A new AI-powered learning app for kids is taking shape as former Google employees look to move beyond text-heavy AI tools and create something children actually enjoy using. The startup, called Sparkli, blends generative AI with interactive storytelling to help kids explore ideas—not just read about them.
Founded by ex-Googlers Lax Poojary, Lucie Marchand, and Myn Kang, Sparkli was born out of a simple parenting challenge: answering endless “why” and “how” questions in a way that truly engages young minds.
From Text Walls to Interactive Learning
Poojary and Kang, both parents, noticed that while tools like ChatGPT or Gemini could explain complex topics, the experience felt flat for children.
“Kids don’t want walls of text,” Poojary explained. “They want to interact, explore, and experience ideas.”
That insight became the foundation of Sparkli’s AI-powered learning app for kids, which replaces static explanations with immersive “learning expeditions.”
Built by Former Google Innovators
Before Sparkli, Poojary and Kang co-founded Touring Bird and Shoploop at Area 120, Google’s internal incubator. Marchand, Sparkli’s CTO, was also a co-founder of Shoploop and later worked at Google.
Together, the team is applying startup experimentation to education—an area they believe has lagged behind technological change.
How the App Works
Sparkli allows children to explore predefined topics or ask their own questions, instantly generating a personalized learning path. Each topic unfolds across chapters that combine:
- Audio narration
- Short videos and images
- Interactive quizzes and games
- Choose-your-own-adventure style exploration
Instead of right-or-wrong pressure, the app emphasizes curiosity and discovery. Kids can listen or read, move at their own pace, and explore topics like space, weather, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy.
That flexibility is central to Sparkli’s vision of an AI-powered learning app for kids that feels more like play than school.
Generative AI at the Core
Sparkli uses generative AI to create all of its media assets on demand. When a child asks a question, the app can generate a full learning experience in under two minutes—and the team is working to make it even faster.
“If a kid asks what Mars looked like 50 years ago, we don’t just show a picture,” Poojary said. “We let them experience it.”
Education Meets Pedagogy
Unlike general-purpose AI assistants, Sparkli is designed specifically for children. To ensure educational quality, the company’s first hires included a PhD in educational science and AI, along with a professional teacher.
This was a deliberate choice to ground the AI-powered learning app for kids in pedagogy—not just technology.
Safety Comes First
With AI tools for children under growing scrutiny, Sparkli is taking a cautious approach. Certain topics, such as sexual content, are completely blocked. For sensitive subjects like self-harm, the app shifts toward emotional intelligence and encourages children to speak with trusted adults.
This comes amid lawsuits faced by companies like OpenAI and Character.ai, where parents allege unsafe AI interactions with minors.
Early Traction and Funding
Sparkli is currently piloting its app with an educational institute serving over 100,000 students. The startup targets children aged 5–12 and has already tested the product in more than 20 schools.
The company recently raised $5 million in pre-seed funding led by Swiss venture firm Founderful—its first pure-play edtech investment. Founderful partner Lukas Weder said Sparkli stood out for combining technical depth with a massive market opportunity.
“As a parent, I see how little kids learn about financial literacy or innovation,” Weder said. “Sparkli pulls them away from video games and into immersive learning.”
A Glimpse Into the Future of Learning
By turning curiosity into exploration, Sparkli is betting that the future of education lies beyond textbooks and chatbots. If successful, its AI-powered learning app for kids could signal a broader shift—where learning feels less like instruction and more like discovery.
And for parents tired of answering endless questions, that future might arrive just in time.
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