Meet the Winning Startups of the ChildTech Challenge 2022

These companies are changing the future of children and teenagers in Latin America with innovation and technology. Find out who they are.

It is time to meet the winning startups of the second edition of the ChildTech Challenge 2022, a competition that rewards the most promising companies in the world with solutions aimed at the development of girls, boys and teenagers in areas such as education and emotional health.

Beereaders, Storybook and Matific won the ChildTech Challenge 2022 award. These companies stood out for the social impact they are creating in Latin America by transforming education and the growth of children in early childhood, and for the challenges they solve: the educational skills gap and children’s socio-emotional development.

The three winners stood out among hundreds of startups that took part in the call, held from March to May this year, from 26 countries in Latin America, North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. The winning companies were chosen by a committee of experts after a long selection process and the Demo Day that took place virtually on July 28.

The aspects taken into account include the efficiency of the solution, innovation, scalability, the problem it solves and social impact, according to the two types of challenges to solve: socio-emotional skills, and inclusion and education.

The second edition of the ChildTech Challenge 2022 was possible thanks to a partnership we formed with the international organization United Way, and the support of Fundación FEMSA and +Global from Fundación Mustakis, the main allies of the contest, who were also part of the first edition held in 2021.

Here are the companies that won the contest, and that will receive up to 30 thousand dollars to implement a high social impact, technology-based project together with social organizations in Mexico and Colombia.

Winners of the inclusion and education challenge

BEEREADERS

This company of Chilean origin was founded by Rubén Arias and Luis Gringras, who developed an app that helps students improve their reading comprehension through a catalog of digital books based on game dynamics and rewards. The technology diagnoses each student’s reading comprehension and constantly evaluates their progress over time.

With this tool, which works under a subscription model, educators can identify educational gaps and address them in time. The app also rewards students’ effort with Beecoins, a digital currency they use to earn virtual prizes. The startup has raised 4.2 million dollars in 5 investment rounds, with the participation of international funds such as University Venture Fund, EWA Capital and Black Ambition.

“This prize will let us implement an innovative digital solution that will help reduce the digital divide, foster a love of reading and support the development of socio-emotional skills. That way, students will be able to successfully face the challenges of the future,” says Luis Gringras, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Beereaders.

MATIFIC

Learning math by playing is the purpose of Matific, an Australian startup created by Raz Kupferman and Shimon Schocken. Its platform gives students interactive games and educational materials, under a paid scheme, that make it easier to learn and teach numbers, quantities, operations, measurements and geometric shapes.

The tool was also designed for teachers, who can refine and update their teaching method and bring activities together in one place. The startup has raised more than 57 million dollars in investment since its founding. The company is now preparing to enter the Colombian market and start operations in the country with the support of Impactus Ventures.

“It is a chance to reach thousands of girls and boys in Colombia with a real and positive contribution to their education. We are eager to awaken in them a love of math, promote self-discovery and reinforce the learning process,” says Nicolás Schenquerman, Regional Manager at Matific for Latin America.

Winner of the overall and socio-emotional development challenge

STORYBOOK

It is now easier for babies and children to fall asleep thanks to the app designed by Daniela Vega and Francisco Cornejo. The platform gives mothers and fathers a catalog of bedtime stories which, combined with music and relaxation techniques, help little ones sleep.

It works through a subscription model that gives 24/7 access to content available in Spanish, English and Portuguese. To date it operates in more than 60 countries, and will soon be available to users in Mexico and Colombia thanks to the support it will receive from Impactus Ventures. With this solution, the founders raised 900 thousand dollars in investment from Sutton Capital, Asymmetry Ventures and the Google for Startups accelerator, among other venture capital funds.

“We exist to help mothers and fathers improve their children’s emotional health, connection and family sleep, and where help is really needed most is in vulnerable communities. Being selected by United Way and Impactus Ventures means we will keep getting closer to fulfilling our purpose,” says Francisco Cornejo, co-founder and CEO of Storybook.

Honorable mention

These companies are creating change in the future of children and teenagers in Latin America, and that is why they became winners. They are now getting ready to bring their technology and educational solutions to millions of people in Mexico and Colombia to keep positively impacting their lives.

We thank all the startup founders who took part in this year’s call for their interest. We are convinced that people, teams and solutions like theirs are what is needed to change the world. Regardless of the competition’s result, we want to congratulate them because they are creating a positive impact on millions of girls, boys and teenagers.

We invite you to keep building the ChildTech ecosystem in Latin America, and to be part of the ChildTech Challenge 2023. Don’t miss it!