aashikrahman.com

About Me

About Me

I’m Aashik Rahman, an engineer turned educator, technocrat turned mentor, and the founder of Propeller Technologies  a company driven by the belief that education should inspire innovation, not imitation. My work sits at the intersection of technology, education, and social impact, where I design systems that turn students into problem solvers, creators, and entrepreneurs.

Over the past decade, I’ve built a learning ecosystem empowering 3.9 lakh students across India to invent their own future through robotics, innovation labs, and inclusive STEM programs.

Milestone

Career & Innovation Journey

Early Hustle

2002

Selling pigeons as a hobby, showcasing early entrepreneurship and responsibility at a 5th-grade level

Grassroots of Networking

2003

Sold aquarium fish to school students and built friendships along the way, developing early networking skills and laying the foundations of my entrepreneurial journey.

First Engineering Experiments

2006

Designed and repaired bicycle braking systems, lights, and dynamo setups for people in the neighbourhood, gaining valuable hands-on technical skills.

Balancing Studies & Work

2008

Focused on preparing for public exams while working part-time at a mobile shop to support my learning journey

Skill Building

2009

I learned mobile servicing and worked as a delivery boy at an optical showroom, gaining technical skills and strong work discipline.

Started Engineering Career

Diploma in EEE
2009 – 2012

Diploma in EEE at JJ College of Engineering, nurturing early engineering passion. Part of Faizi Innovation Centre, stepping into creativity and technology.

Advanced into Electronics

B.Tech in ECE
2012 – 2015

Graduated from Crescent B.S. Abdur Rahman University, Chennai. Focused on communication systems and applied engineering projects.

Entrepreneurial Journey Begins

Propeller Technologies Founded
May 2015

Launched an innovation-driven EdTech and Robotics company. Dedicated to empowering students with futuristic skills.

First State-Level Robotics

Robotics Championship League – S 1
2016

Kickstarted competitive robotics culture in schools. Enabled young minds to showcase real engineering talent.

Boosting Student Innovation

Robotics Championship League – S 2
2017

Expanded participation through Alpha Vidyashram School. Strengthened collaboration and student creativity.

Supporting Young Innovators & Startups

Innovation Mentorship Program
2018

Guided student teams to build prototypes and business ideas. Sparked an entrepreneurial mindset among youth

Real-World Use Cases

ZAFI Robots Founded
2019

Established robotic solutions for automation and services. Aimed at transforming industries through technology.

Healthcare Support

ZAFI Robots Deployed During COVID-19
2020

Robots assisted frontline workers to reduce exposure. Provided safety and operational support in critical zones.

Women Empowerment

100 Women Student Startups Initiative
2021

Partnered with Holy Cross College for startup development. Enabled women to become innovators and job creators.

Reimagining STEM Education

Zentrix India & Zenstores Launched
2021

Introduced advanced learning tools for robotics education. Helping students build tech skills efficiently.

Expanding Robots & Tech Competitions

Tamil Nadu Robotics League – S 1
2022

Conducted with VDart & SASTRA University. A statewide movement encouraging robotics excellence.

Tech Partnership

TRL – Season 2 with Zoho
2023

Industry collaboration boosting student learning access. More schools, more robots, more excitement.

Student Outreach Achieved

3.8 Lakh Students | 498 Schools
2023

Robotics education reached districts across Tamil Nadu. Building the largest student innovation community

National-Level Tech Collaboration

TRL – Season 2 with Amazon
2024

Bringing global standards to Indian robotics competitions. Supporting future innovators with advanced resources.

Milestone

MY JOURNEY

Where it all began

"I didn't wait for opportunities. I built them with my own hands."
(2002–2009)

My entrepreneurial journey didn't start with a business plan; it started at age 10 with a pigeon coop and a bicycle repair kit.

While other kids were playing, I was obsessed with mechanics and commerce. From selling aquarium fish to designing custom braking systems for bicycles, I realized early on that if you have a skill, you can survive. By 2008, I had graduated to electronics, repairing gaming consoles and mobiles. These weren't just hobbies; they were my first lessons in supply and demand, customer service, and the mechanics of how things work.

Turning Struggles into Skills

"The classroom gave me knowledge. The struggle gave me wisdom."
(2010–2014)

My path to higher education wasn't paved with privilege; it was fought for, day by day. To fulfill my father's dream of my education while navigating our family's financial reality, I had to master the art of the hustle.

During my diploma and engineering years, I lived two lives.

  • By Day: I was an innovator, founding Faizi Mobile Service Centre and developing a drone for the Indian Defence under the guidance of DRDO scientists.
  • By Night: I was a machine operator, a daily wage laborer at the Chennai Harbour, and a fisherman in Kasimedu.

    • Finding Purpose through Innovation

    "When the world didn't offer me a seat at the table, I built my own chair."
    (2015–2016)

    Graduating in 2015, I faced a hard truth: the traditional job market had no space for the kind of impact I wanted to create. Instead of settling, I co-founded Propeller Technologies with my friend Salman.

    The "CEO" title sounds glamorous now, but the reality was different. To keep our startup alive, I worked as a part-time robotics trainer and sold aloe vera juice as a side hustle. We bootstrapped everything. We didn't have capital, but we had conviction.

    From Survival to Significance

    "A Breakthrough that changed everything"
    (2017–2020)

    Slowly, the grit began to pay off. We partnered with our first school. Then another. Then hundreds. Slowly, we built:

    • Propel Wings
    • Young Scientist Community
    What started with one school partnership grew into a movement. By 2019, we had built an ecosystem impacting 200 schools. I traveled to Sri Lanka to train over 1,000 teachers, realizing that my true passion wasn't just building robots – it was building minds.

    When the pandemic brought the world to a halt in 2020, I refused to sit idle. Leading my team, we developed the ZAFI Robot to assist frontline workers in COVID-19 wards. It was a proud moment where technology met humanity.

    Architecting the Future

    "We are just getting started."
    (2021-2024)

    Today, my focus has shifted from personal survival to global impact. Through the Tamilnadu Robotics League (TRL), I am privileged to provide a platform for the next generation of innovators.

    • 2022: Partnered with VDart to inspire 2,000+ students.
    • 2023: Joined forces with Zoho , expanding to 3,000+ students.
    • 2024: In association with Amazon , reached 7,000+ students from 600+ schools.
    Perhaps closest to my heart is launching the World’s 1st STEM Curriculum for visually impaired students.

    The Next Chapter

    "India’s first complete ecosystem for career discovery."
    (2024- Present)

    With years of experience in tech, training, and education, I built two new platforms:

    • ZenKidz: Hands-on learning in tech courses, projects, and community-driven programs for students. It reflects my belief that students learn best when they build, break, and rebuild.
    • ZenStore: India’s first career concept store helping students explore 15+ career pathways through experiential products.
    • Zen Experiential Centre: A physical embodiment of my journey — an interactive learning playground where students can touch, explore, create, and experience real-world learning.

    “I have been a student, a labourer, a mechanic, a salesman, and an engineer. Every role taught me something that I use in the boardroom today. I don’t just lead engineers; I understand them, because I have been in the trenches.”
    –  Aashik Rahman

    Milestone Achievements

    3.9 lakh+ students trained in robotics, coding, and STEM innovation.

    800+ schools equipped with STEM labs and maker spaces.

    Tamil Nadu Robotics League (TRL) engaging 10,000+ participants.

    65+ crisis robots built and deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Robotics curriculum for visually impaired students

    Inclusive

    Because innovation should be accessible to every learner, regardless of background or ability.

    Entrepreneurial

    Education should nurture creators who can launch ideas, not just find jobs  and inspire change.

    Impact-driven

    Technology must serve humanity, helping us solve local community problems while also addressing global challenges.

    Quick Fun Facts

    ✔️ I’ve built robots that served COVID patients — and one that even delivered smiles.
    ✔️ I once spent a full night debugging code with a group of 10-year-olds (they found the bug before I did).
    ✔️ I believe in learning by making mistakes, preferably in front of a robot that can laugh with you.
    ✔️ My favorite classroom tool? A soldering iron — because every circuit tells a story.
    ✔️ When I’m not designing systems or mentoring students, I’m tinkering with drones, reading about AI ethics, or traveling to rural schools to discover the next young innovator.

    Innovation, for me, isn’t about machines — it’s about mindsets. From empowering thousands of students to building robots that save lives, my journey has been about turning imagination into impact. And this is just the beginning — because when you give young minds the right tools and trust, they don’t just learn to build robots; they learn to build a better world.