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ompany MatheArena, an Upper Austrian start-up, wants to position itself as a kind of "Duolingo for mathematics". With an app that focuses on the future trend of microlearning, the young company wants to strengthen users' knowledge of mathematics and be entertaining at the same time. The target group ranges from schoolchildren to adults who need mathematics in their jobs.
The company was founded by the married couple Eva-Maria and Gerald Infanger. Thanks to the support of the Linz-based incubator tech2b, the two trained math teachers took the plunge into the startup world and mastered it.
App imparts knowledge in school and everyday life
"We pack math problems into small bites. This makes them memorable. There are many competitors in the field of math apps, but what makes us special is our automatic and dynamic difficulty adjustment. Our application can use test questions to determine the level at which users are performing. The better the users get, the more challenging the tasks become. At the same time, we also offer mini-games that also strengthen mathematical knowledge. We are therefore aimed at anyone with an interest in mathematics. This interest does not have to be limited to the curriculum. Our app can also be used in everyday life or at work," explains Eva-Maria Infanger.
Gerald Infanger adds that the question of meaning is particularly important in a math app. "We also impart knowledge in practical areas such as statistics and percentages. Recently, we've also often heard from parents who use our app to brush up on their math skills to help their own children learn. The important thing here is that our application puts the students at the center. They need to be able to jump right in and use the app," says the co-founder of MatheArena.
Deal with textbook publisher Veritas
MathArena will soon be an integral part of school lessons in many schools. This is because the startup has reached a deal with the textbook publisher Veritas. From September, the app will accompany all of the publisher's math books, starting with the fifth grade, both in middle schools and high schools. The books will contain a code that gives students access to the premium version of the app.
MatheArena has been a real success story since it was founded in 2021. The help of the tech2b incubator was crucial to this. "We had already developed the app before it was founded and experienced a huge increase in interest in our app from teachers and publishers during the coronavirus period, when digital learning was on the rise. That's why we wanted to professionalize our project by founding it, but we didn't have the know-how to do so. tech2b was immediately very open to our idea," says Gerald Infanger. tech2b supported MatheArena with advice on all aspects of founding a company and also gave the founders access to the local startup scene.
tech2b supports various start-up teams
"The startup quickly showed a lot of potential and is on the right track. The cooperation with Veritas in particular is an important step for MatheArena," says Ursula Helml, project manager and start-up consultant at tech2b. The app and the strong commitment of the two founders were not the only decisive factors for tech2b. The incubator also attaches great importance to diversity in the founding teams. That's why a male and female team is considered particularly promising.
"Diversity here refers not only to gender, but also to origin, age, religion and much more. Many studies show that diverse teams also develop more innovative solutions. This is actually logical: women usually bring a different perspective to the table than men. This also results in ideas that appeal to more people. We at tech2b therefore promote diversity right from the start. For example, we encourage women in STEM professions to start a business or connect them with existing teams. To this end, we have set up the 'Shetech2b' network for female founders, where we offer a platform for exchange, motivation and support," says Helml.
The advantages of founding as a married couple
Another special thing about MatheArena is that the founders are a married couple with children. According to the two, this has some important advantages. "What's particularly good about it is that we can talk about everything at any time and we can also divide up the child-rearing so well. In our experience, giving reasons is a bit like getting married. It gives us more perspectives and we can also discuss a lot of things. However, it's very important to plan the conversations carefully, because not every time is suitable," explains Eva-Maria Infanger.
Of course, there were also stumbling blocks for MatheArena at the beginning. According to Gerald Infanger, it was initially not easy to find funding to hire developers. "This is where tech2b helped us a lot. Thanks to the incubator, we were able to reach a larger audience and gain access to funding," says Infanger. For his wife, too, the start-up was associated with challenges. In particular, shaping the company, mixed with her role as a mother, was not always easy.
Enthusiasm for the idea is the recipe for success
However, Eva-Maria Infanger has also learned a lot since founding the company. "It was particularly important to realize how important networking really is. Being present and openly saying who you are is hugely important in the start-up world. It is also important to handle feedback correctly," says the founder. Gerald Infanger adds that patience is also required when founding a company, because even the best idea needs time to work in practice.
The pair advise young start-up talents of tomorrow to pursue ideas that they are really passionate about. "You have to be enthusiastic about your idea and really sure that it can work. It's also never wrong to ask for help. We are still positively surprised at how many offers there are in Austria. But you have to bear in mind that many consultants come with very different visions. So a bit of gut feeling is still required," advises Gerald Infanger.
Application soon to receive "duel version"
Eva-Maria Infanger says: "There are many difficult phases when setting up a company, so you really have to put your heart into it, it's the only way to keep yourself motivated along the way." In the future, MatheArena wants to translate the app into more languages and also explore the field of artificial intelligence. The team is also currently working on an international "duel version" with which users can compete.
