Namibia - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

An AI website where the human teacher prepares the lesson and our AI teacher delivers personalized lessons that meet each learner’s needs on their devices, using text, audio, videos, images, and graphs instead of the typical one-size-fits-all lesson.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

YYeni AI is an AI teacher for overcrowded public school classrooms in Southern Africa. It enables teachers to prepare lessons by simply copying and pasting learning objectives from their syllabus into YYeni AI. YYeni then delivers personalized lessons to each learner on their devices, using text, audio, YouTube videos, images, and graphs. Instead of all 50 learners sitting and listening to a one-size-fits-all lesson from the teacher at the board, YYeni AI provides tailored content that meets each learner’s needs. After the lesson, YYeni AI administers and grades tests, providing personalized feedback to each learner. This innovative tool enhances individualized learning and supports teachers in managing large classes within the classroom. YYeni AI doesn’t just deliver content; it challenges students. Using a Socratic method, it prompts them to think, question, and deduce, transforming passive learning into an active discovery process.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Picture a classroom where students are packed in so tightly, it feels more like a crowded market than a place of learning. This chaotic reality is what millions of students face every day across the globe. Back in 1984, a thinker named Benjamin Bloom shed light on the "2 Sigma problem," showing us that when it comes to learning, the personal touch of one-on-one tutoring significantly outshines the traditional group setting. Yet, here we are, decades later, still scratching our heads on how to bring that tailored teaching experience to every student. Bloom also emphasized that it's not enough to just remember facts anymore, deep thinking skills are in short supply in many classrooms today. This gap in critical thinking and problem-solving education is what we're eager to fill with YYeni AI. We're bringing this solution to life in classrooms where teachers might not have the luxury of diving deep with each student due to oversized classrooms.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

-Increased Quality Education: YYeni AI transforms traditional education by offering personalized lessons tailored to each learner’s needs which can boost academic performance by up to 98%. This AI provides each student with a virtual personal tutor, adapting to their learning pace and style, and offering multimedia content that makes learning engaging and effective. -Mastery Learning: YYeni AI automates formative assessments, offering instant feedback and detailed analysis. This saves time, reduces costs, and allows teachers to focus on personalized emotional support. -Parental Involvement: By automating routine educational tasks, YYeni AI reduces teacher workload, preventing burnout and improving job satisfaction. This also allows teachers to engage more directly with learners and parents, fostering stronger relationships and enhancing student motivation and academic success. Increased parental involvement, facilitated by YYeni AI, further boosts learners’ determination to succeed.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Struggling learners in the overcrowded classrooms of public schools in Sub-Saharan Africa. $th Grders and above.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-09-09

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

(1) Vitlais P. Haupindi (CEO and Programmer) - Winner of Huawei's - Global Tech4Good Competition - Winner of 3/7 Prizes at Africa To Silicon Valley's -Generative AI for Africa Hackathon - 3 years' Startup working experience - Worked on a previous Startup with Vitalis called TeachLearn where we were trying to connect learners to the best teachers across the country under the assumption that they were failing because of a lack of access to quality teachers. We onboarded 13 schools. We took our experience from this and formed Yyeni AI thereafter. - International Science Fair Winner (2) Lotto N. Nanghonda Jr. (Chief of Sales, Finance and Operations) - Winner of Huawei's - Global Tech4Good Competition - Winner of 3/7 Prizes at Africa To Silicon Valley's -Generative AI for Africa Hackathon - 2.5 years Startup working experience - Worked part-time on an SME consulting startup called Vanwell Konsult (before I joined TeachLearn) straight out of high school. - International Debate Champion

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

http://www.yyenichat.com

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

Other: Education

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

4

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

YYeni AI contributes to SDG 1.1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty by addressing the root causes and barriers to quality education, which is a key factor in breaking the cycle of poverty. Here’s how our startup makes a difference: Providing Affordable Education YYeni AI offers a low-cost solution to high-quality education. By reducing the need for physical resources and minimizing the costs associated with traditional teaching methods, our platform makes education more affordable for schools and families, particularly in low-income areas. Access to affordable education is crucial for lifting individuals and communities out of poverty. Increasing Educational Access In many impoverished regions, access to quality education is limited due to inadequate infrastructure and resources. YYeni AI can be accessed remotely via smartphones or laptops, overcoming geographical and infrastructural barriers. This ensures that children and adults in underserved areas can receive a quality education.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

2

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Personalized Learning YYeni AI provides personalized education, which is proven to significantly enhance academic performance. By adapting lessons to each learner’s pace and style, our AI ensures that every student receives the individual attention they need. This approach overcomes the limitations of traditional group instruction, making high-quality education accessible to all students, regardless of class size. Accessible and Affordable Education By integrating YYeni AI, schools can provide high-quality, personalized education without the need for additional staff or resources. This makes education more affordable and accessible, particularly in under-resourced areas. Our AI reduces the need for physical materials like paper and ink, lowering costs and environmental impact. Continuous Feedback and Improvement Our AI provides instant feedback on assessments, allowing students to understand and address their learning gaps promptly.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

YYeni AI contributes to gender equality in education by addressing several key issues that often disproportionately affect girls and women. Here’s how our startup promotes gender equality: Equal Access to Quality Education YYeni AI ensures that all learners, regardless of gender, have access to high-quality, personalized education. By providing lessons tailored to individual learning styles and paces, our platform helps close the achievement gap that can occur between boys and girls due to varying educational needs and social expectations. Overcoming Barriers to Education In many regions, girls face significant barriers to education, including cultural norms, safety concerns, and resource constraints. YYeni AI can be accessed remotely, reducing the need for girls to travel to school and addressing safety and cultural barriers. This flexibility ensures that girls can continue their education even in challenging circumstances.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

3

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

3

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Enhancing Teacher Effectiveness By automating routine tasks, YYeni AI allows teachers to focus on quality instruction and personal engagement. This improves educational outcomes and prepares students better for the workforce. Supporting Lifelong Learning Our platform promotes critical thinking and continuous learning, equipping individuals with the ability to adapt to changing job markets. Lifelong learning is essential for maintaining employability and economic resilience.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Promoting Technological Innovation YYeni AI uses cutting-edge AI technology to deliver personalized education, setting a precedent for innovative educational tools. This promotes a culture of innovation in the education sector. Enhancing Digital Infrastructure By providing a scalable digital platform, YYeni AI enhances the educational infrastructure, making quality education accessible remotely. This is especially crucial in areas with limited physical educational resources. Building a Skilled Workforce Our platform equips learners with critical thinking and problem-solving skills, essential for thriving in modern industries. A skilled workforce is vital for industrial growth and economic development. Encouraging Sustainable Practices YYeni AI reduces the need for physical educational materials, promoting sustainable practices in education. This aligns with the goal of building resilient and sustainable infrastructure.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

3

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

3

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

3

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

4

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

4

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

3

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.08 Justification for my startup

Artificial Intelligence is a very new technology and it presents an immense opportunity to do things that were previously impossible. The concept of giving every child the undivided attention of a world-class teacher has been explored in pedagogical research before however it was not a viable option, but with AI, we can now give every child the real chance of realizing their dream. This, my friends, is what true innovation looks like. Creating a whole new market to serve an exsiting need with noval technology.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Studdy, Flint and Khanmigo are all AI-based super tutors/ tools that learners can use after school or teachers can use outside the classroom. All these companies deeply understand the 2 Sigma Problem by Benjamin Bloom that emphasizes the impact that personalized education has on improving learning outcomes however what they don't understand is that this technology should be deployed in the classroom. In 1994 (10 years after Benjamin Bloom published his paper) an education psychologist by the name of Edward Vockell reversed Bloom's logic when he came to the conclusion that teachers often implore methods during Active Learning Time (ALT) that not only decrease learner performance but also decreases the efficiency of the positive interventions implemented during Active Learning Time. What's more is, he found that teachers of these behaviours but even when interventions are implemented to aid this, they normally get back into their negative behaviours within a few months.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?