Our Story

A Journey That Began With One Child — And Grew Into a Global Movement

The story of DiscoverSTEM began in 2016, with a moment that forever changed its founder, Mirza Faizan. When he became a father, he was filled with joy, but also a quiet tension. Holding his newborn daughter, he realized that the world she would grow up in would be far more complex, unpredictable, and technology-driven than anything he had experienced.

Reports were clear and alarming:
By the time today’s children enter the workforce, nearly 50% of existing jobs may be replaced or automated.
Even professions long considered stable—medicine, engineering, aviation, software development—were rapidly transforming under the influence of AI and automation.
This sparked a powerful question:
Are our children truly being prepared for the world they will inherit?

The Realization That Changed Everything

As Faizan explored the future of work, he discovered an even more concerning truth:
While the world had advanced dramatically, the education system had barely changed in over 150 years.

Schools still emphasized memorization, repetition, and standardization—practices designed during the industrial era to produce predictable workers, not creative thinkers. Yet the modern world demanded something entirely different:
innovation, critical thinking, problem-solving, adaptability, and interdisciplinary curiosity.

Children were learning to score well on tests, but not necessarily to think deeply or create meaningfully.
This gap felt urgent.
If children were to thrive—not merely survive—the future, they needed more than traditional learning. They needed a system that nurtured their natural creativity and taught them how to innovate with purpose.

Discovering the Hidden Genius in Every Child

What transformed Faizan’s concern into a mission was a simple but powerful discovery:
Children are natural innovators.

They imagine boldly, question freely, and think without limits. But without guidance, their ideas often remain unstructured and unexplored. Instead of being amplified, their creativity is gradually shaped into conformity by an outdated system.

Faizan believed children deserved better.
He believed their ideas deserved to become real.

Building the Solution: DiscoverSTEM

To bridge this gap, Faizan and co-founder Mirza Rizwan created DiscoverSTEM in 2016. They developed two proprietary innovation frameworks designed specifically for young minds:

These frameworks provided students with a clear pathway—from identifying real-world problems to developing structured, meaningful innovations.

What began as a father’s concern for his daughter soon evolved into a comprehensive ecosystem that helps children think deeply, innovate confidently, and solve problems with purpose.

Our Purpose Today

DiscoverSTEM stands for one belief above all:

Every child is born with the ability to innovate.

They simply need the right environment, tools, and guidance to unlock it.

Our story is still being written—every time a child discovers a new idea, every time a young mind creates something extraordinary, and every time a student realizes that innovation is not a gift…
It is a skill they can learn, master, and lead with.

A Movement Takes Shape

Over the years, DiscoverSTEM has grown from a vision into a global innovation movement. Students have:

Won top honors at NASA competitions

Filed and secured hundreds of patents

neurotechnology Researchers

AI/ML
Innovetors

Aerospace and
Space Tech

Top University
Acceptances

Hisham Ahmad - CMO

I am a 14-year-old freshman attending Brighter Horizons Academy in Garland, Texas. I have extensive experience with marketing, as I have been a part of various companies and mentorships. I graduated from the DiscoverStem program, allowing new doors to open up for me, and change the way I see things. The DiscoverStem program has also given me more experience with concepts such as patents, invention, and innovation, as well as inspiration to use these skills to help the world around us.

DiscoverSTEM founders Mirza Rizwan and Mirza Faizan have made history by becoming the first Indian to win the coveted George Washington Honor Medal from the Freedoms Foundation – USA.

Started in 1949 by former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Freedoms Foundation honors exceptional contributions of Americans towards communities in the USA. Generally reserved for the US citizens, the awarding organization made an exception to recognize the stellar research work and its impact of India’s Mr. Rizwan in designing and implementing a unique STEM & Innovation program for American children, thereby revolutionizing the education system in the USA.

Few of the other notable non-US citizens who have received George Washington Honor Medal include Ms. Margaret Thatcher (Former Prime Minister of United Kingdom), Lech Walesa (Former President of Poland and Noble Prize winner) and world-renowned Russian writer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. As the latest recipients of this prestigious honor, Mirza brothers join historically acclaimed group of citizens whose work and dedication advance the American ideals, the award letter says.

Some of the distinguished US citizens who have received this award for their stellar contributions in their field are Walt Disney, Astronauts Sally Ride and John Glenn, Capt. Sully Sullenberger, Athletes like Arthur Ashe, George Foreman and Tiger Woods and famous US educator Jaime Escalante.