Ashan Industries by Bhavya-Ashutosh

Founder: Bhavya-Ashutosh Vaitha

School: Year 10 Students At Canterbury College

Business Name: Ashan Industries

Bhayva-Ashutosh at the 2024 National Next Gen Awards Evening

Tell Us About Your Business?*

Ashan Industries was founded with the mission of empowering those who communicate differently from conventional methods. We are dedicated to creating a more inclusive community for individuals who face challenges with verbal communication.

Our innovative app is designed to help people with autism communicate more effectively by incorporating sign language, body language, and speech. At Ashan Industries, we value empowerment and inclusivity, striving to develop tools that give a voice to non-verbal individuals and foster connection and understanding in society. Through our efforts, we aim to bridge communication gaps and support individuals in expressing their needs and ideas confidently.

How Did You Come Up With The Business Idea?

Ashan Industries was founded with the mission of empowering those who communicate differently. We are dedicated to fostering a more inclusive community for individuals who do not rely on conventional communication methods.

Inspired by my eight-year-old brother Vishan, who was diagnosed with non-verbal autism at the age of two, we are developing an app to help people with autism communicate. Vishan primarily uses body language to express his needs, and our app aims to bridge this communication gap by incorporating sign language, body language, and speech. Through this, we strive to create a tool that empowers non-verbal individuals and enhances their ability to connect with the world.

What Obstacles Have You Faced In Building And Growing Your Business And How Have You Overcome Them?

A key moment where I had to think creatively to overcome a challenge was during the development of the app’s user interface. One of the biggest obstacles was ensuring the app was user-friendly and accessible for our target audience. In the early stages, extensive research and design iterations were necessary, but feedback from users revealed that the initial design wasn’t intuitive enough.

To address this, I collaborated with users to better understand their needs and incorporated their feedback into the design process. This approach allowed me to creatively rethink the app’s UX/UI, resulting in a product that was both functional and easy to use. Additionally, securing funding was another challenge. By participating in competitions and networking events, I creatively leveraged these opportunities to gain not only financial support but also valuable insights and connections that helped propel the project forward.

Can You Share Any Success Stories Or Moments That Highlight The Positive Influence Of Your Efforts?

One of the most rewarding aspects of this project has been the positive response to the story behind our business and the simplicity of our solution. People have been genuinely excited about how the app progresses users through different levels of communication, and it’s been inspiring to see how much interest it has generated.

While this is a long-term project, the current pace of development is promising, and I know it will soon have a significant positive impact. Knowing that the app will benefit not only my brother but also others like him makes the journey even more meaningful.

What Is The Most Important Thing You’ve Learned Through The Next Gen Awards? The most important thing I’ve learned through the Next Gen Awards is the value of persistence and continuous effort. This year, I’ve worked twice as hard and seen our achievements double as a result. The experience taught me that it’s not enough to stop once you’ve reached a milestone—you have to keep pushing forward. Applying for opportunities like this gives your ideas the chance to be seen by the world, but success comes from consistently building on the momentum and striving for even more.

What Is Your Long-Term Vision For Your Business? In the long term, my vision for the project is to develop a minimum viable product (MVP) that embodies the core functionality and user experience I aim to deliver. After thorough testing to ensure it meets the needs of its users, I plan to present the app to potential investors. My goal is to create a solution that not only functions effectively but also resonates with users, paving the way for future growth and impact.

What Future Projects Or Initiatives Do You Have In Mind For Your Business And How Do You Plan To Expand Its Reach And Influence?

Looking ahead, I plan to continue building my presence on LinkedIn by improving the quality of content while maintaining consistency. This platform has already helped expand our reach, and I believe it will continue to play a significant role in growing the business. There are many potential applications for our app, and we’re focused on developing it to a point where we are truly proud of what we’ve created. While I can’t reveal too much at this stage, we have exciting plans in the works that will expand our influence and further our mission of empowering those who communicate differently. Stay tuned!

How Do You Plan To Continue Your Journey Of Personal And Professional Development Beyond The Next Gen Awards? Beyond the Next Gen Awards, I plan to continue my personal and professional development by taking every opportunity that comes my way. This includes attending networking events to build valuable connections, seeking out mentorships for guidance, and applying to more competitions to gain further exposure.

Meanwhile, I will stay focused on the development and testing of our minimum viable product (MVP) behind the scenes, ensuring it meets the needs of users and aligns with our mission. This balanced approach of seizing opportunities and refining our product will help propel both my business and my personal growth forward. What Advice Would You Give To Other Young Students Who Aspire To Develop Their Own Businesses? Taking every opportunity has been crucial to my journey. If I hadn’t started saying “yes”, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Each opportunity, no matter how big or small, opens doors and leads to growth. Whether it’s speaking at an event, attending a competition, or connecting with someone new, these experiences have all contributed to my progress. Some opportunities might take you a metre, others a mile—that’s up to you and how you embrace them. I encourage you to start saying “yes” to every opportunity, because you never know where it might lead.

Learn more about Bhayva-Ashutosh and support his journey by visiting the link below and connecting with him here.

Bhavya-Ashutosh Vaitha participated in our Next Gen Awards 2024 program and was our one of our finalists for the Young Entrepreneur and Young Innovator Of The Year award. Bhayva-Ashutosh was also the recipient our BOP Alumni Of The Year award. To find out more about the Next Gen Awards and how your projects and initiatives can be showcased head to: www.nextgenoftheyear.com