Polymath, a groundbreaking educational platform, is revolutionizing the way children learn mathematics by making it as enjoyable as popular games like Roblox and Minecraft. Launched in January 2023 through the Startmate accelerator in New Zealand, Polymath is available as a free-to-play platform on web, iOS, and Android devices. The platform has already attracted thousands of young learners from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Designed to captivate young minds already familiar with digital gaming environments, Polymath integrates educational content with engaging gameplay. The platform aims to foster critical thinking skills among students by presenting them with challenges that require analytical problem-solving. As Christian Silver, co-founder and CTO of Polymath, explains:
“There’s a shopkeeper where you can buy things like resources from it, and sometimes that shopkeeper is unreliable and will give you the wrong price. Each block of wood costs 5 “cubos” (the currency in Polymath). You’re asking to buy 4, but it’s trying to charge you 30 cubos. That’s a critical thinking moment for the student to recognize that the price is wrong.”
Polymath offers parents the ability to manage their child's educational journey through its parent app, Polymath Relate. This feature allows parents to receive weekly email reports detailing their child's progress and access detailed answers to every question their child encounters. This level of engagement ensures parents can actively participate in their child's learning process.
In classroom settings where device availability may be limited, Polymath ensures inclusivity by involving all students. The platform incorporates a feature that prompts players to answer questions collectively, making sure no student is left behind.
Sophie Silver, co-founder and CEO of Polymath, whose background includes studies in human learning, memory, and developmental psychology at University College London (UCL), has been instrumental in creating an educational tool that resonates with children. Reflecting on her inspiration for Polymath, she shared:
“The kids really did not enjoy maths, and so I would start to invent games, mainly with cards or dice, to try and motivate them to do their multiplication or whatever they needed to do.”
Polymath has secured $1 million in pre-seed funding co-led by Blackbird Ventures and GD1. This funding underscores the confidence investors have in the platform's potential to transform math education. Additionally, Liam Don, chief technology officer of ClassDojo, has joined as an angel investor, further strengthening Polymath's position in the educational technology landscape.
With its presence firmly established across multiple countries, including key states in the U.S., Polymath continues to expand its reach and impact. By offering a dynamic and interactive learning environment, it not only enhances students' mathematical skills but also encourages them to develop critical thinking abilities essential for real-world problem-solving.
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