How FUSE Makerspace Helped Launch a Company that Bridges the Digital and Tactile Worlds
Pooya Rezai has had many careers, from the military to civil service. But after an unexpected job loss in 2025, he was ready to step out on his own.
“Even though losing my job was difficult, it was also the push I needed to try something new and reflect on how I could continue to provide for my family while still serving others,” he says.
Pooya started his upskilling journey in various 3D printing classes and then applied for “Training for Your Future” funding and a “Light the Way” grant through FUSE Makerspace. Those funds covered his FUSE Makerspace membership as well as tuition for additional 3D printing and laser engraving classes.
In those classes, the idea for NooshJar was born. 
Each NooshJar is 3D printed using wood filaments. It’s then filled with 15 birchwood coins. Each coin is laser engraved with a QR code that takes the user to a specific digital memory, ranging from recipes to audio recordings. Noosh is also the Persian word for “enjoy” and the purpose of each jar is to encourage the user to enjoy the memories stored within.
“I’d had part of the idea for NooshJar before taking the classes, but it really came to life with the help of the equipment and people at FUSE,” he explains. “I wanted to create something that helped store digital memories of my mother, like photos and videos, while also keeping it a private and more tactile experience.”
Over the last several months, Pooya has been working on perfecting the product and has filled his first orders. He’s also planning on taking screen-printing classes through FUSE so he can create each element of the NooshJar on his own.
Ultimately, he hopes that NooshJar will help people not only remember their loved ones, but also slow down and be more in touch with their own emotions.
“The first NooshJar I ever made was for my mother. Even though she is still with us, I wanted to start collecting pieces of her legacy and share them with my sons,” he says. “Each element of the NooshJar is meant to engage your senses, from smell to touch, and my hope is that the tactile element helps people create a sacred space to feel their emotions on their own time.”
For other entrepreneurs, Pooya says FUSE is a space where they can explore and experiment, and he encourages anyone who has an idea to join.
“If you’re looking to turn an idea into something real, FUSE can help make it happen,” he says. “The staff helped me with everything from ideation to execution and gave me a safe space to learn things that had intimidated me for so long. NooshJar only exists because of the tools, culture, and community available at FUSE Makerspace.”