Tier 2 city entrepreneur left successful corporate job to take on Apple and Google with his new AI startup

Shariq Ansar, originally from the tier-2 city Salem in Tamil Nadu, was thriving as Senior Business Analyst III and Business Integrations Architect. With seven years of experience working with prominent companies such as PwC, Cognizant, Capgemini, CastleBay Consulting, and Trianz, he was well-established in the corporate world.

However, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Shariq noticed a challenge that teachers were facing: the time-consuming, manual process of grading exams on digital platforms.

“Teachers had to adapt to technology. The keyboard replaced the pen. They were struggling with student assessment and grading test papers online,” explained Shariq in an exclusive interview with Startup Pedia.

This sparked an idea in Shariq’s mind- The most desired and powerful tool for a teacher has always been the pen and the keyboard, so why not create a digital solution that mirrors the simplicity and comfort of offline grading with the added benefits of automation?

Motivated by this vision, Shariq began developing a web-based platform where technology will now adapt to teachers, easing the grading process. His journey began in December 2021, when he started working on what would eventually become myTpen, an award-winning AI tool designed specifically to streamline grading student submissions.

myTpen Grading:  Teacher tool for grading

myTpen Grading app leverages AI-powered handwriting recognition to convert handwritten digits to actual digital grades, letting teachers be in their natural state by retaining the aspect of marking and grading assignments with a pen.

During the Startup Pedia interview, the founder of myTpen mentioned, "The platform’s automated calculation feature helps save time by eliminating boring and repetitive tasks."

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Once grading is completed, documents can be downloaded or shared, ensuring smooth distribution and storage.

As Shariq continued to develop one of its kind in India- myTpen, he envisioned a suite of products that could benefit educational institutions, teachers, and students alike. His team went on to create additional tools:

Virtual Whiteboard:

A digital whiteboard designed specifically for flexible work and learning. myTpen Board allows teachers and students to interact in real-time, solving problems and demonstrating concepts with ease. It’s perfect for virtual or hybrid learning environments. The platform also provides advanced handwriting-to-text technology to digitize all handwritten notes.

Math: 

With myTpen Math, you can do all your complex calculations, draw charts, and make real-time edits from your phone or mobile device. Handwritten math is no longer an Apple IOS-only thing. myTpen apps can be accessed from the web, irrespective of the mobile Operating System.

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Notes+GPT: 

This AI-powered personal note-taking platform integrates AI assistant and handwriting recognition to allow users to create and organize notes on various subjects.

It supports features such as text, checklists, and tables, and the AI can help query notes for specific information. This tool makes managing and accessing personal notes efficient and organized.

"You can chat with your notes using myTpen Notes+GPT. You can seamlessly search for any notes you made and ask questions, it will give you a detailed report based on the notes," added the founder of myTpen.

Expansion Plans and Upcoming Products

While myTpen currently offers limited free access to its products for individual users, institutions can opt for customized solutions tailored to their needs. Shariq’s team is working on two additional products—a School Management System and a Digital Asset Management tool set to launch in the coming months.

“We spent two years building the tools with quality time and effort to come up with quality products which I believe will revolutionize the education in India and across the globe,” said the founder of myTpen during the Startup Pedia interview.

A Global Reach

Launched just four months ago, the Grading App was showcased at EDUtech Asia 2023 in Singapore and received widespread acclaim for its ability to simplify teachers’ tasks and save significant time. 

What began as a solo venture by Shariq has now expanded into a global team of nine members, spanning India, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Singapore, and beyond.

Shariq shared that the company is currently bootstrapped and focused on reaching out to prospective clients, with one educational institution already benefiting from its digital products.

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The Story Behind the myTpen Logo

The concept behind myTpen’s logo is a reflection of the powerful statement, "The pen is mightier than the sword." The word “myT” in myTpen is the misspelt word “Mighty”; “my” refers to ownership and holds a special ."T" symbolizes the Teacher, and  “pen” represents the weapon of choice for educators, students, and journalists alike.

The stylized “T” in the logo is designed to resemble a pen, which, when inverted, transforms into a sword, capturing the essence of the brand's motto.

"This thoughtful design illustrates myTpen's commitment to empowering educators and revolutionizing the educational experience through the might of the pen," said Shariq, founder of myTpen, during the Startup Pedia interview.

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