A conversation with edtech innovators Irene Klemm and Franziska Meyer from Edurino

Summary of Edurino & Reflections on Education, Technology, and the Future

Who are Irene and Franziska, and what is Edurino?

Irene Klemm and Franziska Meyer are the founders of Edurino, a hybrid learning system for children that combines physical figurines and an ergonomic stylus with a learning app. Motivated by the digital education gaps exposed during the 2020 pandemic in Germany (poor infrastructure, lack of high‑quality digital content), they set out to build part of the solution.

Edurino’s system works by placing a haptic figurine on a tablet screen to unlock adaptive digital learning worlds. Children navigate with a specially designed pen that supports correct pen grip and fine motor skills.

Personal Motivation & Long‑Term Vision

The founders are driven by:

• Long‑term impact: They deliberately chose a field they can see themselves in for 20+ years, viewing entrepreneurship as a way to create lasting change.
• Building a mission‑driven company: They are motivated by shaping a culture and working with talented people toward a shared goal.

Edurino’s Elevator Pitch

Edurino’s mission is to teach children 21st‑century skills through play. These include:

• Classic school skills: literacy and numeracy
• Future‑oriented skills: coding and English

Key elements:

• Haptic figurines: Physical toys that unlock specific digital learning worlds when placed on the screen.
• Adaptive learning: The app adjusts to each child’s individual pace.
• Magic pen: An ergonomic stylus that supports correct pen hold and motor development.
• Parental controls: A dedicated parent area allows adults to:
• Regulate screen time
• Track learning progress
• Access information on the pedagogical concept
• Receive expert tips on digital topics and media use

How Education Has Changed (and How It Hasn’t)

According to the founders, formal institutional education has barely changed in the last decade. Classrooms and teaching methods in kindergarten and school often resemble those from 20 years ago.

However, the environment around formal education has transformed:

• Globalization and digitization have massively expanded continuing education options.
• Adults can now learn almost anything, anytime, anywhere.
• The job market increasingly demands continuous upskilling and rapid adaptation.

Children, however, are still largely excluded from high‑quality digital education. This creates a growing gap between what children learn in school and what they actually need for the future. Edurino aims to close this gap by making learning:

• Fun and game‑based
• Individualized
• Focused on future‑relevant skills

Three Core Skills Parents Should Foster

The founders highlight three key skills for preparing children for the future:

1. Responsibility

Children should understand early that their actions matter:

• In how they treat others
• In how they interact with the environment
• In how they use media and technology

They note that children often have a strong sense of fairness and a close connection to nature and animals. Children also intuitively listen to their bodies—moving when they can no longer concentrate—something many adults unlearn.

1. Authenticity

Children should learn to stay true to themselves despite external pressures:

• Parents and adults act as role models.
• Children need support in developing self‑perception and self‑awareness.
• In a world of advertising, social media, and performance pressure, it is crucial not to constantly compare oneself, but to find and live by one’s own values.

1. Creativity

Creativity is abundant in early childhood but often diminishes over time. Maintaining creative space is essential because:

• Creativity and innovation drive new ideas.
• New ideas are needed to improve the world and solve complex problems.

How EdTech Can Support DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion)

The founders argue that educational technology is a key enabler of DEI:

• Historically, access to new technologies was limited to more privileged, educated groups.
• Globalization and digitalization are now broadening access across backgrounds.
• Edtech expands the range of role models and learning resources beyond immediate surroundings (school, family), allowing learners to connect with content that resonates with their own experiences and prior knowledge.

Example from daycare centers:

• Children of different skin colors, nationalities, and educational backgrounds play Edurino together.
• Each child learns at their own pace and according to their preferences.
• Children who are not native German speakers can absorb German content gradually, without being left behind by a one‑size‑fits‑all explanation.

Edurino is also working on a version for children with special needs, emphasizing that:

• Education is a basic right for everyone.
• Inclusive design is necessary to ensure no group is neglected.

Educational Technology and a Sustainable Future

The founders see educational technology as playing a major role in building a more sustainable future:

• Broader access to education allows more people to choose learning content that fits their needs and builds on their prior knowledge.
• This raises the overall level of education, improving our ability to:
• Understand global interconnections
• Grasp complex social, economic, and environmental issues
• With better understanding comes greater awareness of social responsibility and a stronger sense that each individual can have an impact.

They believe this will positively influence:

• Economic development
• Environmental stewardship
• Demographic and social development

Optimism About the Future of Planet and Society

The founders are optimistic because:

• Digitization offers enormous potential for rapid development.
• While mechanization simplified many aspects of life, digitalization can help us use resources more consciously and efficiently.
• This can support a new evolutionary step: learning to live more in harmony with nature and with each other.

They emphasize that:

• Humans are not solitary beings; meaningful change happens collectively.
• At Edurino, they embody this by co‑creating learning content with:
• Children in partner kindergartens
• Parents
• Educators

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Their core advice:

• Don’t try to do everything alone.
• Ask for help, seek advice, and actively build your network.
• Many people are surprisingly open and willing to share experiences—if you simply ask.

Overall Reflection: How Education Has Evolved & Technology’s Role

• Education has evolved significantly outside formal institutions through online courses, global access, and lifelong learning.
• Inside many schools and kindergartens, change has been slow, especially in early childhood digital education.
• Technology’s role is to:
• Make learning more accessible, personalized, and inclusive
• Equip children with future‑relevant skills
• Strengthen responsibility, authenticity, and creativity
• Support a more sustainable and equitable global society by raising educational levels and awareness.

Edurino positions itself at this intersection: using playful, hybrid digital tools to close the gap between traditional education and the skills children need for the 21st century.