Founders in Arms Building Meaningful Tech for the Next Generation With Jay Shah
Apr 18, 2025
Jay Shah, founder of Poppy—a revolutionary screenless, AI-native phone for kids—shares his journey from creating BufferBox, acquired by Google, to crafting meaningful tech for children. He discusses the need for intentional design to enhance kids' interactions with technology and the challenges of hardware manufacturing. Jay also reflects on lessons learned as a second-time founder and the vibrant tech community in Waterloo. The role of Y Combinator and the future of AI in transforming startups are also key highlights of their engaging conversation.
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Jay’s Quick Startup Exit
- Jay Shah sold his first startup BufferBox to Google after 18 months.
- He then spent several years at Google before returning to entrepreneurship.
Screenless Phones Reduce Screen Time
- Screenless AI-native phones create healthier tech usage for kids by removing screens.
- They promote meaningful communication and learning without encouraging excessive screen time.
Hardware Embraced for Unique Value
- Embrace hardware despite its difficulty for unique opportunities.
- New hardware for kids can avoid the addictive pitfalls of screen-based devices.