A Childhood Dream

Since I was a child, I dreamed of inventing. My mind was always buzzing with wild ideas, strange inventions, and impossible what-ifs. Typical ADD. 
But ideas are one thing, making them real is another, and dropping out of school in 10th grade certainly didn’t make it easier.
For years, I drifted, trying to find my place while friends earned degrees and landed impressive tech jobs.

I felt stuck and left behind.
One night, after many frustrating evenings, I hit rock bottom and felt that this was my crossroads. Now or never. I realized I had a choice. I could let my past define me, or take a leap into the unknown and create something entirely my own. It wouldn’t be the usual path, but that quirky path might be the only way to truly follow my ideas and fulfill myself.

The Spark of an Idea

One night, back in 2016, I decided it was time to finally chase that dream. I told myself, find something you truly love and build from there. The answer came quickly, because one thing was undeniable, I am a guitarist, completely obsessed with musical instruments. That passion became my starting point.

I looked at my guitar and thought, what if I could create something new for guitars? I did not have a clear answer, but I went to bed with that question still echoing in my mind.

Not long after, I saw Jimmy Page play his guitar with a violin bow, and everything clicked. What if I could bring this to the acoustic guitar? In that instant, the path felt clear. I grabbed an old violin bow and tried it. The sound was beautiful, yet the experience was clumsy, I kept striking the guitar, and it felt limited. That is when I knew exactly what I wanted to do, I was going to invent a bow made specifically for acoustic guitars.

Inspirational moment.

From Idea to Prototype

I explored many directions, and the concept that truly captivated me, while remaining practical, was a micro double sided bow. Since I did not know how to build a bow, I contacted a local bow maker and shared my idea. Two weeks later, I held the first prototype in my hands. I played it, and I could not believe the sound. It was something that had never existed before, and it was mine.

The very first Pickaso Guitar Bow model

The First Yes

Funding was a challenge. I had no savings, and several investors told me the market was too small, with one even saying, “Don't waste your time. No one will buy this.” I decided to try a different route and went to the bank. At first, they declined. My low credit score didn’t help, but I insisted and asked to meet the branch manager in person.

I said, “Let me show you the product. If you’re not impressed, don’t give me the loan.” I took out my guitar, played a few chords, and said, “Every guitar in the world sounds like this, right?” Then I pulled the Pickaso bow from my pocket and played Bach, adding, “But with this one-of-a-kind bow, the first in the world, your guitar could sound like that.” His eyes lit up and he smiled, “Jonathan, this is incredible. I want one for my nephew.”

I don’t know why the stars aligned that way, but looking back, it was the perfect way to bring my idea to life. He couldn’t approve the full amount, but he gave me enough to start. That first real yes changed everything.

Building the Sound

I wanted to create the best product possible. With a limited budget, I learned what I needed to move forward, branding, website design, photography, logistics, manufacturing, advertising, finance, and business management. I stayed hands on with every detail and invested where it mattered most, the product and the sound. For the engineering work, I collaborated with product designers, engineers, luthiers, and bow makers.

Looking back, that focus is exactly why the Pickaso Guitar Bow feels so refined. I aimed to get every part right, and I poured my heart into the process.

After three years of work filled with countless doubts, I finally completed the prototype and launched ads for a preorder campaign. On September 7th, 2019, I pressed the publish button. Seconds later, the first order arrived, then another, and another. It was not a crowdfunding platform, it was direct preorders on my website. My dream was becoming real, and that moment is one I will never forget.

From Bedroom to Business

In the beginning, it was just me. I handled customer service, crafted each bow by hand, and packed and shipped from a small room in a shared flat. Some nights, I worked until I could not keep my eyes open, surrounded by piles of boxes. Through this period I learned how to adapt, how to solve problems, and how to turn ideas into reality.

When Passion Finds Its Purpose

Today, I have a company, a team, and a product played by incredible musicians around the world. The Pickaso Guitar Bow is sold globally, and I have had the honor of seeing it on the shelves at Guitar Center.

I am inspired every day by the music from tens of thousands of creative customers. They give me the drive to keep going and bring more ideas to life.

The Pickaso bow isn’t just a product; it’s a piece of art. Its sound is a symbol of the hidden potential in everything and everyone, waiting to be discovered if we dare to connect the dots. Playing it feels like being a child again, painting on the walls, letting creativity flow without restrictions, just pure exploration, curiosity, and joy. 

That is what it’s all about.

I hope that by sharing my story, I can inspire someone to chase a dream they once left behind.

Thank you for reading 🧡

With much love and appreciation,
Jonathan Shenhav
Inventor and CEO
Pickaso Innovations LLC