Stars of Science alumni shapes future of cooking with innovative product
First Qatari winner of QF TV show launches smart cooking robot in US, Canada and Qatar
KHALID M. Aboujassoum, the winner of atar Foundation’s Stars of Science season 4, has officially taken his innovation Oliver’ to the world.
Launching the product he developed on the T show in 2012 on the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo, he has made it available to purchase in the US, Canada and atar.
Oliver is a smart cooking robot that can fry, steam, stir, simmer, saut , braise, mix, boil, poach and bake it is a unique kitchen appliance that is a meal planner, expert chef, recipe library and shopping assistant.
Since winning the show, Aboujassoum has been dedicated to developing the innovation with the end-goal of launching it on the market.
He said, “After winning, I decided to take the entrepreneurial path of introducing Oliver to the market, instead of taking the academic research path or joining an innovation team in a large corporation. It is the less-travelled road because, with start-ups, you are always working against the odds.
“This decision marked the beginning of a new phase in Oliver’s journey beyond the walls of Stars of Science, and I built on the product development knowledge that I had gained on the show. At times, it has been overwhelming, but we have come a long way despite the challenges.”
The concept of Oliver, initially branded Tahi, originated when he was at college, where, like many college students,
Aboujassoum struggled to find time to prepare healthy meals.
“When I conceived the idea of Oliver, I had a rough sketch of how the system could potentially look. And Stars of Science provided an opportunity for that sketch to be turned into a proofof-concept functional prototype,” he said.
During his time on the show, Aboujassoum’s product went through four phases proof of concept engineering design and business development and marketing each of which was uniquely designed to help turn ideas into a reality.
He said, “Stars of Science taught me the principles of validated learning and the interactive nature of product development. In every phase, we were given access to technical expertise and logistical support to help us execute our projects. The process sharpened our ability to ask the right questions at the right time, to get to the right result, especially with the added pressure of deadlines.
“The experience enabled me to gain a deeper understanding of the product development process, especially when it involved building a physical product. It was a stepping stone in Oliver’s journey, enabling us to be where we are today.”
For Aboujassoum, the ultimate goal is to empower people to eat well, and Oliver is the first step in fulfilling this mission.
“Its patented technology creates an unprecedented experience enabling us to eat well and drive the kitchen into the modern age. As we move forward, we plan to spearhead this space and double our efforts to accomplish this mission,” he said.
Season 12 of Stars of Science is currently airing across the Middle East and North Africa. Over the next few weeks, the contestants will work on their projects at the state-of-the-art shared innovation space at atar Science & Technology Park, part of atar Foundation, in a bid to secure a place in the Grand Final.
“Stars of Science is a true representation of atar Foundation’s commitment to unlocking human potential,” said Aboujassoum.
“Speaking to this year’s contestants, Aboujassoum said, “Focus on the journey and not the output the Stars of Science experience itself is the real reward.
“Today, you benefit from more than a decade of accumulated experience nurturing novel ideas and taking them through a rigorous validation process for their scientific merit. It is an unprecedented opportunity to learn, and the format of the programme will transform you as a participant, regardless of how you rank in the competition. This is why you should focus on the journey itself and learn as much as you can from it.”
Oliver is available for preorder on Indiegogo for $579 and will retail at $1,029. Shipping to the US and Canada is set for 2021, while Oliver’s availability in atar is set for June 2022. To pre-order the product, visit www.olivercooks.com