In the world of startups where dreams are turned into reality through passion, this blog, Talent Unseen, shines a spotlight on those remarkable individuals who turned their cool ideas into startups.
Today, we will hear about the journey of Kaya Jones, co founder of Mosaic. Kaya Jones, an undergraduate student at Illinois Tech studying computer science, came up with the idea of building a platform for groups of college students to team up and work on their skills and projects together.
According to Kaya, she co-founded her first startup along with Chloe Rubinowicz, cofounder of Mosaic and Shayan Baig, co founder of Mosaic, with the idea to press on the fact that “there needs to be something more to do outside of school” to achieve the goal of getting a job.
Journey of Mosaic: Empowering students in Job search through Innovation
Kaya states that “The idea started around the end of last school year; initially it was named Untitled ProjX and they have been working on it till past Fall 2024 with the idea to help students work more than they do in school to land a job.”
The key idea is to help students to shine in front of the recruiters other than the skills that we learn from the school. Startups flourish with the cofounders; she met her cofounder “Chloe Rubinowicz” through basketball, and they have been working on their startup.
As the school supports every student, here stepped in the Kaplan Institute of Illinois Tech, where they founded Mosaic by joining their startup program and came up with a platform for students and employers to give the best students to the company.
Mosaic: It is a platform that streamlines a solution to all the hardships that a student faces in the never-ending era of job search. It is a pre-screening tool for different companies where students follow a roadmap, complete the challenges, secure a job, and helps companies pick the best candidates.
The Role of Illinois Tech: Crucial Early-Stage Support for Mosaic’s Startup Journey
Kaya shared her experience, emphasizing the crucial role of Illinois Tech, specifically the Kaplan Institute, in Mosaic’s early development. Kaya said, “Maryam Saleh from the Kaplan Institute provided invaluable guidance. She coached us and provided invaluable ideas on how to successfully pivot our tactics during our once-weekly meetings.”
Kaya further quoted, “The Kaplan Institute is an exceptional place, whether you have a startup idea or are just beginning to explore entrepreneurship. It’s a supportive environment that fosters innovation and skill-building. They even have a startup club, providing a community for like-minded people to collaborate and grow.”
Kaya praised Illinois Tech for its unwavering support, stating, “Illinois Tech is the perfect place to be if you’re looking to build something impactful. The resources and mentorship they offer are unparalleled, and they equip you with the right mindset and skills to succeed in the startup world.”
Addressing Tech Talent Shortages in Manufacturing: Mosaic’s Mission and Opportunities:
Students face intense competition in today’s job market, especially in the IT sector. Students go through multiple interviews and frequently have to wait two to three months for an answer, just to be turned down.
In this current generation, top talent is in high demand, especially in the manufacturing industry, where Mosaic is a key player. Mosaic is a hub for manufacturing space, and they are in short supply of many skilled IT workers. They are also attempting to attract many manufacturing facilities to the United States, which encourages engineering students to work with them and expedite the production of their products.
Kaya quoted that “Tech engineering jobs are primarily focused in the manufacturing sector, and candidates with tech engineering expertise are in high demand”. Mosaic may develop into more than just manufacturing in the future.
Strategies for Setting Mosaic Apart: Standing Out from Competitors
According to Kaya, Mosaic started the startup’s trial phase. The first pilot phase began in April 2024 with Midtronics, when they posted positions on the platform, went through the talent pool that signed up on Mosaic.
Competitors that are already in the job market offer more of a general screening rather than a focused screening that focuses on specific fields based on the role. In this regard, Mosaic can curate knowledge check questions and company needs as well as technical projects that benefit both the company and the student by assessing and honing skills.
Mosaic differs from other prescreening programs as it goes beyond the job specifications to evaluate candidates based on unique “roadmap” and provides support to both the employer and the student. It bridges the knowledge gap between the organization and the students and demonstrates to the employer the ability and the potential of the candidate.
When a position opens up in Mosaic, it provides roadmap based on the role and gives students the opportunity to showcase their talent to the hiring manager by demonstrating their skills, which benefits the society by producing exceptional talent.
Customer Acquisition Success: Strategies That Worked for Mosaic
Mosaic’s journey began with acquiring its first customer, Midtronics, through strategic networking. Reflecting on this milestone, Kaya emphasized the inefficiency of cold emailing, which often ends up in spam folders. Instead, leveraging their board of advisors proved instrumental for Mosaic in establishing meaningful connections and fostering trust within the industry.
Kaya emphasizes that the journey to acquiring customers often begins with building and leveraging networks. As students, this teaches us the importance of cultivating meaningful connections, seeking opportunities to network, and demonstrating the value we can offer through personal interactions. The first customer isn’t just a transaction; it’s a testament to the relationships and trust built through networking.
Kaya Jones’ Key Advice: Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators
According to Kaya, “Seize every opportunity that comes your way, even those that might not initially appeal to you. It’s essential to continuously hone your skills, build a strong network, and push yourself beyond your comfort zone. Be prepared to hear many ‘no’s, but remember that when you finally get that ‘yes,’ it will feel incredibly rewarding.”
As we conclude Kaya Jones’ story, I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has read it this far. The insights shared by Kaya reminds us all of the importance of seizing opportunities, pushing boundaries, and staying resilient in the face of challenges.
Stay tuned as we continue to uncover more stories from diverse startup founders. Until next time, keep striving for your dreams and exploring the endless possibilities that await.