Jeannie Cahalane
Traditional education often struggles to keep up with how kids actually learn. BrainBite is taking a different path—using AI to create real-time, personalized lessons that adapt to each child’s needs. With interactive storytelling, AI mentors, and even historical figure simulations, it’s designed to make learning engaging, not just efficient. Founder Sayed Shahidi shares how BrainBite is rethinking education by focusing on curiosity, adaptability, and accessibility.
1. What inspired you to create BrainBite, and how did your personal or professional experiences shape its mission?
Sayed Shahidi: We started BrainBite to give every child a chance to learn in a way that works for them and helps them grow without costing too much. Many kids don’t do as well as they could because classrooms don’t excite them. In school, there’s little time to explore the things you’re really curious about. Instead, the focus is on getting good grades on standardized tests. We think learning should be about more than that. That’s why we made a platform that uses AI to create lessons in real time, tailored specifically for each child. It has AI mentors who help, answer questions, and give extra explanations. Additionally, our AI tutors will teach your child anything you’d like. Our goal is to make learning accessible for everyone!
2. How does BrainBite stand out from other learning platforms in the market?
Sayed Shahidi: BrainBite isn’t just another learning platform—it’s a whole new way for children to engage in online learning. While many platforms focus on games and flashy designs, they often miss the mark on proper learning outcomes. BrainBite is different.
We create (actual) personalized learning paths tailored to each child’s unique needs. With features like story-forking, students can shape their learning journey by choosing how stories unfold and exploring unique areas of a subject others have not discovered yet. Our AI mentors guide children through their lessons, offering support every step of the way while engaging the kids in reflective thinking on what they have learnt from the lessons. For neurodiverse learners, we provide special tools like customizable fonts and text-to-speech options, even using familiar voices, like a parent’s, to make reading feel comforting and personal.
We also bring history to life with 1-on-1 tutoring and tests featuring the impersonations of historical figures like Napoleon, Einstein, and over 50 others. Kids can ask questions and learn through fun, interactive conversations that make learning an adventure.
However, one crucial aspect is typically overlooked: parents. We know parents are key to a child’s success. That’s why our platform keeps you informed and involved. You can chat with Professor BrainBite about your kid, set learning goals, and get real-time updates on your child’s progress.
3. What were the core principles you prioritized when designing BrainBite’s approach to education?
Sayed Shahidi: We are highly motivated to make learning accessible for every child, anywhere in the world, and under whatever circumstances. That’s why we need to ensure that everything in the platform is evidence-based, so we often cite research in our design flows. We’re also working with three different universities to provide us with detailed insights into our learning outcomes and are actively looking for research partnerships.
4. BrainBite incorporates innovative features like interactive role-playing and one-on-one tutoring with AI mentors. What inspired these unique tools, and how do they enhance learning?
Sayed Shahidi: When it comes to bridging the “learning gap,” we chose a different path. Instead of just creating an “online classroom,” we designed a platform focused on personal learning and growth. A great example of this is our personal dictionary feature.
We all know dictionaries are handy for looking up unfamiliar words, but what happens after that? Often, we forget the word unless we see it again—and the cycle repeats. With our platform, you can bookmark the words you don’t know, and they’ll appear in future lessons. This helps you truly understand and remember them, building your vocabulary and making learning stick. And that’s just one of the many ways we personalize the experience!
5. How does BrainBite cater to neurodiverse learners, such as those with ADHD or dyslexia?
Sayed Shahidi: Our platform has various built-in features designed to meet specific learning needs while also being practical for all students. By safely and privately monitoring learning activities, the platform adjusts and adapts to each student’s learning behaviour, ensuring the following steps are tailored to their progress.
In addition to these innovative features, students can customize their profiles to reflect their preferences. Thanks to its adaptive nature, our platform works for every child—even those who are gifted—making learning personalized, effective, and inclusive.
6. What metrics or feedback do you rely on to measure BrainBite’s success in improving learning outcomes?
Sayed Shahidi: Our goal is to uncover what truly works in education. We gather learning data to solve the “learning puzzle” and use these insights to make our platform even better. That’s why we collaborate closely with researchers—to deepen our understanding of online learning and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
We also value your feedback! If something isn’t working for your child, let us know—we’re here to improve learning for everyone.
7. What’s next for BrainBite in terms of new features or expansions?
Sayed Shahidi: Since our mission is to give every child a hyper-personalized educational experience, we’re going to expand into different regions and languages. This will take some time as we want to make sure that regional and cultural differences are taken into consideration when releasing our platform in those areas.
Damian Ashworth, Founder & Chief Learning Officer (CLO), BrainBite
8. What has been the hardest decision you’ve faced in growing BrainBite, and how did you navigate it?
Sayed Shahidi: By far, the hardest decision was not to go live commercially when we initially wanted to. We wanted to make sure we deliver quality over quantity. Everyone in the startup world always says: “Release and fail fast, learn and improve.” And while that is true in some cases, we know what we’re making, and we know what we need to improve and how. We knew that we weren’t ready at the time, so we took our time to reflect, improve, and overcome those challenges. We’re almost ready now to release our open beta, and we will take the world by storm.
9. Startups often demand sacrifices. What personal compromises have you had to make for BrainBite, and how have they shaped your perspective?
Sayed Shahidi: As a startup, our work often goes beyond regular weekends or evenings off. We pour all our energy into reaching and helping as many people as possible, and we’re able to do so because we’re still young and full of drive.
A tip: Clear communication with loved ones at home is essential—they support us wholeheartedly and share our belief in the product and vision we’re building together.
10. What does a typical day look like for you, and how do you stay motivated amidst challenges?
Sayed Shahidi: We are working 24/7 on BrainBite. We have a very dedicated team worldwide, and we appreciate them all. You can find them here: BrainBite Team. Seeing how everyone is motivated to do better and create a better future for our children drives us to continue and push onward even when the going gets rough.
Sayed Shahidi (first from left) with the BrainBite team
11. Looking back, is there a moment where you wish you had taken a different path, and what did you learn from it?
Sayed Shahidi: Honestly, no. Everything that happened so far happened for a reason. We are happy with the road we took. Of course, there are failures, but if we did not have those, we wouldn’t have improved. We can’t say “we’re a learning platform” without us also constantly learning, right?
Editor’s Note
Talking to Sayed Shahidi, one thing is clear—BrainBite isn’t just about AI, it’s about making learning work for every child. His focus on personalization, from neurodiverse-friendly tools to interactive tutoring, shows a real commitment to changing how kids engage with knowledge. He’s not rushing to scale; he’s prioritizing quality, making sure BrainBite delivers real value. In a space filled with gamified learning and quick-fix solutions, BrainBite stands out by putting students first.
