🌟 Founder musings
Are we preparing kids for the future or for yesterday’s world?
This is how I opened my pitch at the TiE Colorado Startup Pitch finals this week. But this is not just an opening line, it is an expression of worry, hope and urgency, a call to action to bring attention to a whole generation being left unprepared for what is to come.
Imagine your child or a teenager you know, graduating in just a few years. It’s 2032. They’ve worked hard, gotten good grades, maybe even graduated from a reputed college. But when they apply for their very first job, the posting says: “Entry-level. 3 years of experience required.”
That’s not a future problem—it’s already here. Today, 35% of entry-level jobs demand prior work experience according to a Forbes report. By the time our kids step into the workforce, that gap will only widen.
The World Economic Forum and McKinsey predict that by 2030, over 375 million workers will need to reskill—learning AI literacy, creativity, adaptability, and entrepreneurial thinking. 44% of core skills are predicted to be disrupted within five years, and by 2030, AI and big data top the list of fastest-growing skills globally.
Yet, schools are still preparing kids for the past, not the future. A Gallup survey found that only 10% of K-12 students believe school is preparing them for an AI world.
With AI lowering the barriers to create and experiment, we finally have the tools to give our kids the real, high-skilled, creative work experience they’ll need to stand out.
As a hiring manager, I see the horizon shifting—entry-level jobs are drying up, while companies focus on skilling existing employees in AI to handle the very work that used to go to fresh graduates. At the same time, I look at what’s happening in schools and colleges and can’t help but notice the glaring gap. Why are we okay with this status quo?
Is it because we only solve the problems right in front of us, while ignoring what’s unfolding in our children’s future? Or are we just waiting for some magical policy change or new law to fix it for us?
These words in Sal Khan’s book “Brave new words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That's a Good Thing)” capture the essence of this moment’s dichotomy really well.
“This moment can be an existential risk or an existential opportunity for us”
The moment is urgent: Students crave real-world skills and purpose, and a generation is being left unprepared for the decentralized, AI-powered, self-driven workforce of tomorrow.
-Janani
🗓️ Opportunities to not miss for high schoolers!
Submission Deadline: November 30, 2025
Competition Dates: December 5-7, 2025
What: The world's largest global AI competition where students apply artificial intelligence to solve real-world problems
Who: Students worldwide across four tracks - AI Showcase, Large Language Models, AI-Generated Image, and AI-Generated Video
Format: Competition hubs across Europe, Asia, Middle East, and North America, plus virtual participation
Perfect for: Students ready to showcase their AI talents on an international stage and connect with global innovators
🚀 Stay Inspired
Preparing for Tomorrow: Why Resilience Beats Raw Talent
💪 Building Grit Through Real Challenges
Studies have shown that grit is a stronger predictor of success in many fields than innate talent or even intelligence. While schools focus on grades and test scores, the real world rewards persistence and resilience.
Entrepreneurship teaches students what textbooks cannot: how to face failure head-on, balance risk with responsibility, and maintain long-term vision over instant gratification. Each obstacle overcome builds belief in their ability to handle future challenges.
When students learn how to endure challenges, they leave school better prepared for careers and life, not just for the next exam.
🔮 The Future Job Market Reality Check
The world teenagers will graduate into, looks dramatically different from today. Currently, "35% of jobs labeled 'entry-level' require at least three years of experience", and 75 million to 375 million people may need to switch occupational categories and learn new skills as AI reshapes entire industries.
The skills that will matter most? Understanding AI, creativity, adaptability, and the ability to chart your own path when traditional routes disappear. Students who develop these capabilities now won't just survive the transition—they'll thrive in it.
🦄 Student Startup spotlight
From student to blockchain researcher: Real internship experience
This week, we're highlighting Tanish Pai, a rising senior from North Carolina who completed both our Innovator Track and a summer research internship at Flintolabs, diving deep into blockchain technology and decentralized systems.
After building a car price comparison prototype in our program, Tanish was invited to research the Akash blockchain—exploring how decentralized technologies could create more equitable digital economies where contributors become owners.
"My experiences with Flintolabs have been truly invaluable. They have given me an amazing chance to learn about our future which, in parallel, has fueled my love for finance and entrepreneurship even more," Tanish reflects.
His journey shows what's possible when students move beyond traditional learning to tackle real-world challenges that matter.
🔥 Ready to prepare your student for tomorrow's world?
Flintolabs students build the grit, technical skills, and real-world experience they'll need to thrive in an AI-driven economy.
The next cohort starts October 1. Don't let your student face an uncertain future unprepared.
Here's what a parent says about the real-world impact:
"We’ve done a lot of camps and classes, in-person and virtual, and this is by far the best one. Highly recommended for anyone who wishes to give their child an intro to these topics, which are so critical now"
Found this valuable? Forward this newsletter to other high schoolers who want to be informed about AI trends and parents who want their high schoolers prepared for an AI-driven future. Every student deserves the chance to build real skills before college.
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