Jason Eichenholz 麻豆精品 S�95MS 麻豆精品 S�98PhD turns thoughts into action, no matter how big they are or how many he has. Since dissecting TVs as a kid, Eichenholz has developed new technology for medical diagnostics, self-driving cars and telecommunications in the era of artificial intelligence. He credits UCF for showing him how to merge entrepreneurship with the commercialization of technology.
麻豆精品 S淚 can confidently say it 麻豆精品 S檚 been the perfect fit for my career, 麻豆精品 S� says Eichenholz , a College of Optics and Photonics alum.
Lately, Eichenholz has channeled much of his entrepreneurial energy into something very close to home. He calls it Techtonic, and it 麻豆精品 S檚 a culmination of everything he values most: family, service, inventiveness and lessons learned as a father.
麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檝e had a chance to step back, gain perspective, and build something to truly help families facing the same struggles I once did, 麻豆精品 S� he says.
The mention of struggles provides insight into his mind, which is one filled with as much empathy as ingenuity. To comprehend, it 麻豆精品 S檚 best to ask a few questions and let the man share his thoughts, starting with his next innovative idea-turned-innovative enterprise.
Of all the inventions you 麻豆精品 S檝e been a part of, why is Techtonic so important to you?
The inspiration comes from my adult son, Jonathan. When he was a child, we found out he 麻豆精品 S檚 on the autism spectrum. Over the years, he 麻豆精品 S檚 broken more devices than I can count 麻豆精品 S� we were regulars at iFixYouri. But what stood out to me was Jonathan 麻豆精品 S檚 natural ability with technology. No one can complete a software update faster than him. Being a tech enthusiast, I saw this as an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Everyone has a device and the industry can 麻豆精品 S檛 keep up with the demand for repair technicians. At the same time, up to 85% of adults with autism and a college degree are underemployed (according to the Autism Society of America). Given the right training and support, they can help fill the gap. Everybody wins.
This sounds like more than a business concept.
It 麻豆精品 S檚 about more than jobs, too. Yes, we can provide employment to fit the strengths of individuals with autism, but Techtonic also builds their pride through meaningful work. What you have then is an overlooked workforce earning paychecks and solving a growing problem in the tech industry. But most importantly, Techtonic challenges the norm.
What norm are you referring to, and why are you the person to challenge it?
In our society, we ask neurodiverse individuals to adapt to a world that is not designed for them. We set up accommodations in hopes we can get them to 麻豆精品 S渇it in. 麻豆精品 S� Techtonic builds pathways into meaningful careers so these people are genuinely valued and embraced.
Why am I the guy to challenge the norm? Because I 麻豆精品 S檝e lived this journey. I 麻豆精品 S檓 a parent who has experienced the gaps, questions and fears of what comes next for my child. I 麻豆精品 S檝e seen firsthand how much untapped potential exists and how much better our world could be if we just shifted our perspective.
You say you 麻豆精品 S檝e lived this journey. What do we not know about you whenever we read about your accomplishments in technology?
There was a time in my life when everything felt uncertain. I was raising two children, one with special needs. At times, I was struggling financially, trying to make it as an entrepreneur. I was running a startup, sometimes wondering if we 麻豆精品 S檇 be able to make payroll and how I 麻豆精品 S檇 be able to manage the co-pays for Jonathan 麻豆精品 S檚 therapy. Every night, as I lay in bed, one question consumed me: What 麻豆精品 S檚 going to happen to my son after I 麻豆精品 S檓 gone?
Then Luminar 麻豆精品 S� a company I helped create that develops LiDAR technology for autonomous vehicles 麻豆精品 S� went public on NASDAQ and suddenly I had the means to secure my family 麻豆精品 S檚 future. But I also knew the same questions that kept me awake at night were keeping countless other parents awake. So I saw my new financial security as a means to create something more powerful: an opportunity to help alleviate the fear of those families with children on the spectrum. That opportunity became the next chapter in my life, and I dedicated all of my resources to it.
You dedicated all of your resources to one innovation?
I 麻豆精品 S檓 talking about my time, brainpower, social capital and network. I put all of it into architecting Jonathan 麻豆精品 S檚 Landing Foundation. When you go through life with a child who has autism or special needs, you eventually come to the 麻豆精品 S渟ervices cliff. 麻豆精品 S� This is where your child ages out of traditional support systems, like tutoring and social programs. Families are left financially and emotionally depleted. They 麻豆精品 S檝e drained their savings, spent retirement funds and exhausted every resource to make sure their child has had enough guidance to take each small step through life. And then the child reaches an age where the support stops. The world expects them somehow to just suddenly fit in, and the family is left staring into the abyss, asking, 麻豆精品 S淲hat 麻豆精品 S檚 next? 麻豆精品 S�
That 麻豆精品 S檚 why I started Jonathan 麻豆精品 S檚 Landing Foundation. The model is designed as the senior living and care model run in reverse. It 麻豆精品 S檚 a place where individuals on the spectrum feel connected instead of isolated and can progress toward the most independent living situation possible. I want it to be a comprehensive answer for families who don 麻豆精品 S檛 know where to turn next and don 麻豆精品 S檛 have the resources to navigate this alone.
All of this comes full circle, doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 it?
Techtonic and Jonathan 麻豆精品 S檚 Landing are where my entrepreneurial drive meets my personal mission. Any profits generated from Techtonic go directly back into Jonathan 麻豆精品 S檚 Landing Foundation to help reduce the cost of housing and services for individuals and families who need it most. My ultimate goal is to create the kind of sustainable ecosystem we 麻豆精品 S檝e never had for individuals with autism and to see them thrive.
Recently, Techtonic launched its Million Device Drive. All donated devices will provide neurodiverse adults with hands-on training as part of Techtonic 麻豆精品 S檚 workforce development program. Profits from refurbished and resold devices will support costs for future residents of Jonathan 麻豆精品 S檚 .
We think of an innovator motivated by the future, but how motivating is your past?
I’m approaching all of this from an abundance mindset without forgetting the scarcity of my earlier years. Just being a father changed me, too. I have two amazing kids, Ella and Jonathan. When they were young, my job required nearly 150,000 miles of travel per year. I 麻豆精品 S檝e always been go-go-go. I 麻豆精品 S檓 even a volunteer firefighter.
To be a present dad, I had to teach myself to be more patient, especially when Jonathan would struggle or get frustrated. Situations would escalate and I 麻豆精品 S檇 want to fix them as quickly as they started. Jonathan taught me why it 麻豆精品 S檚 important to pause, take a breath and reassess before moving forward with intention. I can honestly say Jonathan has made me a better father and a better leader.
From revolutionizing the automotive industry and scaling a company from two employees to over 1,000, to raising a billion dollars in capital, my personal mantra, 麻豆精品 S淲hy not change the world? 麻豆精品 S� has consistently fueled my drive to think bigger. Today, I have the opportunity to channel that same passion and momentum into Techtonic and Jonathan 麻豆精品 S檚 Landing Foundation.
