The Innovation Story: Empowering Future Innovators through Experiential Learning

In a rapidly evolving world, preparing children for their future careers requires a revolutionary approach to education.

Are they equipped with the cutting-edge skills they'll need to thrive in an increasingly dynamic and interconnected global landscape?

Are they being inspired to become not just learners, but creators and innovators?

Welcome to The Innovation Story, where these questions are not just pondered but passionately answered every day.

Founded by Ms Meenal Majumder, an MBA graduate from IIM Calcutta and an electronics engineer from Mumbai University, this exceptional organization is on a mission to transform the lives of children through experiential learning.

At The Innovation Story, a team of passionate educators hailing from globally acclaimed universities unite to realize a common vision: to inspire and transform children through experiential learning. This unique approach encourages children to create, build, and innovate with their own hands.

The Innovation Story is also one of our clients at FlexiBees, having hired multiple part-time and remote-working professionals, including a Graphic Designer, a Sales Manager & a Learning & Assessment Professional. So we recently caught up with Meenal Majumdar, Founder & CEO of The Innovation Story 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 value of empowering young children to learn through experiential learning.

Some excerpts from our conversation:

What does The Innovation Story do?

The Innovation Story (TIS) is an ed-tech startup that focuses on providing experiential STEM learning by conducting hands-on programs and initiatives, curated by industry experts with the goal to empower young minds to become innovators and game changers of tomorrow.

TIS takes pride in kindling the spark of curiosity and passion for STEM disciplines by providing experiential learning opportunities. The organization enables students to explore the depths of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in a practical and engaging manner.

Firstly, we provide a gateway to a world of possibilities for independent school students – from discovering their passion for STEM to engaging in intense international robotics competitions. The young minds nurtured by TIS not only showcase their skills but also lead student initiatives and internships, gaining invaluable real-world experiences that set them apart as future leaders in their respective fields.

At TIS, our mission goes beyond just impacting the privileged. We believe that innovation knows no boundaries and that every young mind has the potential to soar. Our second area of focus is working with students through CSR initiatives. TIS reaches out to underserved communities, providing them with access to cutting-edge STEM education. Witnessing the transformative journey of these students is a testament to the power of experiential learning. From basic digital literacy, they progress to mastering competition-level robotics, unlocking doors to internships, and even securing admissions to engineering colleges.

As we reflect on our journey of less than two years, we are humbled by the growing impact we have had on young lives. With approximately 4000 students and counting, TIS has become a driving force in shaping the innovators and game-changers of tomorrow.

How did it all start? Tell us your story.

In 2017, I took my first step into the world of mentoring when I joined my daughter's team for a Robotics competition. Little did I know that this experience would ignite a fire within me to continue nurturing young minds. Over the next few years, I found myself mentoring students from various schools, witnessing their growth, and feeling immensely fulfilled with every success they achieved.

In 2019, my dedication to empowering students was recognized when I was honoured with the prestigious Woodie Flowers Finalist Award Winner at the FIRST Robotics Competition. This accolade reinforced my belief in the power of experiential learning and the impact it can have on shaping young minds into confident innovators and game-changers.

Driven by my passion for experiential learning and my unwavering mission to equip the next generation with real-world skills, I took the leap and founded The Innovation Story in November 2021. The vision behind TIS was simple yet powerful – to cultivate curiosity, creativity, and collaboration in young minds, transforming them into capable innovators ready to take on the challenges of the future.

What is your differentiator?

At The Innovation Story, we stand out with our unique approach to education, driven by key differentiators that fuel our mission to create tomorrow's innovators:

1. Experiential Learning: Our focus on experiential learning enables students to actively engage with subjects, fostering critical thinking and creativity.

2. Advanced Makerspace Facilities: Equipped with state-of-the-art Makerspaces, students can prototype and bring their ideas to life, fostering ownership and accomplishment.

3. Curriculum Accredited by TIH @ IIT Delhi: Our accredited curriculum by TIH @ IIT Delhi ensures the highest quality education and industry relevance.

4. Guiding towards Sustainable Development: We empower students to tackle global challenges through STEM, nurturing a sense of responsibility for sustainable development.

5. Access to Global Pathbreakers: Through our network, students connect with global experts, gaining insights and inspiration to explore new frontiers.

At The Innovation Story, we celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our students.

In October 2022, five TIS students from Salaam Bombay NGO represented India in Geneva, CH, ranking 29 among 162 countries in the international robotics' First Global Challenge.

Another grade 10 student from Avasara Foundation, who started with basic digital literacy, became a TIS mentor, tutoring others in programming and competition robotics. This outstanding student was offered an application opportunity for engineering admission at Plaksha University in May 2023.

These success stories highlight the transformative power of experiential learning and mentorship at The Innovation Story, inspiring young minds to excel and lead with confidence.

What do you envision for the future of TIS?

We are on a mission to create one million digitally empowered students by 2030

What made you opt for flexible talent and FlexiBees and how has been your experience?

Discovering FlexiBees through our friends' network turned out to be a game-changer for talent acquisition at The Innovation Story. As an ed-tech startup, we recognized the need for a flexible talent solution that could cater to our dynamic and evolving requirements.

Choosing to hire flexible talent over traditional full-time roles allowed us to access a pool of great talent with diverse skills and expertise.

Our experience with FlexiBees has been nothing short of fantastic. They have proved to be a reliable and dependable source of talented professionals, providing us with a streamlined process to find the right individuals for our unique needs. With FlexiBees, we now have a reliable platform to discover and onboard top-notch talent, enabling us to build a strong and skilled team that fuels our vision for the future.