By the end of last year, I had shipped a SaaS product called Lamina

Yan Chummar Mathan used to attend multimedia and animation classes when he was only nine years old. When he turned eleven, he convinced his parents to send him for computer programming courses. By this age, he had become an expert in JAVA, STML and other programming languages.

Being a CEO at the age of 13 presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Young leaders often face skepticism from adults, yet they can also bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the table. Balancing school responsibilities with the demands of running a company requires exceptional time management and dedication. The experience can foster invaluable skills such as leadership, decision-making, and resilience, which are crucial for personal and professional growth.

Moreover, navigating the complexities of business at such a young age can lead to significant learning experiences. Young CEO’s must develop effective communication skills to engage with stakeholders, mentors, and peers. This role can also inspire other young individuals to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions, demonstrating that age is not a barrier to success. Ultimately, being a CEO at 13 can be both a rewarding and transformative journey, shaping the future of young leaders.

A 16-year-old schoolboy has been redefining age boundaries through his innovative use of technology. By leveraging digital tools and platforms, he has successfully engaged with diverse audiences, showcasing his skills and ideas in ways that resonate across generational lines. His ability to navigate and utilize technology not only highlights his creativity but also demonstrates how young individuals can influence and contribute to broader conversations.

This young innovator’s efforts serve as a reminder of the potential that lies within the youth to bridge gaps and foster connections. As he continues to explore new technological avenues, he inspires others to embrace change and think beyond traditional age-related limitations. His journey exemplifies the transformative power of technology in shaping interactions and breaking down barriers.

Technically, I cannot register a legal organisation because I am a minor. But what I mean by ‘CEO’ in my profile is the idea of an unregistered startup which till date has launched five apps in the Play Store. I had also completed a few open-source projects too back in 2016.

By the end of last year, I had shipped a SaaS product called Lamina, which is a Deep Learning product that provides AI as a service, in simpler terms.

I wouldn’t be able to comment on how the experience of being a ‘CEO’ has been because I’ve just started. I have only recently begun building things and forming a business out of it. However, I can say that the idea of building and shipping products and projects gets me pumped up.

Tell us all about Lamina

I was tremendously happy when Lamina was chosen as the product of the day by ProductHunt. I honestly wasn’t expecting a lot, but it ended up being in the top 5 on ProductHunt that day.

The support and comments I received from the people were the best part of it all. Knowing that there exists such a wonderful community of people to support what you do is an amazing feeling. I am happy that I did the launch. I also got a lot of feedback and made a few friends at PH and on Twitter through the launch.

How did you get to know about TinkerHub?

The first tech event I ever went to was a GDG summit. At the event, 

, the Community Manager at GDG Cochin, introduced me to TinkerHub and connected me with a lot of resourceful people. I owe communities such as TinkerHub a lot because the amount of exposure and resources I got out of them was terrific.

Since then, I’ve had an army of supportive and helpful people around me. I’ve got lots of opportunities to take sessions, workshops and even judge hackathons, all by meeting people from different communities.

TinkerHub is one such fantastic community which, I can say, has maintained its quality since Day One. I’d say my tech career took off after becoming a member of TinkerHub back in 2016 when I was just 13.

You’ve also been speaking at colleges and companies!

On the one hand, I feel grateful for all the opportunities I’ve gotten until now. But on the other hand, I still feel like a beginner who has a lot more to discover, explore and learn.

Even though I take sessions at colleges and companies, I keep reminding myself that I’m a beginner in what I do and I have a long exciting journey of learning ahead.

Zoom image will be displayed .

It’s always exciting to have a lot of exciting things to learn apart from the usual school curriculum, be it learning by myself or from the people around me. I would always want to share my knowledge and gain more understanding from my circles.

How has the reaction been from your teachers and friends at school?

No one paid any attention until I got featured on Manorama Online, which was the first time I was recognised. All of my friends were quite amused and supportive.

My teachers are also very supportive of what I do. They never hinder my work or growth as a developer.

Recalling: Product Summit ‘18

CEO and Co-founder of Tinkerhub Foundation, shares a memory from the IEDC Summit ’18, where TinkerHub organised a track titled Product Summit.

He says, “Yan was a speaker at Product Summit ’18. It was one of the tracks at the IEDC Summit 2018, which was attended by a crowd of over 4000, including students and professionals. The session engaged by Yan was the one that got the most attention. I remember how they endlessly clapped as he talked about his journey and projects so far. It’s a very fond memory of him that I have.”

The Future?

As for my plans for the future, “growing” would be the simplest way to express it. In a few years I would like to see myself doing things that I love doing.

Being a successful entrepreneur has always been the goal, so I will be working towards it in the long term. I also plan on shipping a lot more cool side projects and products and look forward to working with a lot of amazing people.

I’d be happy if I’m able to produce work that inspires people and can make their lives easier.

Throughout the journey, my short term goals and plans will keep updating constantly. I wanted to be a software developer when I was 9. Now that I’ve achieved that, the threshold is set high again. This cycle is repeating constantly as I accomplish my goals.

Epilogue: Words of advice to people who are trying to get into software development on their own?

My simplest advice would be just to get started. I didn’t know what I was about to do or learn or face when I started to build apps and websites.

I never had a notion in my mind that coding is hard and difficult to master. I was driven by my passion to create software, apps and websites and I just wanted to do that so badly. I worked for that and I didn’t give up. I never found it stressful because I felt that I was doing what I wanted to do. Even now, the love for building software has sustained in me.

Once you start doing what you love, no one can stop you. I believe your passion will drive you to find happiness in what you’re doing.

My passion was to be a software developer, and I didn’t want to wait until I was 18 or 20 to start doing what I wanted to. That early start I made brought me here. In a position where I am building apps and working on things which is ultimately what I love doing.

At a time when fully grown adults struggle with staying focused on a goal, Yan’s words ring with truth and encouragement. Get started. When you have to stop, get help. And never stop doing what you love and loving what you do!

So that’s a wrap, tinkerers. We hope Yan’s story has been able to trigger your innovative spirits!

This TinkerHub story was brought to you by 

Sreeram Venkitesh , Abhijith G Anil and Amrin Kareem from the TinkerHub Team! If you loved reading this post, show your appreciation by clapping below! Stay tuned to us for more reads on learning, building and collaborating.

We love to hear from you! Learn more about us on the website. Reach out to us via e-mail or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Don’t forget to join our events and opportunities channel on Telegram!