Smile and Learn
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ARTICLES (812)
AI-powered edtech for children brings real-time interactive learning into the classroom for the price of a book.
AI-powered edtech for children brings real-time interactive learning into the classroom for the price of a book.
Co-founder, CEO of Smile and Learn
Victor Sánchez Rodríguez is a veteran consultant, having worked at Boston Consulting Group as senior principal from 2006 to 2015. After graduating in 1996, he joined PwC as consultant and moved on to Booz Allen in 2000 as a senior associate. He completed an MBA from INSEAD in 2002. The multi-lingual Sánchez started Smile and Learn in 2013 to help his children's school to acquire more hi-tech teaching resources. He left his BCG job to become CEO of the edtech in 2015. BCG consultant Blanca Rodríguez joined as co-founder and advisor in 2014.
Victor Sánchez Rodríguez is a veteran consultant, having worked at Boston Consulting Group as senior principal from 2006 to 2015. After graduating in 1996, he joined PwC as consultant and moved on to Booz Allen in 2000 as a senior associate. He completed an MBA from INSEAD in 2002. The multi-lingual Sánchez started Smile and Learn in 2013 to help his children's school to acquire more hi-tech teaching resources. He left his BCG job to become CEO of the edtech in 2015. BCG consultant Blanca Rodríguez joined as co-founder and advisor in 2014.
Using a direct-to-customer (DTC) model, Smile Formula brings down the cost of teeth straightening by two-thirds and makes the whole procedure much easier for customers.
Using a direct-to-customer (DTC) model, Smile Formula brings down the cost of teeth straightening by two-thirds and makes the whole procedure much easier for customers.
Co-founder of Smile and Learn
Blanca Rodríguez Montero won the MIT LatAm Startup competition in 2015 while completing an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at MIT's Sloan School of Management. She also worked in Boston for VCs like Rough Draft Ventures and Founder Collective while at MIT. In 2011, she started her first job at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) after graduating with in Law and Business Administration in Spain. In 2014, she joined BCG consultant Victor Sánchez Rodríguez to co-found edtech Smile and Learn. In June 2018, she moved to Paris as co-founder of Next Station, an online recruiting platform for international talent.
Blanca Rodríguez Montero won the MIT LatAm Startup competition in 2015 while completing an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at MIT's Sloan School of Management. She also worked in Boston for VCs like Rough Draft Ventures and Founder Collective while at MIT. In 2011, she started her first job at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) after graduating with in Law and Business Administration in Spain. In 2014, she joined BCG consultant Victor Sánchez Rodríguez to co-found edtech Smile and Learn. In June 2018, she moved to Paris as co-founder of Next Station, an online recruiting platform for international talent.
CEO and Founder of Smile Formula
Sam Xu (Xu Yinglin) holds a bachelor's in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University. After graduation, he joined British Petroleum in 2010 as a petroleum engineer and worked for three years in Houston before moving to energy investment from 2013 to 2017, working for KLR Group and CohnReznick Capital. He made it to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2017 for his work in the energy field. In 2017, Xu enrolled in the Harvard Business School and obtained his MBA in 2019. In July 2019, he founded Smile Formula and has since served as its CEO.
Sam Xu (Xu Yinglin) holds a bachelor's in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University. After graduation, he joined British Petroleum in 2010 as a petroleum engineer and worked for three years in Houston before moving to energy investment from 2013 to 2017, working for KLR Group and CohnReznick Capital. He made it to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2017 for his work in the energy field. In 2017, Xu enrolled in the Harvard Business School and obtained his MBA in 2019. In July 2019, he founded Smile Formula and has since served as its CEO.
Plug and Play, the world’s largest startup accelerator, is a seed and early-stage investment firm. Based in Silicon Valley, Plug and Play invests in more than 160 of the 5,000 startups it reviews every year and runs industry-specific accelerator programs to help the startups it funds grow faster.
Plug and Play, the world’s largest startup accelerator, is a seed and early-stage investment firm. Based in Silicon Valley, Plug and Play invests in more than 160 of the 5,000 startups it reviews every year and runs industry-specific accelerator programs to help the startups it funds grow faster.
Plug and Play Spain is part of Silicon Valley’s Plug and Play Tech Center that runs 12 worldwide vertical acceleration programs. The Spanish accelerator program was launched in 2012 in Valencia. Plug and Play Spain has invested over €25 million in 45 companies with successful exits including Touristeye (Lonely Planet), Ducksboard (New Relic), Stream Hatchet (Millennial Esports) and Otogami (8Kdata).
Plug and Play Spain is part of Silicon Valley’s Plug and Play Tech Center that runs 12 worldwide vertical acceleration programs. The Spanish accelerator program was launched in 2012 in Valencia. Plug and Play Spain has invested over €25 million in 45 companies with successful exits including Touristeye (Lonely Planet), Ducksboard (New Relic), Stream Hatchet (Millennial Esports) and Otogami (8Kdata).
Plug and Play Tech Center is a startup accelerator and venture fund based in Silicon Valley, USA. It invests in over 100 startups every year, from pre-product to Series A, including Dropbox and Lending Club.The VC launched its first accelerator program in Indonesia in February 2017, in partnership with Indonesia’s Gan Kapital. Since then, the program has provided mentorship and US$50,000 funding to each of the 11 startups selected from the ASEAN region including Astronaut Technologies. Other corporate partners include Astra International, BNI, Bank BTN and Sinar Mas.
Plug and Play Tech Center is a startup accelerator and venture fund based in Silicon Valley, USA. It invests in over 100 startups every year, from pre-product to Series A, including Dropbox and Lending Club.The VC launched its first accelerator program in Indonesia in February 2017, in partnership with Indonesia’s Gan Kapital. Since then, the program has provided mentorship and US$50,000 funding to each of the 11 startups selected from the ASEAN region including Astronaut Technologies. Other corporate partners include Astra International, BNI, Bank BTN and Sinar Mas.
Southern Publishing and Media was founded in December 2008 by Guangdong Provincial Publishing Group. It was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2016.
Southern Publishing and Media was founded in December 2008 by Guangdong Provincial Publishing Group. It was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2016.
SoftBank Internet and Media Inc (SIMI)
Founded by the charismatic Japanese billionaire Masayoshi Son, SoftBank Group Corp is a multinational conglomerate with assets totaling about $342bn in 2020. SoftBank is best known in Japan for its mobile phone network and distribution business, and it was the sole distributor of the Apple iPhone in Japan until 2011. SoftBank also has subsidiaries in online gaming, publishing, and energy, and owns stakes in Alibaba Group and Sprint.Outside of Japan, SoftBank is known for its venture capital investments. In October 2016, it teamed up with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to lead a $100bn tech fund, named Vision Fund. Through Vision Fund, SoftBank has made some major high-profile investments into tech companies, such as TikTok developer ByteDance, e-commerce platforms like Coupang, Tokopedia and Flipkart, and coworking operator WeWork.
Founded by the charismatic Japanese billionaire Masayoshi Son, SoftBank Group Corp is a multinational conglomerate with assets totaling about $342bn in 2020. SoftBank is best known in Japan for its mobile phone network and distribution business, and it was the sole distributor of the Apple iPhone in Japan until 2011. SoftBank also has subsidiaries in online gaming, publishing, and energy, and owns stakes in Alibaba Group and Sprint.Outside of Japan, SoftBank is known for its venture capital investments. In October 2016, it teamed up with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to lead a $100bn tech fund, named Vision Fund. Through Vision Fund, SoftBank has made some major high-profile investments into tech companies, such as TikTok developer ByteDance, e-commerce platforms like Coupang, Tokopedia and Flipkart, and coworking operator WeWork.
Co-CEO and Co-founder of Notpla (formerly Skipping Rocks Lab)
Rodrigo García González graduated in Architecture at the Technical University of Madrid (ETSAM) in 2009 and also completed various PhD courses in advanced architecture at his alma mater.In 2006, the architect student joined an EU Asia-Link sustainable humane habitat program that included stints at the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) University in India. He also won a SMILE scholarship to study industrial design at Pontificia Universidad Católica in Chile for one year. In 2011, he obtained a scholarship to study industrial design and business at Umeå Institute of Design in Sweden. In 2014, he completed two master’s programs in innovation design engineering run by London’s Imperial College and Royal College of Art.In July 2014, he co-founded Skipping Rocks Lab, that was later pivoted into Notpla, a UK-based startup that develops compostable and edible packaging materials made of seaweed and other plants.Since 2007, he has worked with various institutions in Europe, Latin America and the US including Cornell University, CEPT, Imperial College and Royal College of Art. In 2016, he became a senior lecturer for a degree program in product and furniture design at Kingston University.He has two patents for his work on structural and deployable systems. His designs have also been featured in prestigious art centers like the Cite de l'Architecture of Paris and the Venice Biennale of Architecture.Other projects include the Hop! suitcase that can follow the user by tracking the signal of the user’s mobile phone and Aer, an artificial cloud that can evaporate “drinkable” water from the sea. He also developed Zipizip, an architectural system that enables the construction of several floors of a building in a few hours.
Rodrigo García González graduated in Architecture at the Technical University of Madrid (ETSAM) in 2009 and also completed various PhD courses in advanced architecture at his alma mater.In 2006, the architect student joined an EU Asia-Link sustainable humane habitat program that included stints at the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) University in India. He also won a SMILE scholarship to study industrial design at Pontificia Universidad Católica in Chile for one year. In 2011, he obtained a scholarship to study industrial design and business at Umeå Institute of Design in Sweden. In 2014, he completed two master’s programs in innovation design engineering run by London’s Imperial College and Royal College of Art.In July 2014, he co-founded Skipping Rocks Lab, that was later pivoted into Notpla, a UK-based startup that develops compostable and edible packaging materials made of seaweed and other plants.Since 2007, he has worked with various institutions in Europe, Latin America and the US including Cornell University, CEPT, Imperial College and Royal College of Art. In 2016, he became a senior lecturer for a degree program in product and furniture design at Kingston University.He has two patents for his work on structural and deployable systems. His designs have also been featured in prestigious art centers like the Cite de l'Architecture of Paris and the Venice Biennale of Architecture.Other projects include the Hop! suitcase that can follow the user by tracking the signal of the user’s mobile phone and Aer, an artificial cloud that can evaporate “drinkable” water from the sea. He also developed Zipizip, an architectural system that enables the construction of several floors of a building in a few hours.
Co-founder and CTO of Portofolio
Before establishing Portofolio, Gigih Iski was a lead engineer at Etsuri Ltd., a UK-based news aggregator service that runs the fashion marketing website Miignon in Indonesia. Prior to that, he worked as a software engineer for various companies, and his track record includes developing software for trading and brokerage companies. In 2018, together with former derivatives broker Mahar Indra, he developed Portofolio as a platform for rookie investors to learn about currency trading and copy the strategies of more experienced traders.
Before establishing Portofolio, Gigih Iski was a lead engineer at Etsuri Ltd., a UK-based news aggregator service that runs the fashion marketing website Miignon in Indonesia. Prior to that, he worked as a software engineer for various companies, and his track record includes developing software for trading and brokerage companies. In 2018, together with former derivatives broker Mahar Indra, he developed Portofolio as a platform for rookie investors to learn about currency trading and copy the strategies of more experienced traders.
Co-founder and CTO of Tripvisto
Aditya Saputra really loves to code but is not a geek, according to his LinkedIn profile. He is a professional software developer, graduating with a degree in Information Systems in 2009. He still runs his own software development agency Smart Techno Nusantara that he founded in 2008. He joined Bernardus Sumartok and Fitri Andriani to co-found Tripvisto, becoming the CTO in May 2014. He loves to learn all about programming, project management, IT business development and IT product development. Aditya has over seven years experience in programming, especially using PHP with CodeIgniter framework.
Aditya Saputra really loves to code but is not a geek, according to his LinkedIn profile. He is a professional software developer, graduating with a degree in Information Systems in 2009. He still runs his own software development agency Smart Techno Nusantara that he founded in 2008. He joined Bernardus Sumartok and Fitri Andriani to co-found Tripvisto, becoming the CTO in May 2014. He loves to learn all about programming, project management, IT business development and IT product development. Aditya has over seven years experience in programming, especially using PHP with CodeIgniter framework.
Co-founder and CEO of Portofolio
Mahar Indra spent more than 10 years as a representative of a brokerage company before setting out to be an entrepreneur. His first venture, launched in 2011, was Sirtanio, which sells locally grown organic rice. He exited the company in 2015 to focus on the derivatives trading academy he established in 2011. In 2018, continuing on his mission to help rookie investors trade safely and avoid scams, he established Portofolio, a platform where aspiring currency traders can learn from experienced traders and even copy their trades.
Mahar Indra spent more than 10 years as a representative of a brokerage company before setting out to be an entrepreneur. His first venture, launched in 2011, was Sirtanio, which sells locally grown organic rice. He exited the company in 2015 to focus on the derivatives trading academy he established in 2011. In 2018, continuing on his mission to help rookie investors trade safely and avoid scams, he established Portofolio, a platform where aspiring currency traders can learn from experienced traders and even copy their trades.
Karnataka Information and Biotechnology Venture Fund (KITVEN)
Founded in 1999, KITVEN is a state investor in startups in the Indian state of Karnataka. Major investment sectors include biotech, animation, visual effects, electronics, manufacturing, gaming and comics. Based in Bengaluru, the office is run by Karnataka Asset Management Company Private Limited.KITVEN has invested in more than 50 startups. In 2019, the VC invested in String Bio’s Series A round and joined the $2.2m seed round of smart lock startup Open App. Backed by state and central government financial institutions, the VC manages five funds: KITVEN Fund, KITVEN Fund 2, KITVEN Fund 3 Biotech, KITVEN Fund 4 and Karnataka Semiconductor Venture Capital Fund (KARSEMVEN Fund).
Founded in 1999, KITVEN is a state investor in startups in the Indian state of Karnataka. Major investment sectors include biotech, animation, visual effects, electronics, manufacturing, gaming and comics. Based in Bengaluru, the office is run by Karnataka Asset Management Company Private Limited.KITVEN has invested in more than 50 startups. In 2019, the VC invested in String Bio’s Series A round and joined the $2.2m seed round of smart lock startup Open App. Backed by state and central government financial institutions, the VC manages five funds: KITVEN Fund, KITVEN Fund 2, KITVEN Fund 3 Biotech, KITVEN Fund 4 and Karnataka Semiconductor Venture Capital Fund (KARSEMVEN Fund).
BukaPengadaan: The B2B procurement service from e-commerce giant Bukalapak
Bukalapak’s e-procurement arm taps a growing market while helping vendors get online and access a broader range of clients
European agritech is the new global focus, as startup investments nearly doubled in 2019
Last year, European agritech surpassed China for the first time in investments received, with openings in multiple subsectors from big data to blockchain
Sustainable last-mile grocery delivery startup Revoolt eyes French, LatAm expansion
Seeking up to €1m new funding for its growth, the Madrid-based startup with its EV fleet and turnkey IoT solutions has also broken even
Sweden's imogo pioneers eco-friendly dye spraying system
The startup’s dyeing and finishing solutions convert the most resource-consuming parts of textile value chains into sustainable processes, with virtually no wastewater and using less energy and chemicals
HypeLabs wins bumper US$3m seed funding to democratize connectivity
HypeLab's P2P mesh networking technology enables everyone to communicate within their own networks without needing internet, in cities, remote villages and even in disaster zones
Allen Zhang: Father of WeChat and its string of innovations
Get to know the man behind the app in every Chinese user's smartphone
Gojek and Tokopedia merge to form GoTo
The new entity, now Indonesia’s largest tech group, plans to go public in Indonesia and the US, targeting a $40bn valuation
Interview with Qlue CEO: "We didn't know what a smart city should look like"
Co-founder and CEO of Qlue, Indonesia's largest "smart city" company, Rama Raditya explains how citizen involvement – not high-tech – is the true innovation of smart cities and the agent for change; plus how his startup has grown from partnering governments to businesses, and more
Kathy Xu stays ahead of the curve in China's VC scene
Dubbed “Queen of VC” in China, Xu has spotted great companies that others were not quite interested in, like Chinese online retail giant JD.com
Dorabot's aim for warehousing: No humans allowed
With a combination of AI, global partnerships and speed, Dorabot is leaping into the future
NANOxARCH: Pioneering awareness and use of sustainable materials in China
Founder Lei Yuxi reckons Covid-19 could usher China into a new era of sustainability, as her startup seeks to make sustainable materials more affordable
Intudo Ventures: Grooming returning overseas talent for an Indonesia-only bet
Combining the experience and networks of foreign-educated Indonesians with local distribution channels, Intudo’s hyperlocal strategy has attracted $200m in managed assets
NotCo: Will this Bezos-backed plant-based foodtech be Chile's first unicorn?
Armed with $85m Series C funding, NotCo has expanded to the US, competing head-on with popular US alt-protein brands for a foothold in the multibillion-dollar vegan market
Waste management startup Magalarva aims for profitability with new factory, B2B services
Partnerships with supermarkets and waste transporters provide Magalarva with new revenue streams and sources of production input as the company ramps up its manufacturing activities
Roadstar.ai: A promising autonomous driving startup wrecked by infighting
No side benefits from the disputes, whether it is the founding team, investors or the employees
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