On the surface, Wai Innovation is a business in the light manufacturing sector. We focus on waterjet cutting, and we also do product design, some 3D printing, and 2D/3D CAD work. However, all of those services support our true goal, which is to engage students of all ages and keep them on track with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics).

As such, Wai is a social enterprise, and we devote a huge chunk of our profits to that cause. The wrong way to think of that commitment is something like donating iPads to schools; that doesn't actually accomplish anything except spending money at a fantastic rate. Instead, we're focused entirely on the outcome of keeping students excited about STEAM, and we achieve that with actual hands-on experience with all five letters in that acronym.

We're just coming out of the gate, so stay tuned for demonstrable examples of our social initiatives as well as transparent accounting of our commitment to education.

Another way of putting it is that while waterjet cutting is our bread and butter, what we actually care about is helping to educate the next generation of engineers, tech geeks, and artists.

The founder of Wai is a career mechanical engineer, focused mostly on product design, and with two decades of experience turning 2D shapes into functional 3D stuff. He graduated from MIT in the early aughts and most recently worked for Google before deciding to forge a new path. He has worked on things large and small and loves more than anything turning ideas into tangible results.

The rest of the Wai team shares an enthusiasm for our next generation, and is committed to being lifelong learners themselves.