Lomit Patel's Blog, page 94

Celebrating Women in STEM and Encouraging the Next Generation

In today’s rapidly changing digital age, there is an increasing demand for children to be well-versed in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

With a growing demand for technological skills in almost every field, a strong STEM and coding foundation is critical for the future workforce.

Moreover, even though coding is essential for all children to learn, the gender gap in STEM remains a persistent issue.

Therefore, promoting and fostering STEM education and careers is crucial for both boys and girls, particularly encouraging girls to pursue these fields, from computer programmers, web developers and engineers, data scientists, and more.

Regarding technology, it might surprise you that women are often behind the creation of the very cool gadgets, devices, apps, and services you use every day.

While women frequently take a back seat in the annals of tech history, the truth is that they have been vital players just as long as men have. Today, estimates show that women comprise 26.7 percent (or less) of the industry.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it’s essential to recognize the significance of women in STEM fields. This article will examine the influence of encouraging STEM education, especially coding, at an early age for girls. It will highlight the importance of this approach for all girls and its potential impact on their future to get more opportunities for well-paying jobs in tech.

History of Women in STEM

Women have made significant contributions to STEM fields. Ada Lovelace was a groundbreaking mathematician and writer best known for her contributions to Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine.

Her most significant contribution to computing was the development of an algorithm for the Analytical Engine, widely regarded as the first computer program ever written.

This achievement was all the more impressive given that Lovelace was a woman living in a time when women were discouraged from pursuing careers in science or mathematics.

Her work helped to lay the groundwork for modern computing and continues to inspire future generations of women in STEM.

An African-American mathematician, Katherine Johnson was a brilliant mathematician and physicist who contributed significantly to NASA’s space program.

She was part of a group of African-American women known as “human computers” who calculated the complex mathematical formulas required for space travel.

Johnson’s work on the trajectory for the first human-crewed spaceflight was critical to the mission’s success. She went on to work on numerous other projects at NASA throughout her career.

Despite facing discrimination and prejudice as a woman of color working in a male-dominated field, Johnson remained dedicated to her work and inspired generations of women and people of color to pursue STEM careers.

Despite these and other accomplishments, women have historically been underrepresented in STEM fields, with men outnumbering women in almost every STEM field.

Outside of this commemorative month, it is critical to recognize women’s achievements in this and many other areas to inspire the next generation of women in STEM.

STEM Initiatives for Women

According to the National Girls Collaborative Project, women constitute only 28% of the STEM workforce. As they progress through school, girls tend to lose interest in STEM subjects, with only 0.4% of high school girls interested in computer science degrees.

This disparity limits women’s career opportunities and hinders the potential for innovation and progress in the field.

In addition to being a matter of gender equality, the underrepresentation of women in STEM areas has adverse economic effects. According to McKinsey & Company research, increasing gender diversity in the workforce could boost the world economy by $12 trillion by 2025.

In addition, a National Science Foundation study also discovered that businesses with more diverse workforces frequently experience higher financial returns and are more creative.

Despite these challenges, many organizations and initiatives are working to promote girls’ participation in STEM education and careers.

Tynker

Tynker’s mission is to provide every child with a solid foundation in computer science, programming, and critical thinking skills to prepare them to become better architects of their future world.

Their award-winning curriculum is used in more than 100,000 schools worldwide to ensure that, by 2033, every high school graduate has been exposed to some formal coding education.

Tynker coding courses for kids are intentionally designed to be engaging and accessible for all children, regardless of gender. Tynker offers a variety of classes and projects that cater to a range of interests, including music, art, games, and storytelling.

Additionally, Tynker actively promotes diversity and inclusion in its courses, showcasing female role models in technology and highlighting the contributions of women in the field.

Tynker also offers courses and projects specifically geared towards girls, such as the “Ada’s Adventure” course and the “Women in Computing” project. These courses focus on empowering girls to pursue careers in technology and showcase female leaders in the industry.

Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code is a nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by Reshma Saujani to close the gender gap in technology by providing young girls with computer science education.

The organization offers free coding education to girls in grades 3-12 through summer immersion programs, after-school clubs, and other initiatives.

Since its founding, Girls Who Code has reached more than 500 million girls across the United States and expanded its reach to other countries worldwide.

The impact of Girls Who Code on women in STEM is significant. According to their website, 90% of Girls Who Code alumni say that they have been inspired to pursue a career in technology due to their participation in the program.

In addition, Girls Who Code alums are also 15 times more likely to pursue computer science in college than the national average.

Code.org

Another initiative, Code.org, is a nonprofit organization that offers free coding education to students of all ages, focusing on promoting girls’ participation in coding.

The organization’s programs include curriculum and training for K-12 teachers, online courses and resources for students, and community outreach initiatives.

Code.org’s impact on promoting girls’ participation in coding is significant. According to their website, in 2019, 45% of their students were girls.

Code.org’s Hour of Code program has also reached over 100 million girls worldwide, exposing them to computer science and coding basics. More than half of Code.org’s college-level computer science students are women, compared to a national average of just 20%.

Impacts of Women in STEM

Beyond the success of the women themselves on a personal and professional level, there are numerous advantages for women in STEM areas. Society will gain when more women are inspired to seek STEM degrees and careers.

Technology, healthcare, energy, and environmental sustainability depend on advancing the STEM disciplines. Women can bring a variety of viewpoints to the area, resulting in more creative solutions to challenging issues.

Additionally, promoting female participation in STEM disciplines can aid in reducing the gender wage gap, a problem that has persisted in the workplace. The National Women’s Law Center reported that in 2020, women in the United States made just 82 cents for every dollar males earn.

However, women in STEM typically make more money compared to other occupations. According to a National Science Foundation study, women in STEM make 33% more money than women in non-STEM professions. The gender wage gap can be narrowed by increasing the proportion of women working in STEM areas.

A lack of diversity in STEM disciplines can also result in a narrow focus on the problems and difficulties that particular groups of people face.

For instance, a lack of female researchers in the medical field can lead to a lack of knowledge about women’s health problems. Increasing the number of women in STEM can contribute to the field’s diversity of views and experiences, resulting in more inclusive research and innovation.

What Parents Can Do

Women’s History Month is an excellent opportunity to consider women’s contributions to STEM fields and draw attention to the need for more diversity and inclusion.

Parents and teachers can use various tools to promote girls’ involvement in STEM education and careers and introduce them to female role models working in the area.

By giving their daughters access to STEM-related activities and tools, such as attending talks, workshops, and networking events that highlight the achievements of women in STEM, parents can also inspire their daughters to pursue their interests in these fields.

Many schools and libraries provide STEM resources and activities for kids and teenagers, sometimes free or at a reduced cost to families.

Parents can play a vital role in encouraging their daughters to pursue STEM by embracing their hobbies, regardless of gender norms.

For instance, if a daughter shows interest in coding or engineering, parents can provide access to resources like the ones above that allow girls to create digital games, animations, and more.

Children can work through these resources independently without requiring much assistance from parents with little STEM or coding experience.

Parents can create a nurturing environment at home that promotes their daughters’ interests in STEM by reinforcement of gender equality and inclusivity. This approach can help girls feel confident and empowered to pursue STEM fields without limitations.

Equal Access to the Top

Coding and STEM education are critical skills for children in the modern digital age, so encouraging girls to pursue STEM education and careers is vital.

By increasing girls’ access to STEM education and resources and highlighting women’s contributions to STEM disciplines, we can work to close the gender gap in STEM and create a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

We look forward to the day when women and men are equally represented working in tech with equal access to a viable, successful career path to the top.

Also published on HACKERNOON

The post Celebrating Women in STEM and Encouraging the Next Generation appeared first on Lomit Patel.

Product-Led Growth: A Path To Sustainable Revenue Growth During Economic Downturns

For a surprising number of companies, the pandemic turned out to be an economic boon. Our behavior shifted radically over the last few years, and companies like Zoom, Slack, Shopify, Netflix and Square were all there���perfectly positioned for those changes. Many experienced hypergrowth as a result.

Who doesn’t want that? These services were well-positioned to take advantage of the shift to remote work and online activities. None of these companies were guaranteed to succeed. What makes these companies stand out?

In short, Zoom, Slack, Netflix and the like all share a common focus on product-led growth, often referred to as PLG for short.

These companies were able to experience hypergrowth during the pandemic by delivering an exceptional product experience that meets customers’ needs in a rapidly changing environment. By focusing on product-led growth, these companies were able to weather the challenges and emerge as leaders in their respective industries.

It’s also a focus I’ve put into practice as the Chief Growth Officer of Tynker, an edtech coding platform for kids and teens. This strategy provides a path to sustained revenue growth by delivering an exceptional product experience that drives customer acquisition, engagement and revenue.

As a result of this approach, we’ve been able to get much more out of our organic traffic and paid efforts. It requires work, of course���but the results have been eye-opening in short order.

In this article, I want to share three crucial points you should consider when drafting your successful PLG strategy.

1. Ask the right questions to evaluate PLG’s success.

Here are some key questions that can help assess the success of a product-led growth strategy and where to focus when implementing one.

How well is our product meeting customer needs and solving their problems?

2. What is our customer acquisition cost, and how is it trending over time?

3. What percentage of our growth comes from product-led channels like word-of-mouth and organic search?

4. How effectively are we using data and analytics to drive product decisions and inform the go-to-market strategy?

5. What is our net promoter score, and how has it been trending over time?

6. How well are we retaining and growing our existing customer base?

7. What is the feedback from our customers on product features, and how can we improve?

8. How well do we integrate product, marketing and sales efforts to drive growth?

9. How do we build cross-functional solid alignment across the organization to execute PLG strategy?

10. What are the metrics to measure success and set the right expectations with key stakeholders?

Answering these questions can provide insights into the effectiveness of a product-led growth strategy. Consider how your company performs along these lines. Identify one or two minor tweaks to the product experience that might lead to improved KPIs. Even starting small is better than not starting PLG at all!

2. Embrace innovation as a critical component of PLG.

Innovation is a critical component of PLG. A product-led growth strategy requires continually delivering new and improved experiences to customers. Tweaking, testing and measuring parts of the user experience helps us keep our users more engaged and drive growth, even as we enter a period of increasing consumer thriftiness. This requires a culture of innovation where new ideas are encouraged and rapidly tested���and failures are seen as opportunities to learn and improve.

And while Tynker has constantly innovated regarding the education experience, it’s clear now that focusing some of our innovation efforts on the user experience, onboarding and so on can deliver significant dividends on the revenue front, enabling continued growth amid economic growth uncertainty.

Product-led growth and innovation are essential components of a successful growth strategy, regardless of external economic conditions. By putting the customer at the center of the growth strategy and continually delivering new and improved experiences through innovation, companies can attract and retain customers, drive customer engagement and achieve sustainable revenue growth. By focusing on PLG, companies can also reduce their dependence on increasingly costly customer acquisition efforts like paid media and minimize the impact of economic downturns on their growth.

3. Build a community that adds value to your customers.

While having an enthusiastic customer base is excellent, if you can turn that user base into a community capable of supporting one another and sharing knowledge, you have the potential for a home run. “Traditionally,” as Andrew Chen writes, “the playbook for building network effects has been the following: Get users onboard, connect them, and have them create content and conversations.” Following this playbook can help you amplify your product among organic users.

With relatively little effort from your company, a community can add exponential value to your users. These days, establishing a community may be as simple as setting up a Facebook group for verified users to talk with each other, monitoring that and engaging where appropriate. Tracking the amount of user-generated content and the number of members provides a window into your community’s health.

At Tynker, we’ve focused on building a community around the 60 million kids who use our platform to learn how to code. Our platform allows kids in the Tynker community to publish and rate each other’s creations in a kid-safe way, inspiring kids to create more coding projects. Invariably, this leads to discoverability through better SEO with user-generated content, which brings in more kids, which means more kids discover coding, further driving subscription growth.

Follow the data���this will help identify the features that are your selling points.

This can show you where to focus your R&D for future iterations. And with a PLG strategy, reinvestment in your product is the key to everything.

As businesses look for more cost-effective ways to grow, a product’s value proposition that delivers a great customer experience becomes increasingly compelling���and customers are less likely to “churn.” This creates new opportunities for companies that have embraced PLG and innovation to differentiate themselves from their competition and achieve sustained growth through whatever economic waters happen to be flowing through the moment.

This article first appeared on Forbes

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Coding – The Universal Language You Must Learn

Today more than ever, coding is a base requirement in numerous careers, an essential skill that will be in demand soon. The next generation of coders is already leveling up their academics compared to their peers while securing the skills needed for tomorrow���s most innovative jobs in various exciting fields.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ���Overall employment of web developers and digital designers is projected to grow 23 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.���

Coding is a universal language, a 21st-century survival skill that everyone can learn���at any age���even as young as five years old! Students must choose a second language in school, like French, Spanish, or English. This is excellent timing because children, by nature, are programmed to learn languages, so much so that they can unconsciously acquire a language without even trying.

The Best Time for Your Child To Start Coding Is Today

If your child is in elementary school, they can use block coding to learn key coding concepts in a fun, intuitive way. If you have a child in high school, even at the AP level, text coding courses can prepare them for college and a potential career.

In learning computer programming, children develop crucial skills like problem-solving, time management, and critical thinking. They also get to unleash their imagination and creativity. If your child can dream it, there���s a good chance they can do it���with code!

At Tynker, we���ve enhanced the skills of over 60 million young people and educators by teaching them to code with our��award-winning��platform. From teaching icon coding and voice commands to 5-year-old pre-readers to teaching JavaScript and Python to teens, we make coding easy, interesting, and fun.

It���s increasingly��essential that every child develops coding skills��to meet the demands of the digital economy over the next decade.

The human race has entered the digital age. It���s where the next Big Idea will come from. And it���s where the money is. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported last year that while the median annual wage for all occupations was $45,760, the median wage for coding-related professions was $97,430 ��� more than double!

Coding Revs Up the Resume

What kinds of jobs are we talking about? Here���s a sampling of positions that require coding, along with their median salaries:

Web Developers and Digital Designers: $78,300Network and Computer Systems Administrators: $80,600Computer Programmers: $93,000Database Administrators and Architects: $101,000Software Developers: $109,020Computer Network Architects: $120,520Computer and Information Research Scientists: $131,490

And that���s just scratching the surface. There are also information security analysts, computer systems analysts, product managers, information systems managers, data scientists, full-stack developers, and many more. Additionally, there is a growing demand for hybrid positions, jobs that blend coding skills into other industries like business and marketing.

The BLS projects overall employment in computer and information technology occupations to grow 15% from 2021 to 2031, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations. That���s why coding is going to be a crucial addition to any resume.

Coding Builds Up the Brain

Researchers have found that coding activates five distinct brain regions in the left hemisphere, the part of the brain that controls language and speech. The activated areas relate to language processing, attention, and working memory.

What is ���working memory?��� It���s a cognitive function that keeps us from losing track of our actions. It���s one of the brain���s executive functions and critical to problem-solving. Researchers suggest that this study proves that learning to code will enhance the brain���s learning process.

Another study focused on the development of problem-solving and cognitive skills and discovered that learning to code boosts the brain in these areas. It happens by strengthening neural pathways, much like repetitive physical movement builds muscle memory. Researchers behind this study noted that ���software engineers have been demonstrated to have more dynamic brains,��� including ���superior cognitive execution and alertness.���

Coding also improves the brain���s aptitude for math because it requires the coder to assess data quickly. For instance, when a coder creates a new app, they first begin with coding concepts they���ve used in the past. They relate that data to what is needed at the moment and envision how it needs to be adjusted to achieve the end goal. This kind of quick mental processing is a vital skill in mathematics.

Coding Cranks Up the Confidence

Learning to code also builds confidence and self-esteem in several ways. First, students who learn to code will inevitably encounter new problems they���ll have to solve. And they will solve them. With each new solution they devise, their confidence grows, as do their coding skills.

Second, they���ll gain insight into how the technology in our digitally-driven society works. They���ll understand the inner workings of things and thus feel more grounded in their world. Plus, they���ll never be intimidated by tech because they will have developed a facility with it.

Finally, they���ll be one of the gatekeepers. As virtual reality, augmented reality, self-driving cars, and automated things become more a part of the fabric of our lives; your child will be one of those who know how it all works.

In the future, there will be people who can create this tech and those who can���t. Your child���s self-esteem will be healthy and strong with the knowledge they are among the former, with a chance to progress to better-paying jobs.

This article first appeared on HACKERNOON

The post Coding – The Universal Language You Must Learn appeared first on Lomit Patel.

How Startups Can Use AI to Grow

Lomit Patel��discusses his book “Lean AI” and how innovative startups can use AI to grow. Artificial intelligence and ChatGPT are commanding headlines, but what does it mean for startup success? Lomit is a Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur insider. Listen as explores ways to scale up growth with AI.

This article first appeared on Digital Transformation Podcast with Kevin Craine

The post How Startups Can Use AI to Grow appeared first on Lomit Patel.

Growing apps in a recession: 4 keys to building cockroach apps via Tynker

Finding it tough growing apps in a recession? No wonder: a whole generation of mobile marketers have cut their teeth on app growth in the grand old times of (nearly) free money from venture capitalists. While huge budgets (and reliable deterministic measurement on both major platforms) are really, really nice, those times are over. 

So how do you grow when growth is hard?

You become a cockroach app.

Growing apps in a recession requires building cockroach apps that can survive the nuclear (economic) apocalypse when nothing else does. How? By focusing on the fundamentals, says Tynker chief growth officer Lomit Patel.

���If you look at the past 5, 6, 7 years, there was such an over-index emphasis on growth at all costs, right?��� Patel, who is the former VP for growth at IMVU and led direct marketing at Roku, told me recently in a Growth Masterminds episode. ���It was really cheap to get money at that time, especially in startups. So it was really about just buying your way to growing as quickly as possible.���

That���s all changing in a world in which Google has laid off 12,000 people, Microsoft 10,000, Amazon 18,000, and venture capital investment is down 53% year over year. 

What are the critical keys to growth now?

Balancing acquisition with engagement, monetization, and retention, Patel says.

Growing apps in a recession: return to the fundamentals of growth

Balance is the new acquisition.

���Now it���s really coming down to the fundamentals of not buying all costs, but really getting the balance around how you acquire users and how you retain, engage, and monetize ��� and getting the full balance around the entire user funnel,��� Patel says. ���A heavy emphasis now is really coming down to retention ��� how do you retain your best users?���

That���s tough.

As we all know, we have maybe 50 or 100 apps. Some have literally hundreds. But the number we use on any given day is probably less than the number of fingers and toes we own ��� and maybe less than just our fingers alone. That means every single app is in a zero-sum, red ocean, high-stakes competition with every other app for a diminishing and perishable commodity: human attention.

Good luck, marketers.

In addition, there���s added pressure on getting user acquisition right ��� thanks to lower budgets ��� at exactly the same time as App Tracking Transparency is taking data away on iOS (and Privacy Sandbox soon will on Android). Which means that although you now need to know the projected lifetime value (LTV) of your new users with better certainty than ever before, you have less data to actually do so.

4 keys to growing apps in a recession (with minimal budget)

Patel sees 4 necessary responses to the challenge of growing with minimal budgets:

Predicting value more effectivelyDiversifying revenue more aggressivelyGrowing organically, not just via paid user acquisitionBoosting engagement and retention of users you already have

The first key is critical, especially under SKAN 3 but also under SKAN 4: getting an early understanding of new user cohort value.

���One of the things that we were able to do at IMVU was to try and identify early signals, and look at what were those early signals that you could depend on to try and build up a productive lifetime value model,��� Patel says. ���And then ��� whatever that model was ��� pump back a different signal to the mobile measurement partners.���

So instead of relying on registrations and revenue, you come up with your own formula of a signal and optimize to that ��� and that���s even more important right now.

This, of course, is a core part of Singular���s SKAN Advanced Analytics: modeling for missing data to get the best possible ��� and earliest possible ��� optimization signals. Without modeling on iOS, you have too little data to accurately adjust course.

The second key to growing apps in a recession is nice to have at any point, but is critical during uncertain economic periods: revenue diversification. As we saw in a recent Singular webinar, 90% of non-gaming in-app revenue is now subscriptions: great if you can get it and more stable than individual purchases, but potentially iffy when people might be looking to save money. Building revenue from a combination of purchases and subscriptions and advertising diversifies your risk from any one of them.

The third is organic growth: always appealing because it seems ���free.��� (Which, of course, it is not: you typically need huge investments in having a great product to grow both organically and sustainably.) 

Think product-led growth: particularly important when paid acquisition is harder than ever. A cool new idea could go viral, but only a solid product and a great user experience will successfully capitalize on that buzz to form the foundation for long-term revenue growth.

The fourth key to growing apps in a recession is boosting engagement, which will increase both retention and monetization. One thing that can help: AI-driven personalization.

���Increasing engagement and retention, I would say, really comes down to increasing your ability to leverage AI and automation for personalization, to increase the way you can personalize the experiences within your app,��� Patel says.

Verticals that grow in recessions

Any app or any business can grow under tough circumstances, of course. But it helps to be in verticals that are relatively recession-proof.

Entertainment is one, Patel says: people still need to have fun and enjoy themselves, although they may look for less expensive ways to do so. Another is gaming, for much the same reason. If people cut back on going out or traveling, gaming is still a relatively inexpensive way to spend time, have fun, and experience the much-needed thrill of winning.

People will still need to figure out how to keep their mind active and not go brain dead and depressed�� with whatever���s going around

Another recession-proof vertical?

Education.

We���re not going to stop educating our kids during an economic downturn, and we���re going to take advantage of opportunities to upskill both ourselves and them in order to take advantage of whatever opportunities remain available.

Still, the biggest challenge remains data

The biggest challenge to growing apps in a recession, however, doesn���t have much to do with the actual recession. It remains data loss due to SKAdNetwork. That���s nothing new, and it���s something that is going to improve with SKAN 4, but it remains the core issue for many marketers on iOS.

And that���s where brand ��� yes, brand ��� can help performance marketers.

At Tinker we call it a first-time user experience ��� and that first-time user experience actually starts even before somebody gets to your app,��� Patel says. ���What���s the experience in the App Store or first ad ��� people tend to over-index on certain pieces rather than the entire journey.

That first experience could be organic too, and increasingly is as apps invest in search engine optimization and influencer marketing. Which is fundamentally different than paid acquisition, because I feel in control of what I come across organically, versus feeling ���marketed to��� when I see an ad. An organic first experience, when positive, is a very powerful driver of behavior.

���So what I will say is, really focus on the entire journey to really set the right precedent,��� Patel says. ���Before someone even gets into your app ��� and once they get into your app ��� try to remove as much friction as possible.���

This article first appeared on Singular

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Revolutionizing Coding Education for Kids with Tynker���s Lomit Patel

Lomit Patel is the Chief Growth Officer of Tynker, part of BYJU���S, the world���s largest tech company. Tynker is one of the pioneers in coding and ed tech learning for kids, boasting 60 million users across 150 countries. 

With 20 years of experience helping startups grow into successful businesses, Lomit has previously played a critical role in scaling growth startups such as Roku (IPO), TrustedID (acquired by Equifax), Texture (acquired. by Apple), and IMVU (#2 top-grossing gaming app). 

Lomit is a public speaker, author, and advisor with numerous accolades and awards throughout his career. He���s been recognized as a Mobile Hero by Liftoff.

He recently published his book, Lean AI: How Innovative Startups Use Artificial Intelligence to Grow, which is part of Eric Ries��� ���The Lean Startup��� series.

The book provides practical advice on how innovative startups use artificial intelligence and automation to grow.

Key Takeaways from the Podcast Episode with Lomit Patel

��� (6:02) Tynker���s marketing approach behind its kids��� coding software

��� (7:49) When to draw the line from a freemium to an upgraded paid version of your SaaS product

��� (8:27) How to introduce the paywall to your freemium SaaS product

��� (9:14) How to choose the right pricing for your SaaS product

��� (12:51) How to power your ads with your users��� data at different stages of the buyer���s journey

��� (18:03) Why educating customers is a game-changer

��� (21:12) How to grow to have healthy customer LTVs

��� (25:55) How to increase the conversion rate of free to paid users

��� (29:28) How to encourage users to create UGC

��� (33:13) How can you get more done with less?

Join us in our #100th episode, as we delve into the world of kids��� coding. We���ll decode the strategy behind Tynker���s successful marketing approach. 

Learn how to harness the power of user data in your ad campaigns. Plus, discover the transformative impact of customer education.

And don���t forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform for more practical tips and stories!

Show Notes

In our 100th episode, Lomit Patel, the Chief Growth Officer of Tynker, a kids��� coding ed-tech company, uncovers Tynker���s successful marketing approach. 

The focus of Tynker is to provide reasons for students to learn to code and engage them in coding. The company relies on relationships with over 100,000 schools and districts to introduce young learners to the world of coding. Schools use Tynker���s freemium version to teach students programming and computer science.

With the paid subscription, kids can take their coding knowledge to the next level outside of school. Tynker aims to attract more parents��� accounts as a target group, and when parents become aware of the product, they naturally add their children to the account as well. Once the child reaches a paywall while using the product, the parents become aware of their child���s progress on the app, and Tynker relies on the parents to upgrade the account to the paid version.

How to Introduce a Paywall to Your Freemium SaaS Product

���And with any Freemium product, the balance is trying to figure out how much to give away for free and where to expose the paywalls, so that once a child gets enough value-added product, they will naturally hit a paywall and at that stage, the parent gets notified that they would need to upgrade into the paid,��� explains Lomit. In other words, the question is, how do you walk the freemium tightrope?

Lomit advises businesses to look at their entire user journey and observe their high lifetime value users ��� what are the common behaviors and actions that led them to become loyal users of the product? This is a key strategy to understand what your users need and when it���s best to introduce a paywall.

Tynker nailed it by creating 5,000 classes and courses, progressing kids through the different levels, and introducing the paywall at just the right time. The company���s goal is to get kids started with the first couple of levels and then implement the paywall at that stage.

Don���t overcomplicate pricing for your SaaS product ��� Lomit recommends trialing different prices through A/B tests to find the right price point.

How to Increase the Conversion Rate of Free to Paid Users

If you want to monetize your product, adding a paywall is a great way to start. But you are probably wondering how to get more people interested in using the paid version. The solution to converting more free to paid users lies in creating a stellar onboarding experience, according to Lomit.

Ensuring a smooth and enjoyable onboarding experience for users isn���t just key to getting more people interested in purchasing your product; it���s also key to getting them excited and motivated to use it!

Every parent that buys the plan doesn���t have to worry about making their child excited to use Tynker. That���s because for its onboarding, Tynker introduces live coaching sessions, a hybrid learning approach that became the company���s main differentiator on the market. With these sessions, kids learn how to use the product, and as a result, they quickly see its value. 

Coming up with multiple ways to monetize users, and having bundled offerings, such as Tynker���s live coaching sessions offered as an add-on to the user���s subscription, can help you increase your LTVs (user lifetime value) and improve user retention and engagement rates.

How Tynker Stands out in Customer Education

What keeps customers coming back for more is that Tynker relies on customer education during its onboarding process.

The company���s focus is on constantly improving the onboarding process for Tynker users and helping them get started on using the product.

Tynker also motivates children to stay engaged and build their skills by providing them with a supportive community where kids can share their projects and progress with others for additional inspiration and encouragement.

How to Encourage Users to Create UGC

Creating a community can be a powerful tool for user-generated content (UGC). Tynker encourages its users to share their projects on the platform and relies on its community for more user-generated content.

By showing the progress of other kids who have used Tynker, the hope is to get kids, and their parents motivated to stay engaged with the product. The community is seen as a key factor in this, as it is a supportive and social environment where users can share their projects and encourage each other in their learning process.

How to Get More Done with Less

As a final takeaway from our episode, Lomit, the author of ���Lean AI,��� gave us insight into how to get more done with less. The book, ���Lean AI,��� was written based on the premise of streamlining manual and inefficient processes in a large team at IMBU.

Lomit believes that technology should be leveraged to help teams become more efficient and nimble in executing tasks quickly. He advises finding the right MarTech stack to continue to execute, test, learn, and iterate at a faster scale. 

Companies that do well in an economic slowdown are those that increase their velocity of learning by running more experiments and getting better insights faster than competitors.

Discover more about Tynker���s unique approach to revolutionizing kids��� coding in our 100th episode. Get insights into the importance of customer education and how it leads to better engagement and retention. Listen to the full episode now.

The post Revolutionizing Coding Education for Kids with Tynker���s Lomit Patel appeared first on Lomit Patel.

10 Leaders Explain Why Coding Is Imperative for Your Child

As a parent, we want to give our children every opportunity to succeed in life. And in today���s tech-driven society, that means they need to learn how to code. But why is coding so important? And do all kids need to learn code or just those who are good in math and science? Let���s see what ten influential leaders have to say about coding:

According to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, ���Every child in America should have the opportunity to learn computer science. It teaches you how to think, and how to solve problems.���Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the MIT Media Lab, goes even further, saying that ���computing is not about computers anymore. It is about living.���Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, agrees. He says, ���To be successful in the 21st century, kids need to learn how to code. Coding is the new literacy. It���s the way you understand how to talk to the world around you.���Former President Barack Obama adds that coding ���helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic, and creativity.���But it���s not just about future career prospects. Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, believed that ���computer science is a liberal art, it���s something that everyone should learn how to use, at least a little bit, just like you learn how to read and write.���Coding helps us understand and shape the world around us. As Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, puts it, ���Coding is the way we shape the world.���Mitch Resnick, the director of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab, emphasizes the importance of coding for kids: ���Coding is the most important 21st-century skill children can learn. It���s how they���ll be able to understand and change the world around them.���Tim O���Reilly, founder of O���Reilly Media, agrees: ���Learning to code is a gateway to understanding the world in a different way. It���s a way to understand how technology works, and how to build the things you need and want.���Karen Cator, director of educational technology at the US Department of Education, believes that coding is essential for success in the modern world: ���Coding is the new black. It���s the new English. It���s the new math.���

10. And��Code.org co-founder Hadi Partovi��adds that ���coding is the new literacy and all children need to know how to code. It���s not just about becoming a computer programmer, it���s about giving kids the opportunity to be creators and not just consumers in the digital world.���

You get the idea. Coding definitely needs to be in your child���s toolbelt. Here���s what��Tynker co-founder and CEO, Srinivas Mandyam, had to say about children learning to code:

It���s increasingly essential that every child develops coding skills to meet the digital economy���s demands over the next decade.

Tynker co-founder and CEO, Srinivas Mandyam

Tynker���s mission is to provide every child from elementary school through high school with a solid foundation in computer science by developing their programming skills and in turn their ability to think critically, problem-solve, manage their time, and communicate with each other and the world.

So what are you waiting for? Take the first step and give your child the skills they���ll need in school���and their careers. Get started for free with Tynker, where we���ve taught more than 60 million kids the joys of coding.

Tynker has experienced tremendous growth over the past year, adding exciting new features ranging from cool design tools to advanced courses in��Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. We also added��two free coaching sessions with a coding instructor for students who subscribe to a paid plan, to ensure every child gets a solid start in their coding endeavors.��

Last year, we also gave away cash prizes in our two coding competitions: BYJU���S Coding Cup (in recognition of the World Cup) and our Winter Coding Cup. 

Tynker has even more new projects planned for the new year to get kids and teens excited about coding. We can���t wait to see what your child will create with code in 2023!

This article was first published on Tynker

The post 10 Leaders Explain Why Coding Is Imperative for Your Child appeared first on Lomit Patel.

What���s New at Tynker

Our coding program has experienced tremendous growth in the past year as we continue��our mission��to ensure that all kids have the ability to code before they leave high school.

Highlights from 2022New Pathway to Master Coding: An easy-to-follow path to coding excellence tailored to the individual learner with 6 self-guided levels featuring 300 lessons.Coding Cup: As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, BYJU���s launched the BYJU���S Coding Cup, a global coding competition.Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning: New block-coding course, exploring Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in a fun, hands-on way.New and Improved Drawing Tool: Tynker���s new vector drawing tool is baked into every project now so you can animate with ease.New Animated Courses: These two courses cover everything from online safety to how computers work and why coding matters!Learn More About These Big Changes: Tynker���s New Pathway to Master Coding!

Computer programming is a lifelong journey so we���re constantly looking for new and better ways to take our young coders from novices to experts. That���s why we���ve designed an easy-to-follow pathway to coding excellence���tailored to the individual learner���with��6 self-guided levels featuring 300 lessons.

With hands-on tutorials and videos, young coders complete fun interactive challenges to��learn the fundamental concepts of computer science. Meanwhile, Tynker���s system grows in complexity with the learner in a scaffolded, goal-orientated, and customized learning curriculum that will reward your child for reaching new levels and motivate them to keep pushing forward.

Coding Cup!

As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, BYJU���s launched the��BYJU���S Coding Cup, a global coding competition developed by Tynker that enabled kids to personalize and program the moves of soccer players on a virtual mini-team and compete against other teams around the globe.

We gave out cash and prizes in total for all 4 rounds of over $20,000! Better yet, it was FREE to enter and open to all kids ages 7-18 (with no previous coding experience required).

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning!

Smartphones, smart cars, smart TVs ��� did you ever wonder how all this technology got so smart? The answer is AI or Artificial Intelligence. So how can young coders use Artificial Intelligence in their Tynker projects? We���ve been working on that!

Tynker was excited to announce a��new block-coding course, exploring Artificial Intelligence in a fun, hands-on way. Not only that, you���ll find an all-new set of AI code blocks available to everyone!

You���ve always been able to use live video and your computer���s webcam with Tynker���s��Augmented Reality blocks (AR).
But now we���ve added face, hand, and body tracking to the system, allowing for amazing interactive projects!

Here���s the link to the coding elective course:��Introduction to AI/ML. Your child will be able to explore artificial intelligence and machine learning with block code to make their projects come alive in an all-new way.

Want to write JavaScript programs that use AI, too? Get started with artificial intelligence in a fun, interactive notebook in Tynker���s latest course called��Artificial Intelligence. Experiment with code as you read! Instructional videos, playable sample projects, and interactive explanations will help you get the big picture, right away.

Take the plunge and learn about Artificial Intelligence, whether it���s with block code or JavaScript!
Tynker���s New and Improved Drawing Tool!

It���s time to get creative! Tynker���s new vector drawing tool is baked into every project now. It���s a tool update so just click ���Create New Project��� to see it ��� Add Actor > Drawing Tool. Here���s a video, Introduction to Vector Editor, on YouTube to get your child started.

The vector drawing tool lets you draw cartoon shapes and precise lines. Here are some other benefits: Artwork scales up and down, without losing quality. Animate with ease ��� squish, rotate, and squeeze objects to create animations fast. Work with layers to control artwork and no more jagged lines.

New Animated Courses ��� Tynker���s, All About Computers

Come along on an amazing CARTOON learning adventure! Explore key ideas of digital literacy and learn how to stay safe online with your favorite Tynker characters, Super Squad and Puffball Panic!

We���ve added two incredible courses to our school curriculum which will soon be available to our home users as well. These two courses introduce students to concepts in computers, computing, digital literacy, and more.��

All About Computers 1 �����Pre-K-Grade 2 (Beginner level) 7 lessons

In this course, students get introduced to computing basics as they watch entertaining and educational videos about how computers work, how the Internet works, good digital citizenship, simple data collection, and more.

All About Computers 2 �����Grades 3-5 (Beginner level) 7 lessons

In this course, students familiarize themselves with computing concepts as they watch entertaining and educational videos about how computers are used, how the Internet works, data collection and visualization, cybersecurity, the history of computing, and more.

Going Forward

In today���s world, having a basic understanding of technology and coding is becoming increasingly important, and learning to code at a young age can give kids an advantage in their future education and career.

We���ve got tons of new projects planned for the new year to get everyone excited about coding. We can���t wait to see what your child will��create with code in 2023!

This article was first published on Tynker

The post What���s New at Tynker appeared first on Lomit Patel.

Why Every Child Needs To Learn Code in 2023

Today more than ever, coding is a base requirement in numerous careers, an essential skill that will be in demand soon. In fact, the next generation of coders is already leveling up their academics compared to their peers while securing the skills needed for tomorrow���s most innovative jobs in various exciting fields.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ���Overall employment of web developers and digital designers is projected to grow 23 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.���

Coding is a universal language, a 21st-century survival skill that everyone can learn���at any age���even as young as 5 years old! In school, students are required to choose a second language like French or Spanish, or English. This is great timing because children, by nature, are programmed to learn languages, so much so that they can unconsciously acquire a language without even trying.

The Best Time for Your Child To Start Coding Is Today!

If your child is in elementary school, they can use block coding to learn key coding concepts in a fun, intuitive way. If you have a child in high school, even at the AP level, text coding courses can prepare them for college and a potential career.

In learning computer programming, children develop crucial skills like problem-solving, time-management, and critical thinking. They also get to unleash their imagination and creativity. If your child can dream it, there���s a good chance they can do it���with code!

At Tynker, we���ve enhanced the skills of over 60 million young people and educators by teaching them to code with our award-winning platform. From teaching icon coding and voice commands to 5-year-old pre-readers to teaching JavaScript and Python to teens, we make coding easy, interesting, and fun.

It���s increasingly essential that every child develops coding skills to meet the demands of the digital economy over the next decade.

���Tynker CEO and Co-Founder, Srinivas Mandyam

The human race has entered the digital age. It���s where the next Big Idea will come from. And it���s where the money is. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported last year that while the median annual wage for all occupations was $45,760, the median wage for coding-related professions was $97,430 ��� more than double!

Coding Revs Up the Resume

What kinds of jobs are we talking about? Here���s a sampling of positions that require coding, along with their median salaries:  

Web Developers and Digital Designers: $78,300Network and Computer Systems Administrators: $80,600Computer Programmers: $93,000Database Administrators and Architects: $101,000Software Developers: $109,020Computer Network Architects: $120,520Computer and Information Research Scientists: $131,490

And that���s just scratching the surface. There are also information security analysts, computer systems analysts, product managers, information systems managers, data scientists, full-stack developers, and many more. Additionally, there is a growing demand for hybrid positions, jobs that blend coding skills into other industries like business and marketing. 

The BLS projects overall employment in computer and information technology occupations to grow 15% from 2021 to 2031, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations. That���s why coding is going to be a crucial addition to any resume. 

Coding Builds Up the Brain

Researchers have found that coding activates five distinct brain regions in the left hemisphere, the part of the brain that controls language and speech. The activated areas relate to language processing, attention, and working memory.

What is ���working memory?��� It���s a cognitive function that keeps us from losing track of our actions. It���s one of the brain���s executive functions and critical to problem-solving. Researchers suggest that this study proves that learning to code will enhance the brain���s learning process. 

Another study focused on the development of problem-solving and cognitive skills and discovered that learning to code boosts the brain in these areas. It happens by strengthening neural pathways, much like repetitive physical movement builds muscle memory. Researchers behind this study noted that ���software engineers have been demonstrated to have more dynamic brains,��� including ���superior cognitive execution and alertness.���

Coding also improves the brain���s aptitude for math because it requires the coder to assess data quickly. For instance, when a coder creates a new app, they first begin with coding concepts they���ve used in the past. They relate that data to what is needed at the moment and envision how it needs to be adjusted to achieve the end goal. This kind of quick mental processing is a vital skill in mathematics.

Coding Cranks Up the Confidence

Learning to code also builds confidence and self-esteem in several ways. First, students who learn to code will inevitably encounter new problems they���ll have to solve. And they will solve them. With each new solution they devise, their confidence grows, as do their coding skills. 

Second, they���ll gain insight into how the technology in our digitally-driven society works. They���ll understand the inner workings of things and thus feel more grounded in their world. Plus, they���ll never be intimidated by tech because they will have developed a facility with it. 

Finally, they���ll be one of the gatekeepers. As virtual reality, augmented reality, self-driving cars, and automated things become more a part of the fabric of our lives; your child will be one of those who know how it all works. In the future, there will be people who can create this tech and those who can���t. Your child���s self-esteem will be healthy and strong with the knowledge they are among the former. 

Try Coding with Tynker

With Tynker, your child can start coding at any age or skill level. Find out why we���re the #1 coding program for kids and teens. Once you���ve signed up your child with Tynker, you���re done. You don���t have to know anything about computer programming yourself. All of our courses are self-guided and self-paced.

It���s never too early for your child to start coding, so to kick-start your child���s coding journey, Tynker also offers live online coding classes with one of our expert Tynker teachers.

This article was first published on TYNKER

The post Why Every Child Needs To Learn Code in 2023 appeared first on Lomit Patel.

What Kind of Coding Parent Will I Be?

It���s happening. Your child is beginning to dive into the world of computers and the programs that make them tick.

However, instead of taking things apart with screwdrivers and hammers in the garage like the generations of the past, your child is modifying his favorite game or unpacking the software powering the Chromebook they got at school.

Congratulations! You���ve taken the first steps in becoming a Coding Parent!

While it was once considered intimidating to all but a few, computer science has moved into the mainstream to become one of the most in-demand skills worldwide, with surging career growth.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that ���job openings for software developers are slated to grow 21 percent between 2018 and 2028 ��� that���s more than four times the average rate for all careers.���

However, learning to code at an early age is more than prepping kids with skills for the job market. Kids who begin learning how to code early on see numerous advantages in school.

What Can I Do To Support My Child in Learning to Code?

Tynker is designed for ���Coding Parents.��� As parents ourselves, we know that everyone wants to see their kids be creative, resilient, and learn valuable new skills. That���s why we���re so passionate about giving kids everywhere the opportunity to learn code.

Rest assured. You don���t have to know how to code yourself to encourage your child to learn these skills. Tynker has self-paced courses and activities with built-in tutorials so that your child can learn on their own���at their own speed���without any help.

And if your child does need help or just wants to make a quick start, Tynker offers��live online one-on-one classes��with our expert coding coaches.

What Kind of Benefits Will My Child Get From Coding?

At Tynker, we encourage your child���s innate curiosity with��gamified��courses and activities that make coding fun; motivating them to complete projects and advance their skills from block coding to real-world text languages like Python and JavaScript.

Here are some ways that learning to code can be of value to your child:

Coding Promotes Computational Thinking

By developing their computational thinking skills, children learn to identify problems the way a computer does. This means they can process information to solve complicated issues by breaking them down into more minor, sequential problems, which can then be resolved more effectively and efficiently.

Coding Enhances Creativity

At its core, coding is a creative process. It encourages children to ask questions and come up with creative solutions for them. It also requires experimentation and innovation which help further strengthen creative and ���whole brain��� thinking. Children who code also tend to take these newly developed skills and use them in other areas of interest.

Coding Promotes Problem-Solving Skills

Kids develop problem-solving skills by giving them a fresh perspective to finding solutions. Children learn not to give up and stick to working on a solution to a problem which also builds resilience, determination, and perseverance.

Coding Builds Confidence and Improves Communication Skills

Coding is often a collaborative effort among programmers working in teams to solve problems and achieve programming objectives, helping them build their confidence and improve their ability to communicate clearly.

Final Thoughts

The right coding platform can foster an environment where your child can explore their curiosity and better understand how technology influences the world around them.

This article first appeared on TYNKER

The post What Kind of Coding Parent Will I Be? appeared first on Lomit Patel.