During Spring Quarter 2024, the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center hosted a new program called the Side Hustle Challenge. The Side Hustle Challenge offered students the training, resources, and networking opportunities they needed to turn their passions into bonafide ventures. Throughout the quarter, the students learned about branding, finances, legal considerations, e-commerce, and other key aspects of building a business. The program culminated in a Finals Marketplace where the UC Irvine and wider Orange County communities were invited to explore the various student-developed side hustles and shop their products and services.
To highlight some of the incredible student side hustlers who participated in the challenge, Ryan Foland, ANTrepreneur Center Director, invited these ANTrepreneurs for a series of informative interviews. Welcome to Side Hustler Stories!
In this interview, Ryan sits down with UC Irvine student Arek Haddadian (Materials Science and Engineering) to learn more about his side hustle EtherParts.
Ryan: Ahoy, Arek; welcome to Side Hustler Stories! I’m excited you’re here. Can you kick off the interview by telling me a little about yourself?
Arek: Sure, Ryan. My name is Arek Haddadian, and I’m a second-year Materials Science Engineering major here at UC Irvine. Professionally, I’ve interned at AAA Electrical Equipment as a CAD model engineer and recently completed a Summer 2023 internship for NASA at the Johnson Space Center in Texas.
Outside of school, I’m passionate about robotics. I participated in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) during all four years of high school. Throughout that time, I held different positions on the team, including acting as System Designer and Vice-President, and we ended up going to the World Championship twice.
Ryan: That’s pretty incredible! Is that what inspired you to create EtherParts? Was there a moment during your involvement with robotics competitions that made you realize the need for a specialized parts vendor?
Arek: I was inspired to create EtherParts because I realized that I loved to innovate and design new parts for my robotics team. I figured that I could turn my passion into a business idea that could help other students and teams in the future too!
Ryan: How did you identify the specific needs of high school robotics teams, and how does EtherParts cater to those unique demands in the FRC community?
Arek: We identify problems based on our past experiences and through talking to friends and others we know on FRC teams. EtherParts caters to these problems and demands by tackling them from the perspective of students still building robots. It helps to guide our product designs to best suit the needs of as many teams as possible.
Ryan: As you’re still in the early stages of building EtherParts, what has been the biggest learning curve in launching this business?
Arek: I think the biggest learning curve in building this business has been figuring out what to prioritize. Since it’s my first time trying something like this, I’ve found myself running off course many times. I’ve had to stop, evaluate, consult others, and re-adjust my trajectory. This has been the most difficult part for me, but it’s also been the most necessary part of establishing my business.
Ryan: What has been the most exciting or unexpected challenge you’ve faced while sourcing parts or building relationships with suppliers?
Arek: The most exciting challenge we faced when sourcing our parts was coordinating the manufacturing on our end. Our current product is 3D printed and requires an extra manual operation to install hardware, so figuring out all the details of this process has been quite a fun challenge.
Ryan: With technology constantly evolving, how do you stay informed about the latest robotics trends? How do you see this impacting EtherParts as it grows?
Arek: We stay informed by staying plugged into the FRC community. Interacting on FRC forums like Chief Delphi, following FRC accounts on Instagram, and watching events and videos on YouTube all contribute to us staying up-to-date.
The evolution of the FRC space will have deep impacts on EtherParts’ growth as I cannot go back to being an FRC student and gain those experiences first-hand again. However, in the future, there may be time and space for me to rejoin the community as a team mentor.
Ryan: How do you balance the technical demands of running a robotics-focused business with the day-to-day aspects of managing EtherParts?
Arek: In the morning, I like to decide between having a “technical” or “business” day depending on how I feel and the tasks ahead of me. I will then commit my mind to those types of tasks. I find it’s easier to stay focused and flow from task to task when I’m locked into the specific mindset.
Ryan: What kind of feedback have you received from your customers, and how are you using that to shape EtherParts as you continue to refine the business?
Arek: I’ve received a spectrum of feedback from customers. Many people are very receptive to the idea of new amateur part vendors like us entering into the FRC space, while others think that sourcing robotics parts should be left to more qualified people as I’m still a college student. I personally believe that there is definitely a place for EtherParts within the FRC community, and I have used the feedback to help build EtherParts’ brand and identity.
Ryan: How has being a UC Irvine student and having access to campus resources supported you in growing EtherParts? Are there any specific classes, mentors, or experiences that have influenced your approach?
Arek: UC Irvine has played a critical role in bringing my idea to life. Specifically, the ANTrepreneur Center has provided me with countless opportunities and resources. Mentors like yourself, Maryam Garg, and Stefani Rios have all played critical roles in supporting me through my journey by helping me stay on track, providing advice and technical assistance, and making me feel so accepted and welcomed. Additionally, the ANTrepreneur Center connected me to Dr. Daniel and the members of the Legal Office Hours who also contributed in laying the legal foundation of EtherParts.
Ryan: I’m happy to hear that the ANTrepreneur Center had such a positive impact on your business. Speaking of the Center, you also participated in our Side Hustle Challenge. What motivated you to take part in the Challenge, and what key insights or skills have you gained from participating?
Arek: I decided to take part in the Side Hustle Challenge because it aligned with the state of my business at the time. Because the Challenge required us to create a spending tracker, create a business poster, interact with others, and earn some money, I found it to be very beneficial in the development of EtherParts because it helped ground my idea.
Ryan: That’s awesome, Arek. I want to thank you again for sitting down with me and sharing your story. Let’s close this out by talking about Etherparts’ future. When you think about the next few stages for EtherParts, what excites you the most? Do you see opportunities to expand into new areas or markets as you grow?
Arek: Thanks for having me, Ryan! When I think of the future, I see an era of marketing and heavy community involvement. This past summer was almost exclusively used for product development and building up the business, but moving forward, we will shift our focus to EtherParts’ brand and outward appearance, and I am very excited about it. I believe that there will come a time where we rebrand to a broader FIRST Robotics vendor to cater to other FTC markets and many other robotics fields.
Visit the EtherParts website for the latest products, news, and updates from Arek’s company. Inspired by Arek’s journey and interested in other student side hustles? Then stay tuned for the next installment of the Side Hustler Stories series. Visit and follow EtherParts on Instagram and YouTube.
Want help developing and launching your side hustle or business venture? Then visit the ANTrepreneur Center website to learn more about programming, speaker series, Micro-Internships, funding, and more. You can also learn more about the Center’s collaborations with Blackstone LaunchPad, Tech Coast Angels, Tech Coast Venture Network, OC Startup Council, and SoCal Celebrates Entrepreneurship. Keep up with the Center’s latest news by following them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.