# 84: You Can't Make Money Taking Tests

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2015-01-14
- Length: 53m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-14-84-you-cant-make-money-taking-tests
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/embedded-ep84mp3

## Summary

Robin Mansukhani, CEO of Alzeca, and Dave Young, principal engineer at Young Circuit Design, discuss their summer engineering program for high school students, Blue Stamp Engineering. They explain how the program teaches perseverance and real-world engineering skills through student-chosen projects like omnidirectional robots and Geiger counters, rather than traditional testing. The founders also share insights on managing a side business while maintaining day jobs, hiring directors to scale operations across four cities, and the importance of diversity in engineering outreach.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-14-84-you-cant-make-money-taking-tests#t=6) Introduction: Robin Mansukhani and Dave Young of Blue Stamp Engineering
- [3:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-14-84-you-cant-make-money-taking-tests#t=199) The Philosophy: Learning by Doing vs. Taking Tests
- [4:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-14-84-you-cant-make-money-taking-tests#t=243) Program Structure: Student-Driven Projects and Curriculum
- [12:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-14-84-you-cant-make-money-taking-tests#t=776) Student Projects: Robots, Prosthetics, and Geiger Counters
- [16:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-14-84-you-cant-make-money-taking-tests#t=1014) Scaling Operations: Hiring Directors and Managing Locations
- [25:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-14-84-you-cant-make-money-taking-tests#t=1533) Recruitment: Interviews, Scholarships, and Low-Income Outreach
- [34:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-14-84-you-cant-make-money-taking-tests#t=2064) Founder Balance: Day Jobs, Consulting, and Alzeca
- [45:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-14-84-you-cant-make-money-taking-tests#t=2712) Engineering Consulting Advice and Program Branding

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Blue Stamp Engineering (company)
- Alzeca (company)
- Young Circuit Design (company)
- Society of Women Engineers (company)
- Apple (company)
- SpaceX (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Google (company)
- WordPress (tool)
- PlayStation (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview With Dave Young](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-07-01-an-interview-with-dave-young) (The Amp Hour)
- [Last Chance for PDX Discount](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-07-18-last-chance-for-pdx-discount) (Being an Engineer)
- [Work on it for 10 years...](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-12-30-work-on-it-for-10-years) (The Amp Hour)
- [S2E41 The Hacksmith | James Hobson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-09-24-s2e41-the-hacksmith-james-hobson) (Being an Engineer)
- [#397.7 - Impedance Matching with Jeff Keyzer and Michael Ossmann](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-25-397-7-impedance-matching-with-jeff-keyzer-and-michael-ossmann) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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