ST Bureau
San Francisco
After
leaving a 20-year career in marketing for the tech sector, US based Helene
Anderson decided to start her own venture- Story Academy. Helene wanted
to spend more time with her son and also create something they could work on
together. Story Academy captures her love for traveling, story-telling
and reading.
leaving a 20-year career in marketing for the tech sector, US based Helene
Anderson decided to start her own venture- Story Academy. Helene wanted
to spend more time with her son and also create something they could work on
together. Story Academy captures her love for traveling, story-telling
and reading.
The
benefits of traveling abroad and learning firsthand about new cultures is
invaluable for children. With the power of the internet and some magical
technology, Story Academy is bringing the world to eager readers. Story Academy
is an interactive, digital experience for both children and parents. Placing
kids at the heart of every story, Story Academy is handing over the magic wand
to kids to create custom stories and adventures all about traveling. Parents
can order a copy of their child’s creation to read at home anytime and share it
with family and friends.
benefits of traveling abroad and learning firsthand about new cultures is
invaluable for children. With the power of the internet and some magical
technology, Story Academy is bringing the world to eager readers. Story Academy
is an interactive, digital experience for both children and parents. Placing
kids at the heart of every story, Story Academy is handing over the magic wand
to kids to create custom stories and adventures all about traveling. Parents
can order a copy of their child’s creation to read at home anytime and share it
with family and friends.
In an
exclusive interview with Startup Terminal; Helene Anderson, Founder of Story Academy describes
more insights about her venture and future goals.
exclusive interview with Startup Terminal; Helene Anderson, Founder of Story Academy describes
more insights about her venture and future goals.
Excerpts:
ST: What was your inspiration
behind starting up a new venture?
behind starting up a new venture?
Helene
Anderson: Story Academy is a mix of being inspired by my son and
coming from an international background. My son’s love of reading and his
imagination know no bounds. I felt really moved to want to create something for
him and kids everywhere to help foster that enthusiasm.
Anderson: Story Academy is a mix of being inspired by my son and
coming from an international background. My son’s love of reading and his
imagination know no bounds. I felt really moved to want to create something for
him and kids everywhere to help foster that enthusiasm.
Traveling and being exposed to new
cultures and people is a huge part of who I am. I’m originally from Vietnam,
our family moved to Paris after the war when I was a child and lived there
until I was almost 30. Those
early experiences really made me who I am and I’ve tried to expose my son to as
much travel as possible.
cultures and people is a huge part of who I am. I’m originally from Vietnam,
our family moved to Paris after the war when I was a child and lived there
until I was almost 30. Those
early experiences really made me who I am and I’ve tried to expose my son to as
much travel as possible.
ST: Please tell us more about
your organization.
your organization.
Helene
Anderson: Story Academy is comprised of a small team from all over the
globe. I sought out like-minded talent to help with every aspect of the company
from programming to marketing and even our creative. Our team is based in
India, Mexico, Portland (Oregon), Sacramento and San Francisco. I wanted to
strategically bring together people from different backgrounds and experience
to give us a rich founding team.
Anderson: Story Academy is comprised of a small team from all over the
globe. I sought out like-minded talent to help with every aspect of the company
from programming to marketing and even our creative. Our team is based in
India, Mexico, Portland (Oregon), Sacramento and San Francisco. I wanted to
strategically bring together people from different backgrounds and experience
to give us a rich founding team.
ST: What business
opportunities do you see particularly in your sector?
opportunities do you see particularly in your sector?
Helene
Anderson: The children’s book industry has seen a great shift from
print to e-books because of the growth of electronic devices like tablets.
However, kids still prefer print over e-books. It’s that tactile experience
that still captivates and brings them into a story.
Anderson: The children’s book industry has seen a great shift from
print to e-books because of the growth of electronic devices like tablets.
However, kids still prefer print over e-books. It’s that tactile experience
that still captivates and brings them into a story.
At Story Academy we understand that
market shift and are offering both experiences to our audience. We embrace
technology to help us enhance our readers’ experience. As a result, we are
taking kid’s imaginations to the next level by placing them right into our
stories as the main characters.
market shift and are offering both experiences to our audience. We embrace
technology to help us enhance our readers’ experience. As a result, we are
taking kid’s imaginations to the next level by placing them right into our
stories as the main characters.
Ultimately we see great potential in
connecting authors to young readers in a meaningful and more enriching way.
connecting authors to young readers in a meaningful and more enriching way.
ST: How has been
your entrepreneurship journey so far?
your entrepreneurship journey so far?
Helene
Anderson: Our journey has been great! I’m very fortunate to have great
friends and partners who are very 100% behind the venture. I’ve also gotten to
meet incredibly talented people. I feel very grateful so far.
Anderson: Our journey has been great! I’m very fortunate to have great
friends and partners who are very 100% behind the venture. I’ve also gotten to
meet incredibly talented people. I feel very grateful so far.
ST: As an
entrepreneur, what challenges do you face in your day to day professional life,
if any?
entrepreneur, what challenges do you face in your day to day professional life,
if any?
Helene
Anderson: There are lots of challenges. What I’ve
experienced with Story Academy is not that different than challenges I
experienced when I was working for established companies. The main ones are
obviously the resources that we have at our disposal and the lack of brand
awareness.
Anderson: There are lots of challenges. What I’ve
experienced with Story Academy is not that different than challenges I
experienced when I was working for established companies. The main ones are
obviously the resources that we have at our disposal and the lack of brand
awareness.
I initially started down this
path so I could spend more time with my son and that aspect as been amazing. We
have gotten to spend a lot of time together and it has been great to include
him in the creation of our first book.
path so I could spend more time with my son and that aspect as been amazing. We
have gotten to spend a lot of time together and it has been great to include
him in the creation of our first book.
ST: How big is your
team? Are you planning to hire more?
team? Are you planning to hire more?
Helene
Anderson: We are just about under 10 people, including independent
talents who pitch in when we need them. We will be looking to hire in the near
future.
Anderson: We are just about under 10 people, including independent
talents who pitch in when we need them. We will be looking to hire in the near
future.
 |
| Helene Anderson, Founder, Story Academy (Second from Left) |
ST: What are your
future plans?
future plans?
Helene
Anderson: Right now completing our Kickstarter campaign to raise funds
that will help to grow the company is our main focus. We are also working on a
pretty aggressive website plan and launch that will offer users a great
interactive experience when using Story Academy. We are looking forward
to leveraging our technology to connect authors to readers in the very
near future.
Anderson: Right now completing our Kickstarter campaign to raise funds
that will help to grow the company is our main focus. We are also working on a
pretty aggressive website plan and launch that will offer users a great
interactive experience when using Story Academy. We are looking forward
to leveraging our technology to connect authors to readers in the very
near future.
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