Creating
Tomorrow’s
Innovators &
Entrepreneurs

EnCube Labs is changing the lives of people around the world by bringing experiential teaching of
design, technology, and fabrication by empowering their entrepreneurship aptitude. The system based
on a framework with 12 years of research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has shown
significant changes in creative confidence and self-learning abilities of individuals, especially in
children and youth.

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UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

3 -6 May 2025

Tokyo, Japan

27th July - 2nd August 2025

At Asia School of Business,
Kuala Lumpur

THEORY OF CHANGE

Every child is born with the same potential for creativity and innovation, but opportunities to develop
these skills vary. Traditional education often prioritizes rote learning over curiosity and problem-solving,
causing us to lose countless potential innovators. If children are exposed to hands-on learning early in life,
they can build creativity, self-learning skills, and confidence—key traits of successful entrepreneurs. By
fostering experiential learning, mentorship, and a mindset that sees failure as growth, we can unlock their
potential and empower them to create, lead, and drive change.

Closing this opportunity gap is crucial for a future driven by innovation. When all children, regardless of
background, have access to the right tools and support, they can contribute to economic growth, job
creation, and breakthrough solutions to global challenges. By removing barriers and embracing a culture
of experimentation and learning, we ensure that creativity and entrepreneurship thrive, transforming not
just businesses but entire communities.

Zero : The Uninitiated

The individual who has not realized his full potential due to lack of confidence and self-learning
abilities which are key basic qualities of an entrepreneur

Maker: The Creative Thinker and Doer

One who thinks outside safe spaces, connects disparate ideas, designs and makes things, and is
more confident of learning anything through research.

Innovator: Problem Solvers

One who can identify valuable problems and needs in the community and create solutions with
social impact and/or financial gain

Entrepreneur: Value Creator

One who turns problems into commercial opportunities by building teams, organizations, and
sales channels from limited resources.

Ecosystem: THE FORCE MULTIPLIER

A supportive community of makers and entrepreneurs to attract and nurture new pre-
entrepreneurs through their developmental process.

CENTER:

This Collaborative Hub serves as the epicenter, providing dedicated spaces for interactions, furnishing
essential tools and materials that enable the generation of innovative solutions, and for showcasing student
projects.

COMMUNITY:

Comprising a diverse network that includes students, educators, mentors, administrators, and external
supporters, this vibrant community is the driving force behind creativity and knowledge exchange. It thrives on
the collective strengths and collaboration of its members.

CULTURE:

A nurturing environment steeped in innovation and entrepreneurship is meticulously cultivated over time. This
culture becomes a magnetic force, drawing in newcomers and seamlessly guiding them into the roles of peer
mentors. It's a culture that not only endures but thrives, preserving and amplifying the entrepreneurial spirit
throughout the ecosystem's ongoing evolution.

Center

Community

Culture

EVERY thriving ecosystem HAS THESE three key components:

THE FRAMEWORK

PROGRAMS OFFERED

There are three kinds of hands-on programs that we offer to challenge the students and build their Confidence,
Self-learning skills, andCreativity

Workshops & Bootcamps

The Zero2Maker program empowers students with
hands-on skills in design, technology prototyping, and
product development. Through interactive projects,
mentorship, and real-world challenges, participants
learn to turn ideas into tangible innovations. The
program nurtures creativity, problem-solving, and
technical expertise, preparing students for careers in
engineering, design, and entrepreneurship. Whether
they aim to build products or develop a maker
mindset, Zero2Maker provides the essential
foundation for innovation.

This bootcamp is designed to equip school and
university students with the mindset, skills, and tools
needed to turn ideas into successful ventures.
Through hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-
world challenges, participants gain practical
experience in entrepreneurship. The program fosters
creativity, problem-solving, and business acumen,
empowering students to take their first steps as
innovators. Whether they want to build a startup or
develop an entrepreneurial approach to problem-
solving, Zero2Entrepreneur provides the foundation
for success.

Corporate innovation is essential for businesses to
stay competitive, drive efficiency, and adapt to
evolving market demands. It fosters new product
development, enhances customer experience, and
ensures long-term sustainability in a rapidly changing
world. This hands-on bootcamp is designed to equip
corporate teams with the tools and strategies needed
to drive transformative growth and stay ahead of the
curve.

EXTENDED COURSE

A semester- or year-long course immerses students in
the design process through 20-30 interactive sessions.
Each session takes a fresh approach, breaking away
from traditional teaching methods. Concepts of
engineering and design are introduced through
engaging videos and an adventure-based comic series.
Students then apply their learning in the Zero2Maker
Lab, working on hands-on projects under the guidance
of trained mentors.

Zero2Maker Lab: A specially designed maker space
that enables hands-on learning through projects while
remaining affordable. Equipped with a 3D printer,
electronic modules, tools, and consumables, the lab
provides essential support for the course.

Instructional Videos: Engaging, concise videos that
introduce topics in a simple, practical way—focusing
on sparking students' curiosity rather than deep
theoretical lessons.

Comic Workbooks: An adventure-based series that
presents engineering concepts from a real-world
application perspective. These workbooks also include
exercises for students to complete both at home and
in class with their mentors.

Mentor Training: Designed for non-STEM teachers,
this training equips educators with the technical
knowledge and confidence needed to mentor
students, making it accessible to anyone interested in
becoming a Maker Mentor in schools.

PRIMARY TOPICS COVERED

PAST WORK

TALKS ON NURTURING INNOVATORS AND ENTREPRENEURS

EnCube Labs is changing the lives of people around the world by bringing experiential teaching
of design, technology, and fabrication by empowering their entrepreneurship aptitude. The
system based on a framework with 10 years of research has shown significant changes in
creative confidence and self-learning abilities of individuals, especially in children and youth.

To Create a Million Future Entrepreneurs
from Schools and Universities

Rajesh Nair founded EnCube Labs in 2014 with a mission to foster global innovation and
entrepreneurship based on his research at MIT. As a Professor of Practice at ASB and a Visiting
Scholar at MIT, he developed the Zero2Maker and Zero2Entrepreneur programs, empowering over
4,000 individuals across 10 countries. His work focuses on transforming mindsets, equipping students
with confidence, self-learning abilities, and critical thinking skills to become innovators and
entrepreneurs.

An engineer, designer, and serial entrepreneur, Rajesh holds multiple master’s degrees from MIT, the
University of Massachusetts Amherst, and IISc. He has founded four U.S. companies, holds 13 U.S.
patents, and was recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year by the New Hampshire High Tech Council.
Through 100+ workshops, he has trained students worldwide, particularly in underserved
communities. His vision is to create one million entrepreneurs by building ecosystems that nurture
creativity, problem-solving, and sustainable innovation.

For more information, visit: www.rajeshnair.me

OUR MISSION

Ning Shirakawa, founded her first startup at MIT, with a mission of inspiring and empowering teens
and adults around the world with entrepreneurship education. Now she is a best-selling author,
educator, entrepreneur, and social media influencer on global education. She holds an MBA from MIT-
Sloan School of Management and BS in Economics/Psychology/Chinese from Duke University

RECENT ACTIVITIES

Feb 2025: Ashoka University, Sonipet- Zero2Makerr session conducted as part
of the course on Jugaad

Jan 2025: Conducted Zero2Maker
workshops in multiple schools across
Japan. Kochi, Fukuoka, Shibuya, Totori,
Tokyo

Sep 2024: Zero2Maker Teacher
Training for two schools in India.
Bharatita Vidya Peedom, Parassala,
Kerala, and Sevelaya School, Chennai

Dec 2024: Zero2Maker course for 40
students across Myanmar. This program
was organized by S2F to help students
who lost access to schooling during the
social unrest in the country

Contact:

info@encube.co

CONTACT

PAST COLLABORATIONS