At HEPH, we create sustainable, transformative programs for learners often overlooked by the traditional system. In New York City, Steve mentored Bert Cambridge, a once-resistant 11-year-old from East Elmhurst, Queens, who grew into an award-winning editor. Steve and Bert remain close, discussing life and business nearly every week, even 25 years later. This long-term commitment is central to our work – Bert is one of many.
A personal success story shaped our core pedagogy—our son, Stone. Frustrated with school, particularly in math and science, we took him on a four-year, hands-on journey through Japan, Italy, and China. This ignited his passion, leading him to launch his own company while in high school.
After Stone’s journey, we realized many other children needed the same chance to thrive.
The reality is that many children across the U.S. are not thriving. America is facing an education crisis that threatens not only the futures of its children but also the country’s ability to compete globally. With only 37% of high school seniors proficient in reading and a mere 25% in math, widespread disengagement from school is already having far-reaching consequences.
These issues are most pronounced among African American students, particularly in underserved communities. However, the problem extends beyond economic barriers. Even African American students in affluent communities are facing significant challenges. Despite their proximity to opportunity, many feel left out—like a child in a candy store, seeing success all around them but unable to access it. In these environments, the pressure to meet high expectations while still being marginalized is contributing to a troubling rise in self-harm and other detrimental outcomes.
We believed that if we created powerful solutions for our most troubled and underserved learners, we could heal the entire system – creating pathways for all children to succeed. This wasn’t just about addressing academics; it’s about giving every child the chance to realize their potential, ensuring their well-being, and securing the nation’s future.
We spent months speaking with learners, teachers and parents around the country. Our research revealed that the fear of failure was a common barrier, even among young learners. Whether it was 1st graders saying “I don’t want to fail”, or older students saying things like, “I’m a girl,” “I’m not a nerd,” or “no one that looks like me is doing anything like this”, these social-emotional roadblocks held them back from their true potential.
Where they could even teachers were avoiding the system to find ways to help their students succeed. We realized that our previous approach was still a powerful way to engage and help learners and now teachers but we needed a framework that allowed for the varied learning styles and situations of communities across the United States.
As with Bert and Stone our strategy was to suspend learners’ disbelief by using their passions as a doorway. This would break down their self-imposed limits, and unlock their full potential, sparking creativity, innovation, teamwork and resilience. Our deeper research into learners and communities revealed that kids spend up to 8 hours a day engaging with video games, social media, music, and sports, where they can fail and still love it. The solution became embedding education into what they love most.
“You can’t fail if you can respawn.” This gamified learning mantra encourages resilience and growth, with failure being just another step toward success. Through story-based curriculums, learners become the protagonists, turning gamified learning into a meaningful journey, with “the why” at its core.
HEPH delivers hands-on, multidisciplinary, gamified learning through a SaaS platform. Learners describe it as “learning without feeling like you’re learning.” Our programs guide students to overcome fears, discover their potential, and embrace failure as a step toward success.
Program Features:
Since launching HEPH, we’ve seen strong, data-backed results. Independent reviews from Oak Park District 97 showed that 75% of students made measurable progress in reading and math, and classroom engagement consistently exceeded 90%. But the numbers only tell part of the story. Teachers have reported that parents, during meetings, were asking, “What’s going on in the classroom? My child is actually talking about school at the dinner table.” One mom shared that her daughter, who previously showed no interest, started getting excited about science. A young student put it simply: “I feel like I’m learning while having fun.” These personal stories, alongside the data, highlight the real and meaningful impact HEPH is having, with over 50 schools across Chicago and Philadelphia already showing interest in the program.
To follow is a view of an AUTOROBO middle school program from 30,000 feet.
The AUTOROBO program was designed specifically for middle school learners. While the subject matter focuses on math and reading, the sub-context of the program explores themes of self-agency, teamwork, self-assessment, leadership, and resilience. These crucial areas of development are essential for students as they transition from childhood to adolescence.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Note:
During COVID, HEPH worked with 250 students. The work proved highly effective. Schools began requesting more, seeing us as the perfect hybrid solution. However, our capacity was limited, leading us to pivot and develop a scalable learning platform capable of hosting thousands of students simultaneously. This transition allows us to deliver the HEPH experience to more learners, both locally and nationally.
There are approximately 5 million K-5 learners in underserved communities across the U.S. HEPH aims to make the most significant impact by protecting and preparing these young learners for the challenges of the future. These early years are critical for shaping their academic and personal resilience, equipping them with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Capturing just 10% of this market represents 500,000 learners, creating both a major social impact and a compelling business opportunity. With curriculum sales, activity kits, and video game subscriptions, we project HEPH could generate $100 million in revenue by reaching this audience. Our model is designed for growth, with a scalable platform that can expand nationwide, combining sustainable social impact with strong financial potential.
In the early stages, HEPH will continue to work with donor networks to provide the initial support needed to scale. However, the long-term goal is to reduce reliance on philanthropy as the platform grows. Ultimately, HEPH aims to become self-sufficient, allowing us to give back to schools in need and offer philanthropic support where it’s most needed.
HEPH is poised to address a critical need, with the potential to impact underserved communities on a large scale. The educational market, particularly in underrepresented areas, offers a significant opportunity for both social impact and revenue generation.
Revenue Streams:
Roadmap:
HEPH’s model ensures scalability and sustainability, delivering high-impact education to thousands of students while building a self-sufficient system through diversified revenue streams.
