Founder spotlight

We sat down with Sari Hurme-Mehtala from Kide Science to learn how her team, including co-founders Jenni Vartiainen and Aino Kuronen, are building a global EdTech company from Finland. Oftentimes the best edtech companies start off as projects rooted in deep research in developing a new tool or platform to enhance student learning, creating a more efficient way to manage administrative tasks, or providing professional development resources for educators. Kide Science is no exception. Jenni, Co-Founder and Head of Research, set the foundation for the company as part of her doctoral research to find new ways of making science and technology accessible to children. In the past, science education for kids was often limited to memorization of facts and theories, with little emphasis on hands-on experimentation or critical thinking. In recent years, technology has played an increasingly important role in science education, with the development of interactive simulations and digital tools that allow students to explore scientific concepts in a more immersive and engaging way.

Leveraging the Finnish education brand

Finland has a long history of innovative and successful education policies, and this focus on education has helped to create a fertile ground for the development of edtech solutions. Finland's education system is known for its emphasis on student-centered learning, and this approach has influenced the development of many Finnish edtech companies. Additionally, the Finnish government has invested heavily in supporting edtech startups, with initiatives such as the Finnish Education Export Program providing funding and resources to help companies expand into international markets. Interestingly, many of Kide Science’s early customers discovered the platform through a simple google search result for ‘Finnish science education.’ Subsequently, Kide Science has leveraged this brand, signaling trust and quality, to grow its presence in global markets. 

Finding product-market fit

While Jenni was going through her doctoral research to make science more accessible, she began working with several teachers and parents through her science clubs. When this research was drawing to a close at the end of five years, the teachers and parents were not pleased to hear that their beloved science clubs would become unavailable. They requested Jenni to keep these sessions going so that kids, as young as kinder-gartners, could tune in to their favorite sessions every week. This was the aha-moment for Kide Science - now it had turned into something much larger than a research project. Knowing the magnitude to which your customers rely on your product typically defines product-market fit for a company. It was now time to build an enterprise around this product. 

Raising €3+ million from investors

From pitching an early iteration of their product to securing their most recent €1M bridge round led by Sparkmind Fund, in syndication with Tesi (Finnish Industry Investment Ltd), Kide Science’s journey offers valuable lessons in fundraising. 

The founders were originally pitching investors the idea of a home-lab that can be used by parents through a mobile app. While the investor was aligned with the vision of the company, they did provide an alternative go-to-market strategy. Through discussions it became clear that the market for science apps was saturated and it would be better to play by Kide Science’s core strengths in academic research and pedagogy. The company scaled through franchising and training-of-trainers style workshops before launching their platform to train teachers directly. Having smart capital on the cap table saved the company significant investment of time and capital in its initial years. 

Sari’s advice on fundraising: Always be in fundraise mode, even if you are not actually raising a round. Keeping investors updated on your company’s progress delivers far better outcomes than simply reaching out to them at the time of the raise. 

Leveraging the StartEd Immersion program to enter the US market

Sari joined the accelerator program with set expectations of scaling to the United States after securing her first client in Minnesota. Her goal was to use the program to validate the business model, get insights on pricing, and finally assess go-to-market strategy for the US. Not too long after completing the program, Kide Science is already working with three large school districts, private school chains, and has partnered with a large corporate (name withheld) that served as a mentor to Kide Science during the Immersion program. 

We’re excited to be a part of Kide Science’s journey to become a global leader in science education, growing their presence well beyond the 30+ countries they already serve. We will cover more such founder stories on this platform to bring you actionable insights directly from the people shaping the future of learning and work. If you’re building something exciting at the intersection of education and technology, we’d love to hear from you. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed about upcoming programs within the StartEd community.