Erandi Aprende App

Erandi Aprende is dedicated to addressing the global challenge of unequal access to education and the imperative need for future-ready skills, particularly focusing on narrowing the gender gap in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. Within this broader mission, Erandi targets Hispanic girls who face specific obstacles to accessing STEAM (we include the arts too to build a holistic and multidisciplinary learning approach) education, including gender stereotypes, a scarcity of bilingual or Spanish-language resources, and limited dissemination of STEAM education outside of traditional schooling, especially in Mexico and Hispanic communities in the US.

Research underscores the significance of engagement in education, as engaged students are more likely to excel academically and feel optimistic about their future prospects. Despite being the careers of the future, STEM industries will have less than 30% participation from the 3.25 billion girls under 25 worldwide, with one third of Mexican girls lacking access to STEAM education. Besides, Hispanics constitute the largest and fastest-growing minority in the US, with one in four children being Hispanic, totaling 6.7 million young girls under 15. Yet, this group continues to be a minority in the ICT workforce with only 2% of women being Hispanic. 

This lack of access is further compounded by systemic gender biases and academic deficiencies, especially prevalent in rural and peri-urban areas. Through our work since 2020 teaching girls STEAM in diverse formats such as workshops, online classes, edtech apps, and programs, we have identified that systemic gender biases remain a primary deterrent for women's participation in STEM, alongside the lack of engaging educational material and teaching methods that do not adequately support learners in understanding abstract concepts and fail to convey the value of STEAM education.

Furthermore, Mexican students' have below-average scores in Math and Science subjects, as highlighted by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which exacerbates the reluctance to pursue STEM degrees. Thus, Erandi Aprende emphasizes the necessity of providing an inclusive and transformative first encounter with STEAM to all girls and young women, prioritizing access to quality STEAM education to reduce the gender gap and empower girls for a promising future.

Persistent gender roles within Hispanic communities perpetuate disparities in STEM workforce representation, compounded by low levels of engagement in traditional classroom settings. According to Gül Özerk in the International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, less than 50% of students feel engaged, further hindering girls' pursuit of STEAM careers. Erandi Aprende addresses these challenges by offering culturally relevant, engaging STEAM content tailored to Hispanic girls, aiming to dismantle gender stereotypes, enhance engagement, and embolden girls to confidently pursue STEAM careers.

The Erandi Aprende App is a bilingual progressive web app designed to spark curiosity and a love for (STEAM) in Hispanic girls aged 8-12. Erandi, the AI "amiga" (friend), uses natural language processing to understand girls' questions. It creates a fun and engaging space for girls to explore science and technology through open-ended questions and projects. Erandi personalizes the learning journey by asking questions, explaining concepts, and suggesting activities based on the girl's interests. This helps girls grasp new concepts and see the connection between their interests and future careers in STEM. The app also allows girls to create and work on self-defined projects, encouraging them to imagine, create, and reflect on their own inventions. In addition, parents get reports showing their daughter's progress and suggestions for ways to extend the learning experience.

By facilitating connections between science, technology, personal interests, and everyday experiences, we cultivate self-guided learning abilities and a genuine enthusiasm for STEAM subjects. Our goal is to empower users to explore the diverse opportunities within these fields, ultimately increasing participation rates and inspiring confidence in pursuing STEAM careers. All in all, the Erandi Aprende App is just the beginning, as we aim to develop what we call STEAMLand, a place for everyone in the science and technology world while building a bridge between the physical and digital worlds.

Erandi Aprende targets Hispanic girls aged 8-12, a group often underrepresented in STEM fields. Up to date, our initiatives have positively impacted the lives of 25,000 young minds, while fostering collaboration with esteemed partners such as the Science Museum Universum, the national children's TV channel Once Niñ@s, and leading STEAM-related companies like Emerson and Cisco. Additionally, our collaboration with the local council on science and technology of the state of Hidalgo has facilitated the donation of 50 courses to girls from vulnerable backgrounds, effectively bridging the accessibility gap between urban and peri-urban areas.

We primarily cater to parents, tutors, or caregivers of Hispanic girls aged 8 to 12 in Mexico and the US. Our ideal customer profile revolves around Hispanic mothers aged between their late 30s and mid-40s, deeply committed to their family's well-being and prioritizing their children's education and future. However, despite their dedication, they lack the necessary knowledge and tools to support their children's curiosity and academic needs, particularly in STEM subjects.

Our users and beneficiaries are children aged 8 to 12 residing in Mexico City and its metropolitan area, as well as various other cities in Mexico such as Tlaxcala, Querétaro, Guanajuato, and Pachuca. In the US, we focus on Hispanic communities in Bexar, Harris, and Dallas counties in Texas; LA, Riverside, and San Diego counties in California; Miami-Dade County in Florida, as well as Maricopa County in Arizona. Additionally, we have attracted students from Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, and Peru.

The Hispanic population constitutes the largest and fastest-growing minority in the US, with one in four children being Hispanic, totaling 6.7 million young girls under 15. In Mexico, there are 18.9 million girls under the age of 15. The American K-12 EdTech market is currently valued at $31.5 billion and is projected to grow by 22% by 2030. Considering the serviceable addressable market in the Americas and the Hispanic population, the potential market value reaches $120.4 billion, encompassing 92 million young girls. Globally, our impact extends to an eighth of the population, or 1 billion girls, with a total addressable market worth $350 billion.

Currently, our target populations are underserved due to persistent gender norms, low engagement in traditional education, and feelings of impostor syndrome or lack of confidence. Additionally, the scarcity of engaging STEAM content available in languages other than English poses a significant barrier, as only 12% of the entire Mexican population can speak English proficiently. Likewise, Hispanic and other communities in the US wish that their kids are able to connect with their culture and heritage, besides being able to speak a second language . Moreover, most STEAM education providers offer one-time experiences without continuous programs or follow-up systems, limiting sustained engagement and personalized learning opportunities.

We are uniquely positioned to deliver this solution since we have firsthand experience with the problem we are solving. Miroslava and Hope have faced the challenges of being the sole female representatives in STEM fields, while Andrea and Elissa have grappled with gender roles and impostor syndrome, leading them to opt out of pursuing careers in these areas. These personal experiences underscore our commitment to ensuring that future generations do not encounter the same obstacles.

Furthermore, our team's diverse backgrounds contribute to a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving, allowing us to leverage specialized expertise effectively. Miroslava, a full-stack developer, collaborates with Hope, our UX-UI designer, on product development  and user testing. Andrea, with a background in social sciences, focuses on sales, public relations, and partnership building. Elissa, leveraging her communication background, oversees communications, social media, marketing, customer support, and community management.

In fact, Andrea, Miroslava, and Elissa are Hispanic themselves, providing us with a deeper understanding of our target demographic since we can have direct interactions with our ideal customers. With remote work spanning Mexico and the US, we harness a broad spectrum of perspectives to drive innovation and ensure our solution resonates with and meets the needs of our diverse audience.

Besides, We prioritize community involvement throughout the development of our app. We actively engage Hispanic girls aged 8-12 and their mothers from the beginning. This ensures the app addresses their specific needs and interests. As an example, we hold fun events called "fiestas" (parties) where families and girls can learn about STEAM subjects together. These fiestas help us understand what girls are interested in learning and inspire new features in the app.

Our mission to empower girls began in 2020 with the idea of creating Erandi, an AI for personalized STEAM learning. Recognizing the need for expertise in product development, education and technology, we initially offered STEAM kits, interactive courses and workshops, both online and in-person.  All of the features of our current app once were successful workshops or activities – a testament to our impact on over 25,000 young individuals across Mexico and the US.

However, these courses and workshops, while successful, lacked scalability and personalization. The rise of accessible Large Language Models like LLMs offered a new opportunity. We leveraged this technology to develop Erandi Aprende, our bilingual STEAM AI “amiga”. We wanted to create a solution accessible year-round, not just during special events. This shift led to the launch of our app on March 8th, 2024.

Since our launch, we've acquired over 130 users through various marketing strategies, leveraging existing networks, and organic growth. Furthermore, we also tested our product at Recrea Land (a famous education event in the state of Jalisco Mexico), in a workshop on how AI works which included a demo of the app. The almost 250 participants helped us with finding patterns to train our model, have a better understanding of their interests and start considering new ways of keeping the engagement levels.

Among the mentioned 130 current users, we currently have 20 active users. Active users, in our context, refer to learners who consistently engage with our platform, returning regularly, typically between once a day to three times per week. These active users frequently pose an average of 20 questions to our AI amiga, dedicate approximately  10 minutes to app usage, bring in referrals, or have already shared their payment details in preparation for our upcoming fee implementation in June. 

We are applying to this challenge to make our wildest dreams come true: help bridge the STEAM gender gap, build confidence and create engagement in STEAM education while working alongside the MIT network. Our social venture is composed of technology at its core and we have used MIT education methodologies to develop the latter. Thus, we are aware of the fact that having the support and knowledge from experts from MIT  (especially having mentorship from experts in AI for creative learning and the edtech world) will allow us to continue developing our “STEAMLand '' with a more thorough and sound scope.

As our app is in the pilot stage, sales funnel conversion rates, growing our team and community (that supports us in our efforts of developing "STEAMLand"), product market fit and exploiting technology's potential remain our main concerns. We believe that we would benefit from all the help provided by your network network to be able to build, grow and continue developing our business in order to reach more girls, support them to turn into remarkable STEAMers and ensure that the team becomes recognized in the STEAM e-learning domain.

Erandi Aprende takes a groundbreaking approach to igniting STEAM curiosity and engagement in Hispanic girls aged 8-12. Unlike traditional, passive methods, Erandi puts the learner in the driver's seat. This open-ended exploration allows girls to ask anything and be redirected to engaging STEAM learning paths, fostering a love of discovery. Furthermore, Erandi empowers them to go beyond rote learning by creating their own projects. The impact is evident – we've witnessed the positive change firsthand when speaking to parents. They consistently remark that they haven't seen their daughters this engaged in any other learning activity.

Besides, we have developed a targeted solution for underrepresented communities. Our commitment to supporting Hispanic learners, is exemplified by the development of our culturally responsive AI Amiga. Our initiative ensures equitable access to personalized STEAM learning experiences, addressing a critical gap in the edtech market. Hispanics account for 19% of the US population, with one out of four children being Hispanic and represent the vast majority of the population in Latin America. These students face significant educational challenges compared to other demographics in the US, and Latin American Countries score low compared to other mid income countries who participated in the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) test; especially in regard to reading comprehension, mathematical and science abilities. Given the lack of targeted edtech solutions for this demographic, our app fills a crucial gap, making a meaningful impact on Hispanic students' educational outcomes.

Third, we have focused on creating a differentiated product. We intentionally depart from the common edtech approach, avoiding overly gamified experiences that may lead to addictive behaviors and overstimulation. Instead, our app emphasizes genuine enjoyment and intellectual growth, providing parents with a transparent view of engagement. Our goal is to cultivate a lifelong passion for learning and a strong affinity for knowledge, unlike many edtech products focused solely on short-term outcomes. Our holistic educational approach incorporates guided project-based learning, critical thinking exercises, bilingual vocabulary definition, and STEM question answers, catering to diverse learning styles and interests. This sets us apart from other edtech solutions and enhances user satisfaction, particularly in re-engaging learners post-pandemic,  a concern many parents struggle with.

Lastly, our venture focuses on fostering enhanced parental involvement. Recognizing the pivotal role of parents in their child's education, we offer insights, tips, and activities to support parental involvement. By deeply understanding parents' needs and prioritizing effective parental engagement, we differentiate ourselves in the edtech landscape.

Erandi Aprende's theory of change is rooted in facilitating culturally relevant STEM exploration for Hispanic girls through our AI-driven “amiga”, supported by parental involvement. This approach is expected to yield short-term outcomes such as enhanced STEM engagement and confidence, leading to long-term benefits including improved academic achievement and increased representation in STEM fields. Our strategy integrates a freemium to premium business model (monthly subscriptions of $9.99), digital marketing, influencer partnerships, and community engagement to ensure sustainable growth. Through the dismantling of gender stereotypes and the promotion of STEM empowerment, we aspire to effect meaningful change for both individual learners and society at large.

Erandi Aprende strives for a transformational impact on Hispanic girls aged 8-12. Our core goals are to ignite their curiosity and engagement in STEAM education, empower them as future creators and innovators, and bridge the accessibility gap for girls from vulnerable backgrounds. Our venture measures progress through a mix of quantitative and qualitative data. User engagement metrics, parental feedback, and project creation rates track the first two goals. We monitor the number of girls from underserved communities using the app and partnerships with NGOs to ensure accessibility. Additionally, user testimonials and "STEAM fiestas" events provide valuable qualitative insights into the app's impact on girls' attitudes and aspirations towards STEAM. This comprehensive approach allows us to continuously evaluate Erandi Aprende's effectiveness and refine it to maximize its positive influence on the lives of these young minds.

At the heart of our solution is a Progressive Web App (PWA), which ensures seamless accessibility and the potential for offline functionality, catering to learners from diverse backgrounds. Leveraging Amazon Web Services (AWS) for natural language processing (NLP), our AI "amiga" Erandi is empowered to comprehend and respond to girls' inquiries, fostering an intuitive and engaging learning environment. Moreover, we integrate AI models (Anthropic Claude) to enrich the app's capabilities to answer open-ended questions and redirect to relevant STEM topics, suggest tailored activities, and elucidates concepts in alignment with each girl's unique interests and comprehension level. 

• Andrea Remes (CEO): Full-time
• Miroslava Rodriguez (CTO): Full-time
• Javier Olán (Senior Developer): Volunteer
• Hope Myers (UX|UI): Volunteer
• Elissa Casas (Communications): Volunteer
• Barry O'Neill: Advisor
• Metta World Peace: Advisor and Consultant

From the team we have presented above, Miroslava and Andrea have been working on this project since August 2020. Elissa, Hope, Barry and Metta joined the team in late fall 2023 a couple of weeks apart from each other. Lastly, Javier joined the team in late February 2024.

Inclusion and human-centricity lie at the very core of our company's ethos. We embrace inclusion as not just a value, but a commitment to ensuring no one is left behind. Just as we navigated childhood with a shared sense of fairness, we carry this principle into our mission. Our dedication to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment transcends rhetoric; it's a promise to provide everyone with a seat at the table, regardless of gender. We aspire to create opportunities that welcome both girls and boys, believing fervently in the benefits of an inclusive learning environment for all.

Infusing empathy, understanding, and a profound connection to the human experience into every facet of our work is paramount to us. Just as compassion and consideration were instinctive in our formative years, we carry these values into our professional journey. By prioritizing people, we endeavor to cultivate an environment where every team member feels valued, heard, and understood. Our commitment extends beyond our team to our users, who are integral to our journey. We aim to provide them with a sense of connection and understanding akin to the genuine companionship cherished in our childhood.

Moreover, our team predominantly consists of females, fostering a supportive environment particularly for women in STEM, where they often face minority status. Additionally, our team and advisors represent a diverse array of racial backgrounds, including Hispanic, Asian, Black, and White. This diversity ensures a rich tapestry of perspectives and experiences enriches our work.

Erandi Aprende operates on a B2C freemium to premium subscription-based model, offering monthly access to our app for parents, tutors, and caregivers of Hispanic girls. The cost of the subscription is $9.99 a month. Additionally, we partner with STEM companies to provide our services as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives or employee benefits programs. By diversifying our revenue streams and targeting both B2C and B2B markets, we aim to achieve sustainable growth and scalability.

We aim to achieve product market fit and financial sustainability through two primary avenues. Firstly, we'll focus on our B2C model, selling monthly subscriptions at $9.99 to parents, tutors, or caregivers of Hispanic girls aged 8-12, aiming to have 100K paying learners in the app in the next two years. We'll primarily use social media for outreach, and  through strategic partnerships and targeted marketing initiatives. This includes collaborating with cultural centers, and participating in STEAM events to directly engage with our target audience. Additionally, we aim to leverage synergies with other companies by offering bundled packages that combine our app subscription with well-known STEAM education products and toys or services that parents are already using (gym memberships, daycare, etc..).

Furthermore, we will establish partnerships with STEAM-focused companies to create personalized affiliate programs for our users, generating revenue through affiliate fees and explore targeted advertising opportunities aimed at parents who are already using our app, ensuring a direct and impactful reach within our user base.

Likewise, we'll collaborate with said companies, selling app subscriptions in bulk as part of their CSR strategy or employee benefits. This model has been successful with Cisco, who provide our products to Casa Alianza, a non-profit organization aiding street children in Mexico.

In order to get these strategies rolling we are looking to get a couple of extra grants, as well as fundraise for a pre-seed round before focusing on bootstrapping. Under our previous model, we have generated $10,000 in revenue to date. This income source, however, was irregular and heavily reliant on organic B2C sales and B2B partnerships with entities like Cisco and the Mexican Cultural Institute. Although these sales provided some funds to cover operational expenses, they fall short of constituting a consistent, sustainable revenue stream in the long term. 

Two primary factors contributed to our limited focus on larger-scale sales until now. Initially, the team worked full time for various organizations, allocating only part-time efforts to the venture until late fall 2022. Additionally, our primary focus in the past year was the development of our current product, The Erandi Aprende App. Now equipped with a clearly differentiated product ready for the market, our strategic emphasis in the upcoming months will pivot towards sales and iterative improvements in order to reach product market fit.

Our venture has recognition and support from several international organizations. Erandi Aprende has received accolades including, but not limited to, being named the overall winner of the Youth Challenge 2.0 by Generation Unlimited (UNICEF) among 15 million participants (and earned a 15K grant), participating in the Halcyon Incubator (10K grant), joining the Young Leaders of the Americas initiative in Silicon Valley, achieving semifinalist status in the 2022 Re-engaging Learners Challenge, and being a finalist in the Adyen Accelerator.  Global corporations such as Amazon Web Services, Deloitte, Emerson, and Cisco being valuable partners and clients, this has provided valuable insights, tech support, and user interaction, enhancing our venture's development.