BUILDING ATLAS: The Spark... How ATLAS Began

The Spark: How ATLAS Began

A Digital Bridge Between Dallas and Karachi

On April 24th, 2024, a LinkedIn message arrived in my inbox. Wamiq Tughlaq, Managing Director of a Pakistan-based digital company called Mevteck, was reaching out about a business proposal. Like many pivotal moments, neither of us could have predicted how this simple connection would evolve into something far greater than our initial conversation suggested.

An Unexpected Connection

Wamiq's company had been providing freelance services in design and development for four years. His missive was a shot in the dark, seeking a collaborative partnership, building long-term goals, and finding mentorship. What caught my attention wasn't just the business proposition - it was the underlying passion for uplifting his community that resonated through his words.

After several exchanges, our conversation took an interesting turn when Wamiq noticed my work in AI for learning. He shared something that would become the seed of ATLAS: he had recently created a business proposal for teaching AI, SaaS, Cyber Security, and other digital skills to his local community, aiming to give them a new head start. "Unfortunately," he wrote, "I didn't find the right people to share the vision."

Two Worlds, One Vision

As a 23-year veteran classroom educator transitioning into AI-driven learning experiences, I saw something powerful in this connection. Here was someone on the other side of the world, wrestling with the same challenges I'd observed in my own community: the need to prepare young people for a digital future, the importance of responsible technology use, and the critical role of mentorship in learning and personal development.

I remember writing back: "It's an amazing frontier... we need educators familiar with systemic processes within education to step up and take the lead. Aside from the sheer benefits of AI in the classroom, cybersecurity is going to be a booming business for decades. There aren't enough workers now, and we won't be able to train them fast enough for the need." A core alignment had been revealed in our approach to solving a specific need in global education.

The Vision Takes Shape

What followed was an intense exchange of ideas. Wamiq shared his proposal, and before even reading it, I had envisioned a partnership where we could combine efforts in a joint venture. The concept was compelling: a tool designed to bridge the digital divide, beginning in Dallas/Fort Worth and Karachi. If we could create meaningful pathways for young people (an ultimately, people of all ages) to access quality digital education, we could build a sustainable model for community development. Then that model could be applied again and again… community after community.

Wamiq's response to my suggestions revealed the depth of his commitment: "This is my life's 4th business proposal," he wrote, "and this time I'm not going back. I'll keep on grinding until I achieve what I envision."

Getting Real about Impact

As Wamiq and I dove deeper into our discussions, I found myself sharing something that had bothered me throughout my years in education and film production. 'Look,' I told him, ‘Capitalism has made the US a leading economy, but it's got this dark side that makes it weak. Companies love their tax deductions for charitable giving, but when so few people hold the wealth and do so little with it, communities suffer.’

We agreed that our venture needed to be different - it needed to acknowledge that success comes from the people who do the work, and companies should do what they can to make the lives of those in their communities as productive and meaningful as possible. Building a better future for learning means not only changing systems, but changing perspectives. At least ⅔ of the world is suffering from lack of access and meaningful learning opportunities. These persons have value to the global problem solving matrix, and we must do what we can to give them agency and a voice. All of that starts with education.

The Birth of ATLAS

As our vision crystallized, we chose the name ATLAS - inspired by the mythological figure who carried the world on his shoulders. But our ATLAS would do something different: it would lift people up, providing them with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities to elevate themselves in the digital age.

The initial concept was ambitious yet clear: a comprehensive digital education platform that would start with teaching digital citizenship to young students and progress through career development and community empowerment. It would be accessible via mobile phones - the most common digital device in both our communities - and would adapt to the needs and constraints of different regions. 90% of the global population possesses smartphones. A tool like ATLAS could close the digital gap very quickly, and with our ability to build, scale, and translate with AI (under human supervision, of course), we could swiftly impact global learning.., one community at a time.

The Road Ahead

Now, as I write this, I'm struck by how a random LinkedIn message has turned into this whole adventure to tackle one of the biggest problems in education today. I've spent 23 years in the classroom watching technology change everything - sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. Now here I am, working with someone halfway across the world who sees exactly what I see: we've got to make sure this digital revolution works for everyone, not just the privileged few.

And when Wamiq says things like 'I know if we can make this work in Pakistan, we can make it work anywhere,' I believe him. Because that's exactly the kind of thinking we need right now - practical, ambitious, and focused on real impact.

In the next article in this series, I'll dive deeper into how we came to understand the true scope of this challenge - what we call "The Three-Body Problem" in education. But for now, I'll leave you with something Wamiq wrote early in our discussions that captures the spirit of ATLAS: 'I know if we can make this work in Pakistan, we can make it work anywhere,'

I believe him. Because that's exactly the kind of thinking we need right now - practical, ambitious, and focused on real impact.