EdTech Startup Stones2Milestones Handpicked to Attend the World's First Accelerator Dedicated to Closing the Global Literacy Gap

GURGAON, India, November 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Stones2Milestones is the only organisation from Asia out of a cohort of 13 companies selected globally. The startup works on building the will & skill to read in English   

After a rigorous selection process involving hundreds of world-class companies, Stones2Milestones, a Gurgaon-based EdTech startup, has been chosen to join 12 other ventures in the 2017 Project Literacy Lab program.

Illiteracy is foundational to nearly all the global challenges we face today as an international community. Yet, literacy rates have not improved in over 15 years, costing the world $1.19 trillion a year, and leaving over 750 million people worldwide unable to read this sentence.

Project Literacy Lab, a partnership between Pearson and Unreasonable Group, is a first of its kind, international accelerator focusing on scaling up ventures that are positioned to help close the global literacy gap by 2030. (http://www.projectliteracy.com/lab )

Creating a Nation of Readers  

Reading is the first step to literacy. Children not having grade level reading proficiency has been established as one of the root causes that is adversely impacting the quality of education in Indian schools. In fact, an estimated 89% of students do not have a proficiency in reading literacy that is at or above the baseline level needed to participate effectively and productively in life.

Having identified this invisible yet essential gap, Stones2Milestones endeavours to solve the problem by gifting children the skill and will to read in English through scientifically designed and intuitive in-school reading programs and technology. The startup is pioneering this effort in a systematic way that is contextual and age appropriate in places where English is a second language yet aspirational.  

FAST Reading Assessment  

The most notable of these tools is their proprietary research based online reading assessment, FAST, India's first pure play reading assessment. Launched in September this year, this free assessment has been administered by leading schools across the country. Schools can register themselves at http://www.f-ast.in. The team also intends to publish the first ever national benchmarking report on 'Where India Reads' later this year.

Project Literacy Lab 2017  

During the 10-day intensive Project Literacy Lab accelerator program, Stones2Milestones will receive mentorship and advice from business experts and serial entrepreneurs, such as Aleem Walji, CEO of the Aga Khan Foundation and Tom Chi, founding team member of Google X.

"Unlike most accelerator programs, we are choosing to align with solutions that have already proven to be effective in market. Now, we're helping these entrepreneurs scale their ventures," said Daniel Epstein, founder and CEO of Unreasonable Group.

The program will take place in Connecticut and include two exhibition events in New York City, where Stones2Milestones will showcase their innovation.

Stones2Milestones Bookaroo - Asia's Largest Children's Literature Festival  

To inspire more children to read and spread awareness, Stones2Milestones is hosting the 10th edition of the international award winning children's literature festival Bookaroo (http://www.bookaroo.in), on 25th and 26th November at India Gate in Delhi.

The team believes that by helping children to 'Learn to Read' in elementary years, they enable them to 'Read to Learn' during formal education and eventually 'Read to Lead' in their chosen path, aiding them in finding their place in the world.

To know more, you can visit them at http://www.stones2milestones.com

About Stones2Milestones  

Stones2Milestones is on a mission to 'Create a Nation of Readers'.

Young Indian children going to English medium schools fall behind academically because they are expected to learn, read and speak in a language that is alien to them and their surroundings - English. 

We solve that problem by giving them the skill and will to read in English through scientifically designed and intuitive reading programs which give them a life long edge in learning.  

We are unique because we are pioneering this effort in a systematic way that is contextual and age appropriate where English is a second language yet aspirational. In India itself, an estimated 89% of 250 million children read below grade level.  

Currently, we have an affordable offering for schools and have created products that will help us expand upon 3 axes - age, geography and stakeholder using technology. As of now, we are directly impacting over 90 schools and 15000 children. 

For more information please visit: http://www.stones2milestones.com

Media Contact:
Nikhil Saraf
[email protected]
+91-85111-17267
Co-Founder
Stones2Milestones Edu Services Pvt. Ltd.