O’Neal, who earned his MBA in 2005, emphasizes the importance of education, a value instilled in him by his parents. He believes that literacy can drive positive change, not only for children but also for incarcerated individuals, citing a study that shows a significant decrease in recidivism rates with increased literacy levels. Edsoma CEO Kyle Wallgren shares this vision, stating that the company's focus is on making a difference in education rather than profit.
Key takeaways:
- Shaquille O’Neal is the lead investor in Edsoma, an AI-powered reading, education, and communication platform for children. The company aims to teach a million kids to read.
- O’Neal's investing strategy is influenced by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' philosophy of investing in things that change people's lives. This led him to invest in Edsoma due to its focus on education and children.
- Edsoma's app helps children learn correct pronunciation as they read aloud and allows parents to read with their children from any location. The company has onboarded 9,000 students since its launch.
- O’Neal believes that education is important and that literacy can drive positive change, not only for children but also for people who are incarcerated. He also earned his MBA in 2005 to inspire children who look up to him about the importance of education.