convertible smartphone by Rizween Aziz world’s first innovation with social influence in India

In a world the place know-how evolves by the second, some innovators dare to assume past developments and try the inconceivable. Rizween Aziz, the thoughts behind the world’s first convertible smartphone, is one such trailblazer. From dismantling devices as a toddler to constructing prototypes that merge performance with social influence, his journey is outlined by curiosity, resilience, and a relentless perception in concepts others may dismiss as “unrealistic.”

EARLY SPARK

From a younger age, I used to be fascinated by how know-how may rework the way in which we stay and work. I nonetheless keep in mind being 8 years outdated, watching my uncle join a battery to a DC motor and seeing it spin — that second sparked my curiosity about how issues labored. Soon after, I started taking aside outdated devices simply to see what was inside and perceive their mechanisms. Over time, that curiosity grew right into a ardour for demonstrating concepts and offering higher options. I’ve at all times been drawn to concepts that appeared inconceivable at first, as a result of I imagine that’s the place true innovation begins.

SPOTTING THE GAP

Yes — the chance got here from observing the restrictions of current smartphones and AR glasses. People continually change between units for portability, productiveness, and leisure. I noticed an enormous hole: firms like Samsung have foldable or flipping telephones, however there’s nonetheless no actually convertible cellphone or AR glasses that may seamlessly adapt throughout completely different use instances. What I’m engaged on is completely different — not simply bending a display screen, however remodeling the whole gadget into completely different varieties and features.

In reality, 12 years in the past I created a working mannequin with a glass related to a cell phone to assist blind folks learn. That expertise formed how I view innovation — for me, it has at all times been about fixing actual issues and making a social influence. Whenever I see gaps, I don’t assume ‘this is my opportunity,’ I feel ‘this is their opportunity.’ Innovation, to me, is a journey with many phases, and whereas I’ll hold creating, I imagine mental property (IP) is essential at each step to guard and scale these concepts into significant influence.

I don’t have the huge sources of massive firms, however I took my first actual step by taking possession and submitting a patent. For me, that’s the basis — proving that even with out huge backing, you possibly can defend an thought and begin shaping the longer term

FACING SKEPTICISM

I haven’t taken this product to market but, however skepticism has been a part of the journey from the very starting. When you share daring concepts like a convertible cellphone or a social-impact prototype, folks naturally query feasibility or market readiness. Even I’ve had moments of self-doubt. But as an alternative of letting skepticism cease me, I exploit it as gas — to sharpen my imaginative and prescient, take possession, and defend concepts by patents. For me, innovation is a protracted journey, and step one isn’t at all times a completed product — it’s having the conviction to imagine in an thought when others don’t

BUILDING THE RIGHT MINDSET

For me, an important ability is studying find out how to talk and promote your imaginative and prescient — as a result of even one of the best thought stays simply an thought if nobody believes in it. Beyond that, you want a advertising mindset — the flexibility to know folks, create want, and place your answer in a manner the world values. Finally, branding is what builds lasting belief and recognition. Curiosity, resilience, and possession are essential, however combining them with robust communication, advertising, and branding is what takes innovation from a prototype to a motion. Just have a look at Steve Jobs — his genius wasn’t solely in constructing merchandise, however in making folks imagine in them.

LESSONS FROM FAILURE

The greatest mistake aspiring entrepreneurs ought to keep away from is believing that a good suggestion or product will promote itself. It by no means does. Many innovators, together with myself, have fallen into the lure of chasing the ‘best in the world’ thought and forgetting that the actual problem is convincing folks, constructing belief, and creating demand. Slowly, I’ve realized that you need to change into a salesman first, then an innovator. If you ignore gross sales, advertising, and branding, even the strongest thought gained’t make an influence. The thought is just the beginning — execution and communication are every little thing

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION

Looking forward, the following era of innovators in India ought to acknowledge that huge sources are not a barrier. With as we speak’s AI instruments, entrepreneurs have help for advertising, gross sales, and virtually each perform — enabling even solo innovators to compete and scale. Innovation isn’t solely about creating superior know-how, however about fixing actual issues and utilizing the instruments accessible to convey concepts to life.

India already has a rising international model, and with robust authorities help, alternatives are increasing like by no means earlier than. Initiatives similar to Make in India are encouraging native manufacturing, self-reliance, and world-class innovation, guaranteeing that the nation will not be solely a shopper of know-how but additionally a creator of it. From coverage backing to innovation applications, the ecosystem is creating area for daring concepts to thrive.

If younger innovators seize these alternatives, defend their concepts by IP, and deal with creating world-first applied sciences, India’s function as a pacesetter in innovation will solely develop stronger — and shortly, the Made in India mark might be seen in all places.

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