Two makers, one dream, 15 years apart
I launched my product @Flowtica Scribe a few months ago. Like any maker, I’ve been obsessing over metrics, logistics, and production.
But yesterday, I received a message on social media that paused everything.
It was from Ajit Rajasekharan @a_r48.
For those who don't know, Ajit is a legend in the tech world (currently CTO at nference). Back in 2008, he founded a company called Readia.
Backed by giants like John Doerr and Vinod Khosla, they tried to build a smart pen that could help children learn to read and write.
They had the vision, but the technology of that era—dot-printed paper and bulky cameras—became a trap. Despite the brilliant team, the hardware limitations and patent walls forced them to shut down.
Ajit told me he just bought a Flowtica Scribe.
He didn't buy it just to use it. He told me: "To me, it's equivalent to a souvenir I will treasure: the modern evolution of an idea from over a decade ago."
He saw that we finally "liberated" the pen by moving the heavy lifting to the AI, solving the exact problem that stopped them 15 years ago.
Reading his message, I felt a surreal "echo across time." Entrepreneurs are forever young. The spark doesn't die, it just waits for the right technology to catch up.
The best part? Ajit’s original inspiration for Readia was to teach his son. Today, that son, Rahul @betula_ai, is 25 and building his own startup, Betula. And he is preparing to launch on PH soon.
I wanted to share this story because sometimes we get lost in the grind. But moments like this—where the past high-fives the future—remind us why we build things.
Ajit, thank you for paving the way. And to the PH community, let’s keep an eye out for the next generation. I’ll be cheering for Rahul when he launches! 🚀
Have you ever had a "full circle" moment with a predecessor in your industry? I'd love to hear it.
Replies
Hey Zac, I somehow missed your launch earlier. Just saw the product. Is it a discreet voice recorder inside a pen that transcribes and summarises meetings? Am I understanding Flowtica correctly? :)
BTW, something related, I was wondering if Meta RayBan glasses could be more discreet because the light on the glasses catch a lot of attention when you're walking on streets. :D
Flowtica Scribe
@rohanrecommends Spot on! You can think of it exactly as a "physical Granola" :))
I believe glasses have the potential to replace phones eventually. But to be honest, I rarely wear the ones I own, they just stand out too much (unless you rock big black frames haha). As for the light, that is a strict privacy compliance requirement for all hardware, so it is a must.
@zaczuo Makes sense :)
Zac, this is incredibly inspiring.
You’re honestly one of my favorite hunters, and stories like this are exactly why I’m here.
Seeing how ideas travel through time (waiting for the right technology and the right people) is what makes PH so special. Being able to witness what’s technically possible now, and the people who actually move the world forward, is a privilege.
Thank you for sharing this.
Good luck with the launch.
Flowtica Scribe
@byalexai Thanks Alex! 🙏 That means a lot. This is exactly why I love PH too—interesting people connect and great products inspire each other. That’s how we build a better future together.
Let's keep hunting!
minimalist phone: creating folders
Moments like this on PH are really magical. I remember how we talked about cameras in the pen. Can we expect it in this launch?
Flowtica Scribe
@busmark_w_nika I've been thinking about this a lot too. For the current Scribe, the design is finalized. Maybe in Gen 2, or... I'm really waiting for the right moment where cameras and AI-native hardware integrate perfectly. Perhaps... it won't even be a pen 😉
minimalist phone: creating folders
@zaczuo Hopefully, it will happen soon :)
Unloop
This is so beautiful Zac! Thanks for sharing.
Flowtica Scribe
@dana_r Thx Dana❤️