When air pollution kills over 7 million people annually, most people complain. Akshaj Khetarpal decided to patent a solution at 18.

In this episode of the AI Parenting Institute, we sit down with Akshaj Khetarpal, founder of MOSS X, a revolutionary air purification device that uses actual moss to clean air equivalent to 275 trees in just one square meter.

Discover how this teen entrepreneur turned a trip to Himachal Pradesh into a patented solution for Delhi's severe air quality crisis.

What You'll Learn:

- How Akshaj discovered moss as nature's answer to air pollution - The journey from garage experiments to patented technology at 16 - Why he chose natural solutions over high-tech filters - Building both a for-profit company AND non-profit NGO simultaneously - Balancing multiple startups while still being a teenager - Practical advice for teens wanting to solve big problems KEY TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 02:33- The Personal Story Behind MOSS X 04:40 - Why Moss? Understanding the Science 07:21 - First Prototype & Early Experiments 10:15 - Getting the Patent at 16 12:27 - Managing Time Zones & Growth 13:54 - Other Projects: Adamsville & Book Writing 16:05 - Competing with Billion-Dollar Corporations 17:44 - Advice for Teen Entrepreneurs 19:20 - Final Thoughts & Call to Action The Problem: Delhi's AQI regularly exceeds 200, with air quality so poor it's measured in "cigarettes smoked per day." India dominates the list of world's most polluted cities, creating a public health emergency affecting millions. The Solution: MOSS X's patented device keeps moss alive in polluted environments while leveraging its natural air-cleaning properties. One square meter = 275 trees worth of air purification. Why This Matters: Akshaj represents a new generation of entrepreneurs who refuse to choose between profit and purpose. His dual-structure approach (for-profit + NGO) proves you can build sustainable businesses while creating genuine environmental impact.

Find Rayyan:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_YveALQKZud6U6wycjqi_w

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19Ens04rVPTbIla73sVxPL?si=96d802812f384582

Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-parenting-institute-podcast/id1843665900

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayyan-s-ali/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayyanali_api/ Newsletter: https://substack.com/@aiparentinginstitute

Find Akshaj:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshaj-khetarpal-0758aa291/

RELATED TOPICS: #AirPollution #CleanTech #TeenEntrepreneur #GreenTechnology #Innovation #Sustainability #DelhiPollution #EnvironmentalSolution #YoungFounder #SocialImpact #ClimateAction

Hassan Malik launched Faces of Agony at just 16 years old, turning raw emotion into wearable art.

In this episode, he shares the real story behind building a fashion brand as a teenager from his first $0 investment strategy to balancing school with running a business.

What We Cover:

- How Hassan went from reselling shoes to launching his own clothing brand

- The truth about starting a business with limited money as a teen

- Finding manufacturers and suppliers through strategic research

- Standing out in a crowded fashion market with authentic design

- Balancing school vs. building a business (spoiler: the brand won)

- His take on AI in creative industries and fashion

- The Despair Sets drop and what's next for Faces of Agony Hassan's biggest lesson?

Time is the one thing you can't buy back.

If you're sitting on a business idea but scared to start, this conversation will give you the push you need.

Perfect for: Young entrepreneurs, fashion enthusiasts, product managers interested in brand building, and anyone who wants to turn their side hustle into something real.

Find Rayyan:

Subscribe to YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_YveALQKZud6U6wycjqi_w

Newsletter: https://substack.com/@aiparentinginstitute?

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19Ens04rVPTbIla73sVxPL?si=96d802812f384582 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-parenting-institute-podcast/id1843665900

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayyan-s-ali/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayyanali_api/

Hassan’s

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/facesofagony

Subscribe for more conversations with founders, creators, and innovators who are building something from nothing.

#fashionbrand #TeenEntrepreneur #ClothingBrand #StartupStory #Entrepreneurship

What happens when an 18-year-old high schooler decides she's done waiting?

She flies to California alone, builds an AI-powered startup incubator, and proves that age is just a number in entrepreneurship.

In this episode of the AI Parenting Institute, I sit down with Isabelle, a founder who's been building since age 13. From creating NFTs at 14 and analyzing tech stocks at 15, to launching Foundity at 17 and now living in a San Francisco hacker house, Isabelle is rewriting the rules of what teens can accomplish.

In this episode, we cover:

1. How she balanced school while running multiple projects

2. Why she flew to UC Berkeley alone for LaunchX at 17

3. What Foundity is and how it's helping young founders

4. Her advice for teens who are scared to start

5. The truth about time management as a teen entrepreneur

Subscribe to API's YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_YveALQKZud6U6wycjqi_w

Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://substack.com/@aiparentinginstitute

Find Rayyan on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayyan-s-ali/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayyanali_api/

Find Isabelle on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelle-dijkhorst/

Foundity (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundity/

Foundity (website):

https://www.foundity.com/

#TeenEntrepreneur #YoungFounder #StartupStory #AIStartup #Foundity #LaunchX #SiliconValley #StudentFounder #Entrepreneurship #AIParentingInstitute

What does it take to build a space technology company at 20? Muhammad Hunain shows us how.

Muhammad Hunain is the CEO of Melagen Labs, developing next-generation radiation shielding for NASA, astronauts, and satellites. His technology is launching to the International Space Station next year and he's doing it all before finishing college.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

- Space radiation is 1,000x worse than Earth levels

- How to lead engineers decades older than you

- Real fundraising challenges (and how to overcome them)

- Why passion matters more than experience early on

- The importance of mentorship when building something new

- How parents can support ambitious kids

ABOUT MUHAMMAD HUNAIN:

Muhammad is the 20-year-old CEO and Co-Founder of Melagen Labs, a venture-backed startup backed by NASA's L-Space program and the National Lab Orbital Edge Accelerator. His material, MLC-1, protects astronauts and satellites from deadly space radiation. With launches planned to the ISS and Sun-Synchronous Orbit, Muhammad is solving one of deep space exploration's biggest challenges.

Muhammad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunainmuhammad/ Melgen Labs: https://www.melagenlabs.com/

ABOUT THIS PODCAST:

The AI Parenting Institute explores how young innovators are using technology to solve real-world problems. Hosted by Rayyan Ali, we share stories of teens building the future and help parents support their ambitious kids.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_YveALQKZud6U6wycjqi_w

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-parenting-institute-podcast/id1843665900

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayyan-s-ali/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayyanali_api/ Newsletter: https://substack.com/@aiparentinginstitute?

SUBSCRIBE for weekly conversations with young founders, innovators, and tech creators changing the world. https://www.youtube.com/@AIParentingInstitute

© 2025 AI Parenting Institute. All rights reserved.

Is AI helping or hurting our kids?

Education and technology expert Anya Kamenetz joins the AI Parenting Institute to cut through the fear and hype around artificial intelligence in childhood.

In this eye-opening conversation, we explore:

1. The shocking story of a 9th grader's first AI relationship (and breakup)

2. Why generational justice matters more than ever in the AI age

3. How to balance screen time when AI is infinitely engaging

4. What schools should teach when AI can provide all the answers

5. The ethics of AI in education: cheating vs. learning tool

6. Social-emotional development in an age of AI companions

7. Practical scenarios: when to say yes or no to AI in family life

Anya Kamenetz is the author of "The Art of Screen Time" and a leading voice on education, technology, and childhood development. She writes The Golden Hour on Substack and has been guiding families through tech transitions for years.

This isn't about banning technology; it's about empowering families to thrive alongside it.

KEY TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction

2:17 - Anya's journey into education & tech

3:58 - The teen's first AI relationship story

5:24 - What is generational justice?

7:36 - AI and inequality in education

9:31 - Screen time philosophy in the AI age

12:09 - Yes/No scenarios for parents

14:17 - The future of assessment beyond tests

16:32 - Skills kids need when AI has all the answers

17:56 - AI's impact on student stress and anxiety

20:11 - Social-emotional development and AI companions

Find Rayyan:

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_YveALQKZud6U6wycjqi_w

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/19Ens04rVPTbIla73sVxPL?si=96d802812f384582

Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-parenting-institute-podcast/id1843665900

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayyan-s-ali/

Find Anya:

http://www.anyakamenetz.net/

https://thegoldenhour.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips

From D1 Olympic hopeful to building apps with 175K+ downloads to Microsoft engineer, Matt Steel's journey proves discipline translates across domains.

In this episode, we dive into the real challenges of building responsibly, scaling products that matter, and preparing the next generation for the AI era.

What You'll Learn:

1. How competitive athletics prepares you for entrepreneurship

2. The truth about AI bias and responsible product development

3. Why Matt sold Catcher (his viral fishing app) and the weight of that decision

4. Platform risk: The lesson that killed his first AI project

5. Critical AI safety concerns every parent and teen should know

6. The mindset shift teens need TODAY to thrive in an AI-powered world

Key Moments:

0:00 - Introduction

2:08 - From D1 swimmer to tech builder

4:03 - Building Hair Match: Fighting AI bias

5:25 - The biggest risk in consumer AI nobody talks about

7:06 - Selling Catcher: The hardest decision

9:12 - High-performance decision making (rapid fire!)

10:30 - The AI homework helper that got shut down

12:53 - Best path for combining AI + UX design

14:14 - The ONE mindset shift every teen needs

Matt's Core Message:

Don't just use AI tools lazily – learn to augment yourself with them. The gap between good and great is expanding exponentially, and the winners will be those who master these tools deeply, not superficially.

About AI Parenting Institute:

Bridging the gap between today's leading AI experts and the parents and teens shaping tomorrow's world. Subscribe for more conversations on responsible innovation, AI safety, and building the future intentionally.

Mentioned in this episode:

Catcher App (gamified sport fishing)

Hair Match (AI-powered hair recommendations)

Canvas LMS

ChatGPT, Perplexity

Georgia Tech AI program

Rayyan’s

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_YveALQKZud6U6wycjqi_w Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19Ens04rVPTbIla73sVxPL?si=96d802812f384582 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-parenting-institute-podcast/id1843665900 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayyan-s-ali/

Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattpsteele/

Website: https://www.mattsteele.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steelecodes/

Got questions or want to suggest a guest? Drop them in the comments!

If this conversation changed how you think about AI and parenting, hit like and share with other families building the future.

#AIParenting #ResponsibleAI #TechEntrepreneur #BuildInPublic #AIForTeens