Celebrating Success: Announcing Our SBIR Grant Win

We're absolutely thrilled to announce that Shoonya Kids has been awarded a Phase I SBIR grant from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) at the U.S. Department of Education! This competitive recognition through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program spotlights our innovative strides in education technology and our dedication to building game-changing learning tools for kids.

This funding will supercharge the creation of a dynamic multilingual math curriculum that slots right into our existing language learning platform. It's a big step toward our dream of an all-in-one hub for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through 2nd grade students—making foundational skills fun, accessible, and inclusive for every young learner.

What the SBIR Grant Means for Us

"Receiving this grant is a huge validation of our drive to break down language barriers and spark joy in learning," shares Rashi Bahri, Founder and CEO of Shoonya Kids. "Drawing on the RITEC framework—Responsible Innovation Technology for Young Children, from UNICEF and the LEGO Foundation—we're building experiences that are not only engaging but also ethical and evidence-based, boosting multilingual literacy and numeracy for kids from all walks of life."

As part of this win, we'll team up with WestEd, the powerhouse national research agency, to roll out pilot tests of our new math games in classrooms and dive into a full feasibility and efficacy study. Together, we're ensuring these tools are ready to make a real difference.

This comes hot on the heels of on our recent triumph at the University of Washington's annual showcase, where our Shoonya Storybook module clinched the prestigious Engagement Award. Amid 49 competing teams—including about 30 from Master's programs—our project stood out for going above and beyond in advancing equity, justice, environmental sustainability, or transformative impact on lives. With only six awards handed out each year (three for Bachelor's teams and three for Master's), this honor is a rare and exhilarating milestone that fuels our passion for meaningful edtech.

Stay tuned for more updates as we bring this vision to life.