Every student learns differently, yet most classrooms still rely on a one-size-fits-all approach. Inspired by a loved one’s experience, California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) business administration alumna Lily Bryan is developing Hopscotch, a personalized learning platform designed to support students with different learning styles.

“It’s really hard for teachers to meet every student where they are and provide them personalized support that they need,” Bryan said. “That’s where Hopscotch came about — the belief that different ways of thinking deserve different ways of learning.”

Hopscotch supports students by allowing them to upload their homework and by translating the learning process into their preferred approach, catering to a variety of ways to engage with the material.

“As students interact with our platform, Hopscotch learns as they learn, and we get a better idea of the type of learner they are and what kind of representations would make most sense for their brain,” Bryan said. 

As Bryan developed her entrepreneurship senior project, she attended the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s (CIE) Summer Accelerator information session to seek the technical expertise needed to bring her idea to life. There, she met Liam Hyde, a Cal Poly computer science alumnus who will return this fall to pursue a master’s degree in quantitative economics.

“Liam also had a very personal connection to the problem, and he hopped on board that same day. He helped us make moree technical progress than we had all year in the span of two weeks,” Bryan said. 

Hyde immediately connected with the mission, having seen firsthand the learning challenges many students face. Confident he could build a solution, he joined Bryan

and together applied to the Summer Accelerator program, expanding both the platform and the startup’s vision. 

The Accelerator is a 10-week intensive program that provides Cal Poly students and recent graduates with resources to turn their innovative ideas into full-fledged startups. Participants receive $10,000 in seed funding, mentorship, entrepreneurial workshops, and a dedicated workspace in the HotHouse, the CIE’s downtown San Luis Obispo office.

“Twenty-one percent of California 11th graders are proficient in math, and that’s a complete disaster. Anything we can do to start bumping those numbers up would be a good thing,” Hyde said. “The education system in this country has failed a lot of people, and we’re hoping to start to turn that around.”

Hopscotch co-founders Lily Bryan (left) and Liam Hyde (right)

The Hopscotch team has said one of the Accelerator program’s biggest strengths has been the network of mentors, who offer workshops and one-on-ones for teams. “Regardless of their industry, they’re always able to apply their expertise to our situation,” Bryan said. “Hearing from people who know what it’s like to take that risk when your friends are in comfortable nine-to-five jobs is reassuring.” 

After speaking with their target audience, the Hopscotch team decided to focus on algebra initially, with plans to expand the platform to include other areas of math, physics and other STEM subjects. 

“We have discovered from parents and teachers that algebra is where parents aren’t able to help their students with their homework anymore,” Hyde said. 

Teacher feedback also broadened Bryan’s vision for Hopscotch beyond individual students. She learned this platform could cater to an entire class, supporting students who have foundational education gaps needing greater assistance, while also supporting students needing accelerated learning. 

“Hopscotch not only adapts those representations horizontally, but we also take a vertical approach and really allow students to focus on where they need to be,” Bryan said. 

By Demo Day, the duo aims to narrow down their customer segment and launch an algebra-focused pilot program and begin helping students who are looking for a simpler, more engaging way to learn. The team plans to use feedback from the pilot to refine the platform before expanding to several classrooms this fall. 

“We are really making sure that the experience isn’t just helpful but also engaging for students at the end of the day. Math has the stereotype of being boring, but we really want to make it an engaging experience for students,” Bryan said. 

The Accelerator has given the Hopscotch team an opportunity to grow their startup alongside student entrepreneurs experiencing similar challenges, creating a supportive community, as they work to generate real businesses. 

“We’re all in the same classes, taking this risk together,” Bryan said. “Even though we’re in different industries, we’re facing many of the same challenges, so being able to help each other has been a really great experience.”

Watch Hopscotch and our six other Accelerator startups pitch live at Demo Day here.

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About the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship:

The CIE opens a world of entrepreneurial opportunity to Cal Poly students, faculty and community members and promotes entrepreneurial activity and dialogue across the university and throughout San Luis Obispo County. For more information, visit cie.calpoly.edu.