Apangea Learning CEO Louis Piconi remembers the weeks on end without a paycheck when the model for the intelligent tutoring system was first developed five years ago. It was the kind of sacrifice the founders knew they had to make to develop a system that could blend computer learning with live tutors to reach every student, not just the wealthiest 20 percent that could afford private, hands-on learning.
So last Thursday was a personal celebration when Apangea opened its new digs in downtown Pittsburgh to the community, showing off its bright, airy space on the third floor of the Ewart building. The gathering officially marked its move from Blairsville, Indiana County, as well as the beginning of a string of new hiring and the launch of a second line of tutoring software.
“We are moving forward aggressively and will continue to hire for sales and service," says Piconi, who expects the company to more than double in the next year. Apangea currently employs 26 full-time and six part-time.
"At this stage, we are in one of every 10 districts in Pennsylvania and we’ve expanded beyond to urban school districts across the country, in Maryland, Florida, Virginia, Texas, California, and the D.C. corridor."
Apangea’s tutoring solutions include SmartHelp, math programs proven to dramatically improve achievement at a cost-effective price. What makes it different from other computer tutors is differentiated instruction for each student through its software and live, one-on-one human tutors, Piconi says. Later this year Apangea plans to roll out a second product line aimed at students with literacy challenges. And it will launch Math 4.0.
Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Louis Piconi, Apangea Learning
Image courtesy of Apangea Learning