Ex-Googlers Build AI Learning App Kids Actually Want to Use

When six-year-olds ask how cars work or why it rains, a wall of text from ChatGPT doesn't cut it. Three parents who happened to be ex-Google engineers decided to build something better.

Lax Poojary, Lucie Marchand, and Myn Kang launched Sparkli in 2024 after struggling to satisfy their own kids' endless curiosity. They watched their children lose interest in text-based AI answers and realized young learners crave something more hands-on.

The app turns any question into a custom learning "expedition" complete with videos, games, quizzes, and choose-your-own-adventure stories. When a child asks about Mars, they don't just see a picture or watch a video. They interact with the planet itself through an experience generated by AI in under two minutes.

Sparkli goes beyond standard school subjects to teach financial literacy, design skills, and entrepreneurship. The startup hired a PhD in educational science and a classroom teacher as their first two employees to ensure the content actually works for how kids learn.

Safety remains a top priority in an era when AI companies face lawsuits over harmful content reaching children. The app blocks certain topics entirely and redirects questions about self-harm toward emotional intelligence lessons that encourage kids to talk with parents.

The Ripple Effect

Over 100,000 students across a network of schools are now testing Sparkli. Teachers use it to spark classroom discussions and create homework assignments that measure understanding in new ways.

The approach seems to work. Kids return to the app regularly, motivated by streaks, rewards, and quest cards tied to their chosen avatars. Teachers report students exploring topics more deeply than traditional methods allowed.

The startup just secured $5 million in funding from Swiss venture firm Founderful, which made Sparkli its first pure education technology investment. Founding partner Lukas Weder, a father himself, recognized gaps in his own children's education around modern topics like financial literacy and tech innovation.

While Sparkli currently focuses on working with schools worldwide, the team plans to open consumer access by mid-2026. Parents will soon download the app directly, bringing interactive learning adventures home.

The app proves that meeting kids where they are, with the interactivity they crave, can transform curiosity into genuine understanding.