Elnaz Sarraf – Gender and race aren’t defining in entrepreneurship

Feeling under-appreciated as an employee, a nonexistent work-life balance, financial struggles, getting out of bad relationships – these are the most common triggers that push women to become entrepreneurs. Tell us about your trigger?

I saw a huge opportunity to change the way children learn and I wanted to make an impact that continues for generations. When you look at the education system, you see that it is one of the industries that has not been changed quickly by technology and it is still missing a lot of opportunities especially when it comes to early childhood education. I saw a huge opportunity here to help children by creating our educational robot to utilize artificial intelligence and gradually develop personalized content for children based on their learning pace and interests.

How did you come up with your business idea?

I met many families during my tenure at iBaby. By engaging in conversations with them, I realized a great interest in smart educational toys that make learning fun and introduce children to technology. Through market research, I found out that most of the available products were software-based and were using hardware designed for adults—this was frustrating for parents. So I decided to work on a toy robot that teaches children through fun and playful lessons with designed hardware, especially for children.

I thought we are still yet to utilize artificial intelligence to its fullest potential in education, so I wanted to create a smart tool that uses sophisticated AI technology for teaching children. ROYBI creates an active learning experience for children—meaning that children are not passively learning, but through discussions and chat, they’re learning from their robot. Our content is designed to not only teach children about a topic, but to also get them curious with the subjects so they would carry on learning through self-directed learning even when they’re not interacting with their robot. It also allows children to learn from technology without a need for screens.

Have you had support from someone, even if just encouragement? Who was that and how did it help you?

My mom is a woman who I’ve always looked up to with admiration. She managed our family incredibly well, and she was the person behind my dad’s success in his business because she took care of the company’s finances and was the voice of reason behind so many of my dad’s decisions for his company. She is one of my strongest supports and someone that always is by my side to help me navigate the challenges in business.

Female entrepreneurs are often underestimated and overlooked. Have you ever felt at a disadvantage?

This is a difficult question to answer because I don’t have a benchmark. All I can say is that even if sometimes I felt maybe my gender is playing a roll in not getting me into the direction I want, I’ve always decided to stop thinking this way and change the way I approach the problem. I’ve got a lot of support both from female and male colleagues and to this date, I never limited myself thinking about my gender or race. I believe we can make anything possible by just being persistent. 

Some say it’s hard work, others say it’s talent and resourcefulness that play a crucial role for success in entrepreneurship? Which traits have been instrumental for your success so far? And why?

Persistence. I believe it is important to be persistent in order to be able to move forward successfully. Don’t give up easily! Be ready to change and make necessary changes in your business when needed. 

What excites you the most about being an entrepreneur?

To grow my company and to see ROYBI impacting the lives of children worldwide. I want every child out there whose parents cannot afford private tutoring to have a ROYBI that teaches them based on their personalized interests and abilities. Being an entrepreneur means you can change the world and that excites me every day about my work.

Share with us some of the worst business advice you’ve ever received?

I don’t recall anyone giving me bad advice because I think people simply provide their opinion and it is up to me to take it or leave it. Even if I take the advice and I fail, I consider it my responsibility and my learning opportunity. 

You’ve got a high stake investment opportunity. Pitch your business in 150 words.

Named by TIME Magazine as one of The Best Inventions in Education, ROYBI Robot is the world’s first AI-powered robot for children to teach languages through personalized lessons to spark creative thinking, improve communication skills, and boost self-confidence. 

What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs?

Life is short! Follow your dreams and work on something you are truly passionate about. The beginning is always hard but you will succeed eventually if you are persistent. 

What are your goals for the upcoming year?

My goal is to expand our company’s services beyond North America and make ROYBI robot available in EMEA and APAC regions. We are also working hard to make our technology available to schools and educators around the world. 

Any final words to end this interview?

Our mission is to provide a personalized learning experience to highlight every child’s ability and interest rather than one-size-fits-all. We provide an infinite learning opportunity to set children apart for future success.