In a modest electric shop in Odisha, a young boy unknowingly lit the fuse for what would become one of India’s most promising STEM education startups. When Amiya Kumar Mishra walked in to repair a toy car, he never expected an eight-year-old child to step forward and confidently offer to fix it. That moment changed everything.
“It made me think—if one child can do this without formal training, what if all children had access to such skills?” recalls Amiya.
That thought became the seed for Curiblox, a Made in India brand that today produces 100+ STEM and robotics kits, reshaping how children learn and play.
The Early Struggles
Amiya, together with his wife Sonali Samantaray and friend Debasish Swain, first attempted to make this vision real through an online learning portal launched in 2022, offering more than 50 courses in STEM and robotics. But the reality on the ground was harsh: most children didn’t own computers, and nearly 95% of schools lacked STEM labs. The initiative failed to gain traction.
Not one to quit, Amiya’s second idea was even more ambitious—an innovative tablet device that could serve as a ready-made STEM and robotics lab. It had the potential to solve the infrastructure problem in one go. But manufacturing at scale required heavy investment, and the project stalled.
It was only on the third attempt that a workable solution emerged: age-specific STEM Kits. These portable kits allowed each child to create a personal “innovation lab” at home, while also enabling schools to set up low-cost, ready-to-use STEM labs. This idea was practical, affordable, and scalable—exactly what India needed.
The Team That Carried the Dream
At this crucial stage, Ramkinkar Mishra, Amiya’s close friend, joined the team. Soon after, the startup got its first big break when Mr. Bijay Tibrewal came forward as the first angel investor, giving Curiblox the resources to restart its journey.
The dream was further shaped by mentors and visionaries like Santosh Mishra, Subham, Debasish Chakraborty, Agnelo, Vikash Rathod, and Alexzander Das, who contributed to research and product design. Standing behind the founders during their toughest moments were Amiya’s friends Nivedita, Mahavir, and Spandan, whose encouragement kept the vision alive even during failures.
Together, this group transformed Curiblox from a small idea into a recognized national brand.
Where Curiblox Stands Today
Today, Curiblox is a recognized Startup India and Startup Odisha venture, proudly incubated at IIT Bhubaneswar Entrepreneurship Park. With 100+ STEM and robotics kits and toys, the company is bringing hands-on, screen-free, eco-friendly learning to children from preschool to high school.
Operating nationwide through its website www.curiblox.com
