I search for emerging companies, technologies, disruptive technologies, innovations, start-ups and up-starts. I’ll look to match potential problems… e.g. “plastic pollution” to solutions… e.g. 3D Printer for recycled plastic waste…for potential venture capitalists, angel investors, and online funders. I’ll also highlight a variety of topics including funding success stories, the environment, housing, medical, artificial intelligence, science, aging populations, disabled populations, social entrepreneurs, philanthropy, and topical news. I’m always searching for great people innovating, inventing, and doing, great things.
I don’t endorse. Only disseminate.
The 411: Investment Opportunity - STEM stands for Smart - Tenacious - Empathetic - Mind(Blowing) = SmartGurlz
Found on: - https://www.seedinvest.com/smartgurlz/seed
www.smartgurlz.com
Invest in SmartGurlz: Coding robots and digital learning for girls
Disrupting the $40 billion EdTech market with educational tech products and reaching girls through a unique verbal-emotive curriculum, robots and apps in math, coding and technology. Zero to coding in 60 seconds!
The Problem:
World-wide, there is a shortage of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) professionals and women are not taking STEM educations. The gender gap begins early with girls beginning to self-select away by age 11 due to a lack of confidence and interest.
The Solution:
The time is right for SmartGurlz. SmartGurlz is backed by research to show that in order to engage more young girls, we need to address their preferred learning styles and brain function. SmartGurlz is more than just a fast-growing company, we are a movement of loyal customers who believe that girls need more than just exposure – they want tailored products that excite, ignite and engage.
The company was launched under the premise that a one-size-fits-all educational industry was failing our young girls in math and science. Research backed by brain studies support that play patterns including stories, art, music, creativity as well cooperation (instead of competition) are better suited for engaging girls and young women.
SmartGurlz is a bridge between the two worlds – of story-based play and technology.
Product & Service
The Product:A software and hardware platform that connects verbal-emotive thinking with coding robots. Zero to coding in 60 seconds.
- App Control | SugarCoded e-learning platform is available in iOS, Android and Kindle. Translated into 6 languages including French, Spanish and German.
- Games & Missions | Verbal-emotive learning exercises and games that engage girls via preferred learning techniques
- Coding | Step-by-step block coding exercises similar to Scratch and Google Blockly
- Stories | Engaging illustrated e-books on all SmartGurlz characters
- The Target Customer: Girls between the age of 5 and 12 years old.
The Business Model:
The first product is an app-controlled, self-balancing scooter with action character as well learnig app, SugarCoded that has self-paced tutorials, ebooks, games and missions. The company will launch a subscription model with additional apps, AR games and physical toys that is tailored to this audience and builds on the first robotic purchase.
The company also has original content in character books and its brand strategy will be building a licensing revenue based on its mission of girl empowerment.
In addition, SmartGurlz has been approached by Nickelodeon, Walmart and Warner Bros. to support existing content or brand franchises with coding products and apps.
The Market:
The U.S. education market is estimated to be about $1.3 trillion dollars with K-12: ~$670 billion. Edtech companies have a total worth of more than $8 billion of this space and the spend is growing by parents each year.
Recent changes in federal and state educational standards will require that children are proficient in computer science and other STEM-related curriculum and both parents and schools will be pressed to find engaging solutions for young learners. Major companies such as Microsoft, Ford, Apple, Adobe and Uber are investing heavily in programs to encourage more girls and women into STEM. While girls are natural born scientists, statistics show that most girls lean away from STEM by age 11 and less than 7% of women graduate with STEM degrees. We believe this is due to teaching methods.
The Competition:
MGA Entertainment has a DIY STEM brand addressing pre-teen girls however offers no coding curriculum. Specifically on the coding robot category – Wonder Workshop, Sphero, Little Bits and Root Robotics are competitors but offer no products aimed at girls.
These products are either masculine or gender neutral, target higher income audience with prices at $150+ and are currently not adequately addressing our target audience.
Strategic Barriers to Entry:
SmartGurlz has unique creative competencies in curriculum, growing influencer base and profitable niche market that many larger players have not entered. Patent, design patents, trademarks, IPsecurity measures (trade secrets) and copyright applications have been filed to protect core technology.
The Success:
SmartGurlz’s curriculum approach is evidence-based and has generated returns: we have been able to efficiently allocate resources from our first Angel raise ($.6M) toward marketing and bring our sales up from $106,000 in 2016 to $765,000 in 2017, calculating a compounded annual growth rate of 620%. Additionally, SmartGurlz continues to acquire customers, recently adding the Girl Scouts of America as new wholesale customer.
No comments:
Post a Comment