When one of the internet’s most inventive minds lands in the land of jugaad, curiosity is bound to spark. Mark Rober, the ex-NASA engineer, world-renowned YouTuber, and the man behind glitter bombs and squirrel mazes, recently explored India’s iconic innovation culture in a special episode with Curly Tales, hosted by Kamiya Jani. And in an exclusive sit-down, Rober opened up about what truly impressed him: the jugaad mindset.
India has long been synonymous with ‘jugaad’ — a term that goes far beyond “quick fix.” It’s about innovation born from necessity, solutions that are clever, cost-effective, and often built from what’s available. For someone like Mark Rober, whose entire career has been about making science fun and accessible, the idea of jugaad wasn’t just fascinating — it was inspiring.
“Back home, people think you need fancy tools and labs to innovate. But in India, I’ve seen kids and adults alike solving real-world problems with just scraps and imagination. That’s true engineering,” said Rober during the Curly Tales feature.
The candid discussion took place against the vibrant backdrop of Mumbai’s street markets, where Rober observed everyday Indians in action—fixing, modifying, and reinventing the ordinary. From mobile repair kiosks to homemade contraptions that deliver water more efficiently, the streets told a story of grassroots genius.
This conversation wasn’t just casual—it aligned perfectly with Mark Rober’s Jugaad Contest 2025, an initiative that’s offering ₹5 lakh each to 10 Indian inventors who can demonstrate the most creative uses of everyday household items. Open to all Indian residents aged 8 and above, the contest is live from April 30 to September 15, 2025.
To enter, participants must:
- Create and post a video of their Jugaad invention on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or X.
- Include the hashtag #MarkRoberJugaad.
- Set the profile to public.
- Most importantly, submit the link of the post at www.markroberjugaad.com for the entry to be valid.
Entries without a submitted link will not be considered, even if the video goes viral.
In the Curly Tales episode, Mark explored how this Indian spirit of ingenuity mirrors the very mission of his startup, CrunchLabs—a monthly STEM toy subscription platform he founded to make science accessible to children worldwide. “What you call jugaad, we call STEM creativity,” said Rober. “But the spirit is the same — it’s about solving problems with joy, using your brain and your hands.”
During the conversation, Kamiya Jani shared her own experiences growing up around the concept of jugaad, and the two bonded over how much untapped potential exists in Indian homes, especially among children. Rober emphasized the role of parents in encouraging curiosity: “If your kid is taking apart the remote, don’t stop them — guide them.”
Rober’s India tour, which includes collaborations with top Indian content creators like CarryMinati, Techburner, and Slayy point, has been making waves online. His special food and culture exploration with Curly Tales offered a unique blend of humor, science, and social reflection. The most anticipated highlight, however, remains his upcoming project with cricketer Hardik Pandya, designed to inspire Indian youth through sport and science.
Beyond videos and views, Mark’s India journey is about laying the foundation for a long-term engagement with a new generation of creators and inventors. “I want to be part of the Indian innovation story,” Rober said. “Because the next world-changing idea could very well come from a kitchen in Bihar or a school in Mumbai.”
As the Curly Tales episode aired, fans across social media were quick to chime in. One popular comment read, “Jugaad finally got the global recognition it deserves — thanks to Mark Rober!”
This isn’t just a cultural exchange — it’s a global nod to the brainpower of Bharat. The Jugaad Contest 2025 is a celebration of this very ingenuity, and with ₹5 lakh up for grabs for ten winners, the stakes—and the excitement—have never been higher.
Deadline to enter: September 15, 2025, 11:59 PM IST.
All entries must be original and submitted by a legal guardian if the participant is under 18. For more details, visit www.markroberjugaad.com and read the official rules at CrunchLabs contest rules.
