EdTech Startup Showcase

In this episode, Eric Makelky continues his conversation with Christine Braun, Chief Creative Officer at Cresconova Labs, digging deeper into how families can apply the Labs framework at home. Christine shares practical, low-cost ways to teach concepts like geometry and systems thinking through kids' existing interests—from tessellation patterns in fashion, sports jerseys, and Lego architecture to a "moss safari" microorganism project using nothing more than a microscope and backyard moss. She emphasizes teaching kids to ask open-ended questions, always verify AI-generated information, and keep an engineering notebook to document their learning journey and build a portfolio. 

Host Eric Makelky talks with Christine Braun, Chief Creative Officer at Cresconova, about the framework behind Cresconova Labs, the organization's new in-person innovation space. Christine shares her path from furniture designer to Harvard Makerspace director to leading Cresconova Labs, then unpacks the core teaching philosophy: starting with beautiful, open-ended questions, moving through systems thinking, and into design thinking. The conversation turns to AI in education, where Christine introduces a practical human-AI interaction process—question, frame, unpack, own—that helps students engage with AI critically rather than accepting outputs at face value. She offers guidance for both AI-fearful and AI-permissive parents, emphasizing that understanding how AI works (and its built-in biases) empowers families to use it thoughtfully. The episode closes with book recommendations and a preview of the next conversation on experiential learning and flexible thinking.

In this episode of the Cresconova Global podcast, host Eric Makelky sits down with Katie Kelly and Sarah Merkt to explore how Cresconova Global's online enrichment program fits into a child's broader educational journey. Katie and Sarah dive into the personalized support parents receive—from initial learning consultations to ongoing communication and student-facing narrative feedback reports that put kids at the center of their own learning. The conversation covers common parent concerns (screen time, technology readiness, trial classes), how the program serves both traditional-school and homeschool families, and a deep dive into why conceptual, curiosity-driven math instruction beats worksheet-based enrichment. They close with an impressive 78% returning-student rate and practical first steps for curious parents, including free monthly "Sunday Sparks" webinars and low-commitment summer workshops.

Host Eric Makelky sits down with Katie Kelly and Sarah Merkt, of Cresconova Global, an online (and in-person, via Cresconova Labs) enrichment program serving students across five continents. Katie and Sarah unpack their concept of "inspired learning" — designing classes around curiosity-sparking questions rather than rigid skill-based standards — and share real examples, from a class on designing alien life to a lesson born from a power outage. They discuss how they train teachers to follow student curiosity, how classes are structured for different age bands, and how they support parents navigating homeschool and supplemental education choices, including free consultations and their monthly "Student Sparks" webinar series.

Summary What if education began with the child—not the factory model, the timetable, or a standardized ceiling? In this episode of the EdTech Startup Showcase, Eric Makelky talks with Cresconova founders Yen How Tai and Barbara Yu about building a more personalized, creativity-centered learning experience for children. Yen and Barbara explain why they created Cresconova Global and Cresconova Lab, how small cohorts and carefully selected master teachers make deeper learning possible, and why their model is designed to complement schools rather than replace them. They also share how multidisciplinary courses, design thinking, hands-on making, and hybrid learning help students move from consuming knowledge to creating something meaningful in the world. Chapters 0:00 — Welcome to the EdTech Startup Showcase 0:57 — The moment Cresconova began 3:50 — Why the traditional school model leaves a gap 7:19 — Personalization at scale and the importance of creativity 9:13 — Why Cresconova starts with elementary learners 14:22 — Cresconova Global and Cresconova Lab 19:26 — From curiosity to prototypes: biomimicry, making, and design thinking 23:24 — Why the courses are multidisciplinary and high-ceiling 28:02 — Maintaining quality, small cohorts, and a nonprofit mission 33:22 — Partnering with schools instead of replacing them 39:19 — The future of hybrid learning 42:45 — Helping children become creators, not just consumers 47:52 — A future where creativity is a basic part of being human 49:20 — Closing thoughts Show Notes Guests: Yen How Tai and Barbara Yu, founders of Cresconova. Cresconova Global: Online learning built around small-group discussion, personalization, curiosity, and experienced master teachers. Cresconova Lab: A London-based hands-on learning environment where students combine deep subject knowledge with design thinking, systems thinking, prototyping, robotics, VR, 3D printing, and laser cutting. A central idea: Schools do not have to be replaced for students to receive learning experiences that are more personalized, creative, and globally connected. Cresconova website: Cresconova.org