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Game Changer: Bethany Koby of Technology Will Save Us

As part of Innovate UK’s Game Changer series, a spotlight is being focused on some of the most influential people in the tech and innovation markets. This time it’s about the work and rise to prominence of Bethany Koby of Technology Will Save Us. Bethany’s mission is to feed the creative imaginations of kids with technology, and her innovative kits could be set to change the dynamics of the classroom with practical and interactive learning.

“I think every entrepreneur will say that entrepreneurs are crazy – you have to be!”

Kids Toys Should Be Smart

Based in East London, Technology Will Save Us looks to spark the imagination of children with hands-on tech. Bethany explains how the toy industry is still sitting in the blue and pink era – while children are getting smarter.

Designing and selling make-it-yourself kits with digital tools and projects, the company hopes to build a link between physical and virtual education – educating children, students, families and teachers.

From wearable tech children code themselves, to toy robots and synth sets. Technology Will Save Us puts emphasis on helping children to develop tech based skills and passions while also having fun. This allows kids to have hands-on interaction with LEDs, circuits and so on, fuelling their creativity and letting their imaginations run wild with possibilities.

Tech Will Save Us is also working with schools up and down the country to bring hands-on making into the classroom, so teachers can use the kits for their own lessons. Since its inception, the brand has attracted a lot of support from venture capital funding and now operates with a team of over 30 designers, engineers, problem solvers and educators.

Getting the BBC micro:bit into Schools

Recently Tech Will Save Us also partnered up with the BBC to get the micro:bit into schools. This programmable pocket-sized device – about the size of a credit card – was designed to make programming relevant to children and build their practical skills.

“If you think about how technology education is positioned right now for an 11-year-old, they have to take ICT [Information and Communications Technology], where basically they learn how to make Excel spreadsheets,” said Bethany. “That’s not technology.

“What this allows them to do is understand that the world of technology in education is about sensors, programming, design, invention and actually solving a problem or wanting to experience something.”

Featuring a programmable LED matrix, accelerometer, compass, control buttons and Bluetooth connectivity, the device was extremely well received by children and teachers alike. This cemented Bethany’s mentality that kids respond very well when they can have hands-on experience whilst learning something new.

Where It All Began

The catalyst in the company’s inception initially came from discovering a discarded laptop in a Hackney rubbish bin. From then, the couple started considering the implications technology has on our daily lives – and our consumptive nature.

“I became a mother and I was annoyed by the toy industry. It’s still pink and blue, it’s not about being productive and creative and empowering; it’s actually still very and kind of boring.”

This was where Technology Will Save Us started:

“As crazy entrepreneurial people we decided, alright, let’s do something about it and using our experience as designers, educators and technologists we decided to build a toy brand for the creator generation.”

Bethany’s Career Timeline

• 2000 – BFA in Graphic Design from Rhode Island School of Design • 2003-2012 – Creative Director at international branding and innovation consultancy Wolff Olins • 2012 – Founded Technology Will Save Us with husband Daniel Hirschmann • 2015 – $1.8m investment raised • 2015 – Partners with BBC to give micro:bit to 1 million 11 years olds • 2016 – Mover kit raises $50k+ in crowdfunding in just 2 days • 2016 – Awarded Best Kids Tech at CES Innovation Awards 2017

Business, Family & The Journey

Bethany points out that co-founding a business with your partner isn’t for everyone. Though she considers the co-founder relationship is already a marriage of sorts.

“You’re sharing this really intense journey and there has to be an incredible amount of trust, respect and an incredible amount of commitment”.

She goes on to explain that to be a business owner and parent, you need to keep your world’s close together. Her home, child’s school and office are all within a walking or cycle distance from each other. This ensures a community feel is kept alive while also leveraging a vitally important feeling of flexibility.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Robert .