“The vision is to train young minds to become entrepreneurs of the future”, says the Co-Founder & CEO, Moonshot Junior Inc, Alok Jain.
Alok Jain, Co-Founder & CEO, Moonshot Junior Inc. a startup based in Silicon Valley, has given a new dimension to the concept of empowerment in the modern world. He has empowered innovators and builders and turned them into entrepreneurs and educators of tomorrow.
Alok is proud of his company’s cutting-edge platform and products that help to uncover and nurture the STEAM skills in children. The best part is, this platform is an overlay around the ideas, projects, and products straight out of the creative minds of children between 7-17 years, with some guidance from subject-matter experts where necessary.
Alok Jain’s organization proudly helps any kid who has questions, ideas, and above all, curiosity, for building anything. Kids interact, ideate, learn, and work closely with the team till their products are launched on the organization’s platform. These products are widely loved and purchased by other parents and children for education and inspiration, thus furthering the circle of innovation by young minds.
Alok Jain speaks to Business Upside in this interview on his business strategies, success tips, and entrepreneurial motivation.
Edited excerpts from the interview:
Business Upside [BU]: How did you get your idea or concept for the business?
Alok Jain [AJ]: As a father of two and an entrepreneur myself, I was fully aware that traditional methods of teaching focus on giving student-specific skills based on the jobs relevant today. As technology and the way business is conducted are rapidly changing every few years, most of this learning will be obsolete. To bridge this gap, we decided to create a program that will be relevant for futuristic jobs as no other company was addressing this problem.
Business Upside [BU]: How did you come up with the name for your company?
Alok Jain [AJ]: The core of our vision and the reason why we started this company is to train young minds to become entrepreneurs of the future, who will go on to solve large problems at scale. Hopefully, we can train and inspire these budding entrepreneurs to change the world as we know it positively. The name, Moonshot Junior, neatly sums up what we are trying to achieve.
Business Upside [BU]: Have you ever turned down a client?
Alok Jain [AJ]: Our goal is to upskill children and make them future-ready. When you are dealing with children, you have to be selective in your approach. You have to find people who share your vision and are as passionate about it as you are. To ensure that you reach your goal or at least move in the right direction, it is crucial to select the right people.
Business Upside [BU]: What is unique about your business?
Alok Jain [AJ]: Product-based learning and hands-on experience set us apart from others. With Moonshot Junior, children are involved in creative thinking from day one. Each step pulls them deeper into practical learning and gains real experience of doing something from scratch. They ideate, create, innovate, and finally, take their innovation to the right audience.
Business Upside [BU]: How do you generate new ideas?
Alok Jain [AJ]: We have a think tank and every member of the think tank excels in their respective fields. They are a restless lot who are never satisfied with their accomplishments and achievements. They constantly research, analyze, and brainstorm to come up with the most innovative ideas that are challenging in nature. In short, they are raising the bar for themselves to stay afloat in this highly competitive market.
Business Upside [BU]: If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting, what would it be??
Alok Jain [AJ]: My advice to anyone starting out would be to not fall in love with an idea or chase money but rather passionately work towards solving an issue at scale everything else will follow.
Watch This Video to Know How Alok Jain Trains Minds of Budding Entrepreneurs
Business Upside [BU]: How do you define success?
Alok Jain [AJ]: As an entrepreneur, success is measured based on how much value I provide to all the stakeholders of Moonshot Junior. If the clients of Moonshot Junior see the value and can enrich their lives using what we have built for them, I am successful. If my employees find that working for Moonshot Junior is fulfilling and motivating, I am successful. If all my shareholders have faith in what I am doing, I am successful.
Business Upside [BU]: Do you believe there is some sort of formula or pattern to become a successful businessman?
Alok Jain [AJ]: No formula can ensure success for a businessman. The traits that can enhance your probability of success are the drive to solve problems, integrity, and understanding people because they are the core of every business.
Business Upside [BU]: How do you market your business, and which method has been most successful?
Alok Jain [AJ]: We are hardcore tech buffs. We believe in riding on technological tools to take our product far and wide, but at the same time, we do not discount the power of conventional marketing and promoting business.
Business Upside [BU]: What motivates you to become an Entrepreneur?
Alok Jain [AJ]: Successful entrepreneurs are extremely driven to solve problems and positively impact the lives of people using their products and services. The focus of Moonshot Junior is to bring about a change in the way children learn and also teach them futuristic and entrepreneurial skills. This is something that is required in today’s day and age, and creating unique solutions to make their lives better, is deeply motivating.
