For years, Assam has been known for its tea gardens and oil fields, not for technology ventures. The Northeast rarely figured in conversations about startups, and founders from the region often felt invisible in the national narrative. That is beginning to change. A small but determined group of entrepreneurs is returning home, intent on proving that Assam can be more than a supplier of commodities and emerge as a hub for innovation.

Among them is Harsha Pedeka, a computer science graduate who spent over a decade in Canada before choosing to build his company out of Assam. His startup My3DSelfie, born out of a deeply personal loss, has grown into a global player in the 3D modeling industry, delivering products to more than 70 countries and earning recognition from Google as one of India’s top AI startups.

A spark born out of grief

Pedeka’s journey began in 2010 with tragedy. While studying in Canada, he received a call that his best friend, a guitarist, had passed away. In his grief, he wanted to gift the family something that would preserve his memory: a 3D model of him playing the guitar. But the technology wasn’t there yet. “I went to animation studios, 3D modeling agencies, but no one could create a human model from a photograph,” he recalls.

The project failed, but the idea stayed. “It kind of spiked the interest of the 3D modeling industry inside me,” Pedeka says. He began reading books, attending seminars, and immersing himself in the world of 3D. By 2014, he had launched his own company, delivering 3D services to animation and gaming studios.

A chance encounter in a US mall in 2015 gave him clarity. He saw a massive scanner with hundreds of cameras, capturing people in seconds to sell them figurines. “I realized the real value wasn’t just the figurine. It was the 3D model itself. That’s data, and data is the future,” he says. Over the next decade, his team built one of the largest datasets of 3D human models in the world, a foundation that would later power AI applications in gaming, film, and beyond.

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Stories that stay with him

The company’s mission has always carried an emotional core. Pedeka recalls one of the most moving projects: a terminally ill sketch artist whose friends asked the startup to convert his superhero sketches into 3D figurines. Delivered just days before his passing, the models gave him joy in his final moments. “It was as if he was waiting for his figurines to come alive before saying goodbye,” Pedeka shares.

Such stories remind him why he started: to make memories tangible, to touch lives through technology.

Coming home to Assam

After 14 years in Canada, Pedeka returned to Assam in 2016. “I wanted to build something from the Northeast. Back then, the region wasn’t even well known within India, and that hurt my sentiments,” he says.

The decision was driven by both emotion and conviction. “In a developed nation like Canada, I felt I couldn’t contribute much. But in Assam, I saw potential that hadn’t been exposed. I wanted to build something from here for the world,” he adds.

The early years were lonely. “I didn’t have any networking, peers, or mentors. It was difficult to explain what we were building. The 3D industry itself is complex, and it wasn’t evolved in India,” he remembers.

The Assam government’s role

That loneliness began to fade as Assam started investing in its startup ecosystem. Pedeka points to several initiatives that made a difference. Incubation centres came up, offering space and community. During the pandemic, a grant from the government provided his startup with crucial breathing room at a time when survival was uncertain.

More importantly, the state’s leadership began to think beyond seed-stage support. Larger corpus funds were introduced to help startups scale, and connections were forged with institutions like SIDBI and venture capital networks. “We don’t feel lonely anymore,” he says. “There’s a protective layer, an ecosystem around us. You can seek help whenever you need it.”

That sense of belonging has been reinforced by Assam’s broader economic ambitions. The state recently welcomed the semiconductor industry with an assembly and testing unit — a move expected to generate jobs and strengthen international connectivity. Infrastructure upgrades, from airports to highways, are already reshaping the region. For founders like Pedeka, these developments are not abstract policy announcements but tangible enablers. “Very soon, you’ll see international transactions with Japan and South Korea happening from Assam. That will help startups like us build from this region,” he notes.

Global footprint, local pride

From its office in Assam, the company has delivered products to over 70 countries. “That gives us a sense of pride,” he says. “We wanted to show that something built from Assam can reach the world.”

In 2024, Google selected the company as one of India’s top 20 AI startups. The firm has also raised capital from investors across the country and cracked contracts with marquee clients.

For Pedeka, these achievements are proof that building from Assam is not just possible, but powerful. “We are delivering to global giants from here. That’s what I always wanted — to build something from Assam for the world.”

Lessons for entrepreneurs

Pedeka’s advice to aspiring founders is simple but hard-earned. “It’s all about belief and passion. You need to solve a problem because you genuinely want to, not for any other reason,” he says.

He emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes. “Every time you build something, you make mistakes and you learn. You evolve. That’s the process.”

And he sees Assam itself as a metaphor for entrepreneurship.

“Assam is like a startup. Everyone is an investor, contributing to its growth. If you choose a problem, keep at it. Focus is very important.”

For Pedeka, the story is not just about technology or business. It is about pride in building from Assam, in showing the world what the Northeast can achieve, and in proving that even from a place once overlooked, startups can touch lives across the globe.

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