How to Launch a Tech Start-Up: Robotics, Gaming and Other Tech Jobs

Nosy Crow has produced a glossy, vibrant and absolutely up-to-date look at all things technological with this stunning information book, How to Launch a Tech Start-Up (Robotics ,Gaming and other Tech Jobs).  It is a fun, lively delve into the history of technological advances and a career manual all at once; with a timeline dating back to 1642 and Pascal's invention of a clockwork calculator, it brings you up to date with suggestions about what techno-based jobs today might appeal (coder, AI engineer, concept artists, for example).

Many young readers may already be planning futures as professional gamers, live streamers and even video game testers. The layout style and content of the book tap into modern, relatable aspirations for its target readers. It is eye-catching and entirely relevant with fabulous graphics and colourful illustrations throughout.

The book includes a diverse section of techno information and the chapters on technology that can help save the planet and save lives is especially interesting and inspiring; roles including solar panel engineers and gene therapists are described to show the future paths possible for STEM-informed young people.

How to Launch a Tech Start-Up is a real celebration and promotion of the positives and the possibilities of technology as a vital and growing part of the future.

32 pages / Reviewed by Jenny Caddick, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+

This slim paperback is bursting with interesting facts, presented in easy-to-read clear typeface (some emboldened, allowing readers to skim and scan with ease), pleasing blocks of colour delineating different chunks of text, and cartoon illustrations (some with speech bubbles), which make unfamiliar or daunting subject matter instantly more accessible and appealing.

How to Launch a Tech Start-Up moves from the basics - a simple but necessary definition of 'tech' - through to the more complex and conceptual: the when, why, how and what of this new and fast-developing field. So, for example, there's a timeline, a famous names line-up and a step-by-step guide for the budding entrepreneur, followed by details of tech jobs that could help save lives and the planet.

I know many children who would love the idea of being paid to game, while others might get equally excited at the thought of using their artistic, musical or problem-solving skills. The 'Get Involved!' page, including useful links, concludes the authors' task of informing and inspiring young people. I think they have succeeded. Robotic bees and lab-grown meat & milk, may be the stuff of science fiction, but this may be the future for today's children. And it will be a future they can help shape, if they are inspired now to see it as theirs and to see the potential.

Shown to two Year 5 boys, How to Launch a Tech Start-Up got an enthusiastic thumbs-up and I've no doubt that boys or girls of a similar age (9-11+) would enjoy it.  As a way to build on STEM work in the curriculum, it is also to be recommended for KS2 classroom bookshelves and/or the school library.

32 pages / Reviewed by Jane Rew, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 9+

As a teacher committed to preparing students for the ever-evolving job market, I found Michelle You's How to Launch a Tech Start-Up: Robotics, Gaming and Other Tech Jobs, to be an invaluable resource. The book offers a thorough, engaging, and practical guide that helps enlighten children about an industry they are interested in but do not always know much about.

The book is clearly organised, starting from the basics and moving towards specific sectors such as robotics and gaming. Each section is rich with detailed insights and practical advice, making it an excellent manual for students who are interested in starting their own tech businesses. The book's focus on current trends in technology ensures that the content is relevant. Topics like robotics and gaming are particularly engaging for younger audiences, and discussing these industries can spark interest and creativity among students.

In the classroom, it would be easy to do comprehension work based on this book, write non-chronological reports and also instructional writing. How to Launch a Tech Start-Up not only provides essential knowledge about the tech industry but also inspires and equips the next generation of entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed. By integrating this book into the curriculum, children will get a practical and exciting look into the world of tech start-ups.

32 pages / Reviewed by Rebecca Green, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+