CYstarters Spotlight: A 14-part series highlighting student entrepreneurs pursuing their business ventures as part of the CYstarters 2025 summer cohort. Through this program, students have the unique opportunity to prioritize the development of their own startup or business idea. Each individual receives $6,500 and access to resources such as mentorship, networking opportunities, and educational sessions on entrepreneurship and business startup.

Growing up in Minnesota, Anders Otness was the kind of kid who couldn’t stop asking questions in science class. He always loved science, and stargazing really captured his attention. But for Anders, stargazing wasn’t just a phase, it was his favorite pastime. So, when he eventually found himself pursuing aerospace engineering at Iowa State University, no one was surprised. “I always loved science class,” Anders said. “I would ask so many questions and found that kind of stuff interesting.”

What did surprise him was that by the summer before his junior year, Anders would be running his own business, shipping DIY telescope kits to customers across the country, and building a brand around one clear mission: make hands-on STEM learning accessible, inspiring, and fun.

This summer, Anders joined the CYstarters accelerator to pursue that vision. His company, North Star Scientific, is creating science and engineering kits for students and hobbyists to discover their passion through hands-on experimentation. What started as a 3D printing project in his dorm room has since grown into something much bigger.

Anders always thought he’d be an engineer. What he didn’t expect was to become an entrepreneur.

His love of astronomy eventually led him to purchase several telescopes of his own, and even a few astronomy cameras. “I love taking pictures of the night sky,” he said. But with a family of six and long road trips, hauling around a bulky telescope wasn’t practical. That’s when Anders had the idea: what if he could build one himself? Something compact, collapsible, and easy to carry?

Photo of the Orion Nebula captured by Anders with the 114/450mm Travel Telescope.

With his 3D printer, Anders got to work. By the end of last summer, he had a working product, the Travel Telescope 114, a beginner-friendly, collapsible telescope that fits in a backpack.

He listed it on Shopify and posted about it on Reddit. And then, unexpectedly, people started buying it.

“That was a really cool moment, realizing people are spending their money on something I made,” Anders said. Since launching, he’s sold over $6,500 in products. “It’s easy to think, when you create a business, that people are just going to buy things. But getting real customers? That’s hard, and really rewarding.”

Though he had watched his brother start a lawn care business while growing up, entrepreneurship wasn’t something Anders new much about or actively pursued, until now. “What’s most exciting to me is the freedom to do whatever I want,” he said. He’s energized by the flexibility to chase ideas that don’t yet exist in the market.

Breadboard Electronics Learning Kit

That creative freedom has already led to expansion. Anders recently launched a second product, the Breadboard Electronics Learning Kit. Designed for students and DIYers, it walks users through the basics of electrical engineering with a guided learning experience, complete with components, logic gates, and beginner-friendly projects.

Through North Star Scientific, Anders now offers three kit configurations: a fully assembled version, one with 3D-printed parts ready to assemble, and the most popular—files for users to 3D print the parts themselves.

“What makes these kits unique is the experience of building them,” he said. “You get to learn how something works as you put it together.”

As a full-time student, Anders is balancing many things. Managing product design, order fulfillment, content creation, and a full class load is a heavy lift during the school year. That’s why CYstarters has been a game-changer.

“It’s been so helpful to bounce ideas off other people and get feedback,” he said. “Even though we’re all working on different businesses, there are so many opportunities for collaboration.”

One of the most meaningful moments came early in the program when CYstarters alumni visited to share their journeys. “That really inspired me. It made me think, ‘Wow, I could actually make this my full-time job someday.’”

CYstarters has helped Anders define goals, improve his marketing, and fine-tune his product offerings. His SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals) included launching the electronics kit, improving his telescope design, and developing content for social media and outreach. He’s also thinking about potential partnerships with schools and educators in the future. He sees an opportunity to bring his kits into classrooms and spark curiosity in young students.

“The reason why I created my business was to inspire other people to get interested in engineering and science,” he shared. “And to share my passion with them.”

While Anders is still early in his entrepreneurial journey, he’s already learned one of the most important lessons: you can’t do it all alone. “Asking for help and getting outside perspectives has been huge,” he said. “I’ve learned how important community really is.”

From his brother’s help setting up the website to feedback from fellow CYstarters, to his supportive family cheering him on, Anders has built more than just a business. He’s created something meaningful, something that might just inspire the next young engineer!

You can support Anders by visiting www.nstarscientific.com and following him on Instagram @nstarscientific. Want to see his kits in person? Stop by CYstarters Demo Day on July 31, where Anders and the rest of the cohort will showcase what they’ve been building all summer.

Check out our video interview with Anders Otness below!