a meaningful difference.
It has been nearly six months since I hired from FlexiBees. We initially hired a digital marketing professional and we are very happy with her. While we encountered a slight hiccup with the second hire in the marketing role, you swiftly and seamlessly arranged a replacement, showcasing your exceptional organizational skills. The way you meticulously profile candidates to ensure a perfect match surpasses the performance of professional recruiters. Your commitment to excellence extends to all aspects of your operations.
We are also a remote organization, coming into the office only when required. We trust people to deliver. Personally, I find myself often at the client's site, to deliver workshops. Even our content and tech teams are also fully remote, and this setup has proven to be highly productive and satisfying. Adding another remote team member was not a challenge for us.
As we continue to grow, I want to recruit only from FlexiBees and have no intention of seeking alternatives elsewhere, as my complete trust lies with your organization! The positive experiences I have encountered thus far have solidified my conviction in the quality of your team and their ability to deliver exceptional results.
