With Grant Through WTC Utah, Because Learning expands in Middle East
STEM education company, Because Learning, utilizes new growth opportunities in the Middle East through the Export Acceleration Grant
Because Learning, formerly known as Ardusat INC, is an education technology company that provides schools and students a platform to learn science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Their curriculum is designed to engage kids and develop their STEM skills at an early age. With their curriculum being taught in over 200 schools in 30 countries, Because Learning has notably become one of Utah’s premier international education technology firms.
Early on, Because Learning’s valuable curriculum and technology quickly garnered interest from international markets. As jobs become more focused in STEM disciplines, children need to have greater access to these materials at early ages. The curriculum not only provides lessons, but opportunities to work with real data, coding, and even orbiting satellites.
“Quite quickly, we started receiving random sales and interest in our products from countries all over the world. It made sense to expand,” said Sunny Washington, CEO and co-founder of Because Learning.
Washington stumbled upon World Trade Center Utah’s Export Acceleration Grant, which is funded by JPMorgan Chase & Co, by happenstance earlier this year. The grant aims to help Utah companies expand internationally.
“When I came across the Export Acceleration Grant on social media, I decided to do some research and take a shot at applying,” said Washington.
Because Learning was one of 25 companies to receive a 2017 Utah Export Acceleration Grant. The grant money provided them funding to pursue rising opportunities in Middle Eastern and Asian markets. According to Washington, the funding has been vital in building their market presence, finding distributors and localizing their platform in target expansion markets.
“World Trade Center Utah has been quite an asset to our international expansion. The Export Acceleration Grant has given us the necessary funds to pursue opportunities that would not have been easily accessible to us,” said Washington.
With their funding, Because Learning followed up on partnership and distributor leads in the Middle East and Asia. Through these increased partnerships, they have enlarged their market presence and recognition in schools throughout the region. They are currently pursuing opportunities that will potentially lead them to 50 percent growth by the end of 2018.
Through funding and recent rebranding, Because Learning recently achieved 45,000 users for their programs. With their numbers increasing daily, they project their users to potentially double in the next couple of years
Looking back on their recent expansion, Washington advised companies to do their research to make the expansion process less intimidating.
“Know your resources and know your time commitments. I cannot stress this enough,” said Washington. “Once you’re ready, be entirely open to going international. Don’t be afraid of it because it can open so many opportunities. You may come across connections that will take your company to new levels.”
WTC Utah offers several grant programs to help Utah companies expand their business into international markets. Learn more.
