Hey there, folks! Today, I want to take you on a journey through my professional experience. It’s been quite a ride, filled with exciting ventures, unexpected turns, and some really cool projects. So grab your favorite beverage, sit back, and let’s dive into my detailed timeline!
Let’s rewind back to 2006 when I joined my Bachelor’s program in Computer Science Engineering. It was an exciting time, full of possibilities because I didn’t have a clear vision for my career just yet and I wasn’t entirely enthusiastic about going into IT. Fast forward to May 2008, and there I was, venturing into the world of robotics outside of college. Surrounded by electronics and mechanical students, I was the sole computer science enthusiast in the room. But hey, that didn’t stop me from diving headfirst into this fascinating field. I loved electronics since I was 10 years old studying in a small school in Philadelphia, and had a knack for mechanical things even earlier than that, so this was a no-brainer. And thus began a love affair that has lasted 15+ years.
After completing my engineering degree in 2010, I embarked on an incredible journey. In 2011-2012, I delved into the realms of Humanoids and Self-Driving Cars as part of my year-long capstone project for my Master’s in Computer Science. And here’s where things took an interesting turn. Around the same time, I became a Dating Coach. Wait, what? Yes, you heard that right! Here’s how that happened.
Now, you might be wondering how on earth dating coaching fits into the mix. Well, in the world of startups, being a dating coach has been surprisingly beneficial. It has sharpened my ability to quickly assess whether someone would be a good fit for my team. It also made me a pro at spotting genuine individuals and telling compelling stories. Plus, it helped me build long-lasting connections. I’ve even developed some nifty tricks along the way, for uncovering industry problems, navigating the complexities of government offices, and more.
But let’s get back to the timeline. In 2011, I worked as an intern at GreyOrange Robotics, where I got hands-on experience with CAD design, robot arms, humanoids, and 3D printing! Then, in 2012, I embarked on a remote internship, creating code templates and user guides for hardware products developed by Dexter Industries. Exciting times!
In 2013, I had the opportunity to be a crowd-funder for the Roboy Humanoid project at the University of Zurich. That’s right—I played a part in making that cutting-edge project a reality. Inspired by these experiences, I founded JMoon Technologies Pvt Ltd in April 2013. The goal? To revolutionize the robotics startup landscape in India and solve the industry’s most pressing problems. JMoon stood for Jasmeet’s MOONshots—because who doesn’t love a catchy acronym?
For the next six months, I dedicated myself to market research, determined to tackle the first problem on my list: the high cost of hardware in India, hindering substantial innovation. I discovered that every online store had the same business model and identical pricing. So, armed with this knowledge, I reached out to international manufacturers, establishing direct contacts with top management to secure distributorship rights in India. Concurrently, I worked on coding the webstore. It was a hustle, but it paid off.
And then, in January 2014, I proudly launched RoboRium—The Robot Emporium. With just 30 SKUs bought with $500 (a third of my savings), and a bootstrapped business model, I set out to make a mark. Over the years, RoboRium grew exponentially, offering a whopping 2400+ SKUs from 64 global manufacturers. Our annual B2C net revenue reached an impressive $400k+ (B2B figures not added), with a streak of 100%+ YoY growth for eight consecutive years. And guess what? We had zero product returns during all 8 years. We became the go-to destination for anything robotics or hardware-related in India, serving students, hobbyists, makerspaces, universities, and even corporate giants like Nvidia and Amazon. We even had the privilege of being the exclusive distributor of TurtleBot3 in India for three years, and for Worbla we were the sole distributor in all of South Asia. Talk about making an impact!
But I wasn’t content with just retail. In September 2014, I set my sights on problem number two: skill development. I realized that many engineering college students in India had no idea about the exciting career prospects in robotics. That’s when JMoon MakerSpace, India’s first tech makerspace, was born in Delhi. It transformed RoboRium’s office after-hours (evenings and weekends) into a hub of creativity and innovation, accessible to anyone interested in hardware, tools, machines, and books. We ran workshops, collaborated with makerspaces across the country, incubated startups, and inspired over 6000 individuals from ages 6 to 68. The impact was profound, bringing hardware startups into the spotlight and fostering a vibrant maker community.
But I didn’t stop there. In December 2014, I tackled problem number three: the lack of hands-on experience and job opportunities for aspiring robotics professionals. Enter JMoon Labs, our R&D unit. We exclusively hired students as interns and fresh graduates as employees, offering them the chance to work on cutting-edge projects. Our team developed some amazing innovations, including a smartphone-controlled dress and the Robot JJ series (JJ = Jasmeet Junior, seeing a pattern with the acronyms?). Many of our interns and employees went on to build successful careers in academia and industry worldwide.
In 2015, I decided to explore a new market—cosplayers! After touring India and connecting with artists and makers, I discovered that professional cosplayers lacked access to the right technology and materials for their incredible costumes. That’s when MakerMandi came to the rescue. Think of it as a combination of Etsy, Tindie, and eBay—a platform for all kinds of makers to showcase their products and services. MakerMandi became the go-to marketplace platform for cosplayers and artists, thanks to the seamless payment gateways and logistics support we had in place. We introduced 3D printing to the Indian cosplay community, fostered long-lasting relationships, and became a trusted resource for technology, materials, and product-sourcing advice.
In May 2017, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Rajeev Circle Fellowship in Palo Alto, California, my 1st trip back to the US in 17 years. It was supposed to be a 15-day adventure, but since I was both a founder and a maker, it was extended to a full month. It was a valuable experience that taught me the importance of delegation, improved my ability to do remote work, and made me realize that the problems I had encountered were not unique to India they existed in US, Pakistan, Canada, and lots of countries in Africa. Incubation programs for hardware startups were lacking, and the wheels turned slowly in university and government-run incubators. So I kickstarted an incubation program at JMoon MakerSpace as soon as I arrived back in Delhi.
Life took me to Canada in August 2019, where I obtained residency and began expanding RoboRium to North America. I divided my time between the US, Canada, and India, exploring new opportunities and nurturing existing ones. Little did I know that in March 2020, the world would be hit by global lockdowns, forcing us to shut down physical access to JMoon MakerSpace. It was a tough blow, but as they say, every challenge presents a new opportunity.
A few weeks prior in February 2020, a conversation with a fellow entrepreneur sparked an idea. I realized there was a need to analyze investments made in crowdfunding platforms and other forms of investment using AI. I had lost money in crowdfunding scams and wasn’t a great investor so I needed the help of an AI. This led me to focus more on the finance industry. As I delved deeper into investment data and networked with professionals, I discovered that hardware startups continued to struggle with investments due to the prevailing belief that “Hardware is hard.”
Adapting to the changing landscape, I started mentoring and coaching startups remotely around the same time. From robotics and 3D printing to IoT and AI, I shared my expertise with entrepreneurs from various industries. In January 2021, after careful consideration, I made the decision to support other entrepreneurs full-time. I enjoyed helping them succeed, had a knack for strategy, and possessed a wealth of experience to ensure that hardware was not hard for anyone. To further solidify my knowledge and broaden my horizons, I enrolled in Draper University’s FoE course, where I discovered interesting parallels between entrepreneurship and dating. I also mentored fellow entrepreneurs and started working on my financial AI project, SmarterAngel along with a small team of developers.
The time came for me to decide whether I would slowly work on solving these problems in each country 1 by 1, or focus on solving bigger issues in the robotics industry worldwide, and I chose the latter.
In 2021-22, I embarked on a new educational journey by pursuing an Executive MBA, my second master’s degree. This allowed me to formalize my knowledge in areas I hadn’t explored during my academic years. I mentored entrepreneurs within the university’s network, managed investment pipelines, and ran portfolio incubation programs for first-time founders. It was a period of personal growth as I expanded my understanding of industries beyond my previous expertise.
Now, in 2023, I find myself in Canada, mentoring entrepreneurs with various organizations and immersing myself in fascinating industries like FMCG, healthtech, cleantech, fashion, and cosmetics. Each interaction brings new insights and fuels my passion for helping entrepreneurs succeed.
So, there you have it—the detailed timeline of my professional journey so far. From my early days in India to expanding my reach globally, I’ve encountered and overcome numerous challenges. Along the way, I’ve learned invaluable lessons, built impactful ventures, and left a lasting mark in the robotics and startup ecosystem. But my journey is far from over, and I look forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. Stay tuned for more adventures as I continue to support and empower entrepreneurs across industries.