We’re kicking off Season 5 of the Chicago Techies Podcast with Maria Huertas, founder of MLToons—and this one’s a fun one.

Maria is building at the intersection of music, storytelling, and language learning, helping kids pick up Spanish and English in a way that actually feels natural. Think songs, characters, and interactive experiences instead of worksheets and memorization. Her whole approach is rooted in immersion—making language something kids live and experience, not just study.

We get into how this idea came from her time as an educator, where she saw firsthand how powerful music can be in helping kids learn and retain language. But like any startup story, it hasn’t been straightforward. Maria talks about the challenge of balancing education and entertainment, and figuring out who MLToons is really for schools, parents, or both.

We also dig into the importance of proving impact. It’s one thing to have a great idea, it’s another to show that it actually works. Maria shares how she’s thinking about data, validation, and building credibility in the education space.

Beyond the product, this is also a conversation about building in Chicago leaning into community, navigating the startup ecosystem, and staying resilient through the ups and downs.

Great way to kick off the season, especially if you’re thinking about edtech, startups, or just doing something different.

Connect with Maria:

Maria’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-huertas-89a93a151/

Maria’s Email: maria@mltoons.com

MLToons website: https://mltoons.com/main/

MLToons LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mltoons-llc/

MLToons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mltoons/

Connect with Chicago Techies Podcast:

Website: https://chicagotechiespodcast.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chicago-techies-podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicagotechies

Connect with Ceci:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbenitez87/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbenitez_87

Hello.

Hello.

Welcome to season five of the Chicago Techies Podcast.

The podcast that highlights the voices of Chicago techies and their experiences.

This season is all about Chicago talent, founders, operators, creatives and tech professionals who are building, growing, and making things happen across the city.

I'm your host, Cecilia Benitez.

Thanks for joining us, Maria.

Welcome to the Chicago Techies Podcast.

I am very excited to have you join us and I'm especially excited because you are actually kicking us off with season five.

You are the very first guest.

So welcome to the podcast.

Thank you so much for having me.

It's the very first time I'm in a podcast and as a, you know, English is not my native language, so it's always kind of frightening to be recorded in Japan.

I'm sure.

I'm sure.

Just speaking public is always like, such a hard thing for me.

Yes, I totally understand that.

As someone who learned English as a second language here.

I mean, technically I was younger, so my English is pretty good, but I can definitely understand what that felt like, you know, being like nine years old, trying to learn a language here, not knowing it for like a year or two, and then finally getting to it.

So anyway, thank you for facing your fears and joining me here today.

So let's, let's kick it off.

Like, can you introduce yourself?

Full name, your pronouns, where you're originally from, and your role?

So my name is Maria Huertas.

My pronouns are she, her, and I am originally from Bogota, Colombia.

Yay.

And what is your current role?

My current role is a founder of a small business called ML Tunes.

M as a music, L as a language, or learning.

And tunes as the very last word of the word, cartoons.

So T, O, O N S M, L Tunes.

I love it.

And now for people that are listening to this for the first time, what would you say mltoons is in your own words?

Well, ML Tunes is a music based language learning program where children learn Spanish and English through songs, storytelling, movement, games, and cartoons.

And it's basically built on a carefully structured curriculum that turns language into an immersive experience where children can see, hear, interact, being part of it through the whole experience.

I love that.

And what sparked that idea to create it?

Was it something that you've been thinking about for a long time or did it come from a specific moment in your experience?

Well, it has a lot to do with how education was working when I was teaching.

During my early years of teaching, I realized that every time I was teaching, I was using music some way somehow, maybe because that's Part of my background.

But when I was teaching any subject to kids, it was easier to teach it through music.

And then I kind of brought a little bit the animation part of things, or like the cartoons being this world of cartoons that helped me show the kids how they could learn in a different way.

So that came out like more like music and cartoons and animation in general and language, they are all processed through patterns in the brain in the same way.

And where music helps words kind of stick, and animation gives children that context that they can understand something without actually having to translate it.

And together they turn language into something they actually is.

Not something you're studying, but something you're actually experiencing.

So that's kind of where it comes from.

I actually love that you already answered my next question, because I wasn't going to ask.

It's really interesting that it blends music and animation and language learning.

And it's not necessarily an obvious combination for a lot of people.

So did you do some research about that or what drew you to that.

Specific mix when you were building was coincidence, I guess.

I was already utilizing some of these things, like from the very beginnings, even when you go to a preschool and they're teaching children Montessori or other kinds of philosophies, they always end up using music in some way, shape, or form.

And when you're like doing storytelling, it's all cartoons.

They are showing the context of the worlds of the universe, of whatever story you're telling through cartoons.

And children don't need an explanation beyond what they see in a cartoon.

And their imagination also goes farther through it.

So it really awakes a lot from what the children can experience.

Totally agree.

Now, I like how you framed it that like, children don't necessarily need an explanation for the music and the learning.

They just go with it.

And I did notice that my kids, I'm trying to make sure that they also listen to Spanish music or they listen to Spanish like, you know, words and language in general.

And I do notice that when I don't say anything and I just put a show in the back and it's like a Spanish show and they're singing in Spanish, all of a sudden Lucas is like saying it out loud or like trying to sing it out loud.

And it's so hard to get them to do that on a day to day basis.

But with the music and like the, you know, just the.

The animation, I think it's.

They just think it's fun and they naturally, like, respond to it.

So I'm glad you said that and I 100 believe it because I've seen it.

Yeah, we, since we are little, we started learning with sits on the street, Dora the Explorer, name it.

And it was just something fun that we just wanted to kind of imitate some way somehow, so learning language.

It sticks better that way.

Yeah.

So at the core of this, you know, your product, and you mentioned that it's a small business, and I agree.

But it could be, you know, a larger business, I think.

So I'm just curious, who do you think this product is for?

Are you targeting parents?

Are you targeting schools?

Like, is it B2B, B2C as you try to scale your product?

Oh, that's a very interesting question to answer because it's been a little bit of a learning curve when I first started developing the program.

So there is two parts of the program that eventually I probably can interiorize more about it.

But in the beginning, it was only meant to be for schools.

So I would teach, like a whole musical experience in person.

And the schools will be bringing a group of students and they will be learning once a week the way the program was teaching the language.

At the moment, I'm doing the digital platform, and it's been changing a little bit too.

I was doing business as a service for parents because I have a bundle of books that come with flashcards and stickers that the parents can purchase.

So that's the physical part of the product.

And with the purchase of that, they get access to the digital platform so they can use it as they please at home for three months.

With the purchase of the bundle of books after that ends up being like $10 a month.

But with that said, a lot of parents these days are very apprehensive of using any type of digital anything because they think that it's bad to put an iPad or a computer in front of their children to learn.

However, that's kind of funny because they are okay by using it as a distractor.

So right now I'm in that process of how can I educate the parent to see that you're already using it?

You're already utilizing the iPad and the distraction of having a screen in front of your child.

Why don't you actually control what they are seeing, what they are experiencing by teaching them another language through my program?

So while this process is happening, because it was something I encountered lately, my main consumer right now, or the main person I'm trying to target, it's schools and organizations that have, like, stable classes that they're already using iPads, but the products they are using are not really helping children learn.

I've been visiting some schools and seeing what they have been using through other programs, and I realized that they are not very good.

So this is the way I'm doing it right now.

I'm trying to target more B2B in terms of me connecting with more schools and principals and teachers that have control groups that they can actually run the program better.

So you mentioned that obviously it's been a bit of a learning curve because of the different challenges that you've encountered.

But what do you think has been the key learning so far that you know that you've had from, like, putting this in front of like, kids and parents and educators?

Like, what is the main takeaway that you've observed?

Well, it's.

Children have responded in a great way.

They enjoy it, they learn, and they want to continue even beyond whatever I have been able to teach them with parents, they also enjoy it.

But as any consumer out there, they tend to go through trends and whatever is more popular or what they believe may work better.

It's what it works best.

However, I mean, that process of educating parents and saying, like, hey, this is a better way to do it if it's a control way to do it and you're actually using.

Utilizing technology to not distract, but to actually learn.

And for teachers, I've had a lot of good responses and interest so far.

Sometimes it's hard to say.

This program is a lot of fun and a lot of teachers stick with this, get stuck a little bit with the textbooks and whatever is more rigid and serious on their textbook is what works.

And sometimes what is fun and gamified also could be important or like, just transcends a little bit more than what we are used to do for education.

And I imagine also that it's like building something that is both educational and entertaining is a tough balance.

So what has been harder than you expected when you first started on this journey?

Is it sales?

Is it building?

Is it getting creative?

Yeah.

Well, first of all, since it's a program that is based on music, music has always been taken as like the celebratory part, the fun, the break.

It's never been considered the fundamental tool.

So being taken seriously and building enough data that demonstrate that impact is being kind of like what has been the hardest.

There's the perception that something that is fun is not rigorous and that is not rigorous.

It's probably not the best.

But I'm working to show that this type of learning is actually very powerful and can have a Lasting impact on children's development.

Yeah.

So data driven.

Yeah, I mean, the data, it's to see, to show the process when a child first started the program, how much they knew, what they recognized and after certain amount of time when using the program, at the end, how much they actually learn.

So that's kind of like the data I'm trying to build right now.

Yeah, no, that's key.

Data driven optimization, I guess.

Okay, so let's shift gears a little bit.

Let's talk about the business side a bit.

How have you been funding it?

I mean, obviously you're at this early stage, but you obviously want to scale.

So I'm curious how you've been.

Have you been fundraising?

Have you been doing grants?

It's been a process.

So I was, I've been funding it since then and still today for different reasons, I've been funding ML2s through my personal savings as well as like reinvesting the revenue that the program also generates back into its growth.

So it's basically from other jobs and as well as like the business has generated money that I have saved enough for specific things for its growth.

Have you thought about scaling it further to potentially one day do fundraising from a venture capitalist or anything along those lines?

Or do you want to keep it more on the smaller side and kind of something that you want to manage day to day, or what's been your thought process there?

Yes, I do want to scale it.

In the beginning I was a little scared of doing that because I really care about the product and how well it was developed.

Like I said, it's been built like in a way that it's like very strategically and is built upon each other.

Each lesson, it has a way of growing and I didn't want it to become something more commercial that sells just entertainment.

So in the beginning it was like, no, I'm going to be doing on my own this way until it's something more rigid, like not rigid, like something that has more shape.

And I'm still learning about fundraising and ways to, you know, that the program could grow through ventures, capital and stuff like that.

I am still very behind of what is all that world of tech in a little bit.

I just started to kind of figure those things.

Now mltoons is both an educational program, but it's also a content driven platform.

So I'm trying to figure out how a program like this with music, videos and books could fit into that space of fundraising and venture capital.

And I think I will benefit from more guidance there.

Yeah.

Anyone that is listening to this would like to help me understand that world.

That is so.

Oh, it's complicated.

Yeah.

There are a couple of organizations out there, I feel like, that have gotten some funding.

Like, that is.

It's more of a.

It's not what you have, though.

It's other things, you know, it's like puzzles and games and books and like bundles.

Have you heard of Canticos?

Yes, I do.

Yeah.

So like that's for instance, that's one.

You know, like their Encantos.

Encantos Media is who, like, who essentially scaled and did this whole thing.

But I don't know.

I don't know if that's the one that you might want to compare or learn more about and their journey.

But I can definitely.

I'll think about some and then send you some stuff.

Yes.

I just, I guess I never.

I have never stopped and think, like, who would want to.

How would I even do a fundraise?

Like, it sounds foreign to me maybe because since the beginnings, I always was like the main income source of the business.

I want to talk about your experience here in Chicago, the community here, and the support that you're getting.

So you're building this in Chicago, but it's not where you grew up.

It's obviously not.

You also weren't here recently.

You moved from Florida.

So I want to hear about your Chicago experience and how has been a part of this ecosystem shaped your journey so far?

Wow.

Being part of the Chicago ecosystem has really helped me better understand my business, at least the tech part of the business.

That was so I'm so new in it.

Early on I realized that Milktoon is not just a startup.

And actually a conversation with you earlier on made me realize this.

But also being a small business with real users and impact, it made me understand that I'm still being a small business.

For a second, I wanted to try and figure out if I could be a startup.

But there is a lot of things that need to happen for me to become a startup.

So being in Chicago, through different programs and cohorts, I've learned a lot about the tech space, even though I still feel like I'm growing into it.

Are there any specific communities or spaces that have played kind of a meaningful role in helping you get this, you know, continue to build this off the ground?

Yes.

Organizations like the Founder Institute, that's kind of.

That was my first step.

Where I get to meet people that brought me eventually to one million Cups, which now I'm a proud organizer and volunteer because I love it so much.

It was the best group I've ever found here in Chicago.

That one was extremely important for me during the time of when I was still building the digital platform because I got to meet other entrepreneurs that were starting and having the same challenges.

The Chicago Tech Collaborative and their events are absolutely amazing.

Everything.

Yeah.

That they bring to the table.

It's very, very useful for any entrepreneur.

And last but not least, the women's co op, which was the last one I was able to participate on, gave me an incredible mentor.

Her name is Brianna and she has taught me very, very, very, very good things in this industry.

And so, yeah, it's been incredibly impactful, all these organizations and they've connected me with, like I said, entrepreneurs had provide support and help me see what's possible a little bit.

I'm still learning, but people go through the same struggles and that kind of keeps you like, hey, I'm not the only one here.

There's other people in the same spot.

Yeah.

And I just love one mc.

Actually, I feel like a lot of the people that I interviewed for the podcast, even last season, everybody gave a shout out to one mc and I'm like, I guess this is where I get my people.

But I don't think I've heard the Chicago story yet for you or what brought you to Chicago in the first place.

My husband.

So I was in a business trip in Chicago many years ago and in one of those business trips I met my husband.

We became friends and then we started liking each other and we decided to do a long distance relationship for a couple of years.

And then proposal happened and for a whole year I was on and off, still coming back and forth from Chicago to Florida because I was running the business there.

I was working with schools and libraries.

That's right, In Orlando, Florida.

So I didn't want to kind of let them go yet without having anything going on in Chicago.

But just last March, a month ago, February, actually, I decided to kind of leave everything behind and be here full time doing whatever it takes to grow the business here.

How would you compare the ecosystem in Florida?

I guess in the community you were at to Chicago, like, what do you like best about Chicago or Florida?

I don't think there is.

I didn't find entrepreneurs in Florida or any type of tech.

I mean, There are a lot of.

How do you call this?

Conferences and things that happen there.

But it's always people that come and go in a weekend.

There is no an ecosystem.

There is not like a community of people alike.

They think alike.

There is no.

You're probably not in a city right.

Either.

Because I think Miami has a pretty decent.

But not like.

Orlando was.

It definitely is a little behind in terms of.

Okay, always happy to highlight Chicago for anyone.

It's amazing because everybody gets to know each other, it becomes a family and you meet a little bit of the same people over and over again in different places.

That's how community is built.

Because if I only see you once in my lifetime, we will never connect.

Once I see you two or three times, then we start having a conversation and we start understanding each other.

And that's the magic and the beauty of Chicago that brings people together that want to grow, want to change the world as well.

Not only Silicon Valley.

Silicon Valley.

I also lived in California and it's the same.

It's like you only see one person one time in your life and then the connection is lost.

And so there is no support in that sense.

Yeah.

And so now I want to ask you about.

I guess this is a little merged with your background because was your experience in education before or no.

So I've always, since I was studying in college, I always had a part time job teaching kids some way somehow.

So I was teaching music, I was teaching Spanish and being part of like teacher substitutes in preschools, kindergarten, elementary schools.

It's always been in my little bit of my passion, like seeing children learning.

So.

Yeah, but I also, yeah, I also did some behavior interventionist.

And this is like they did behavior interventionist.

I became a behavior interventionist trying to understand how children with autism were learning new skills that are good for how society wants them to behave.

So yeah, I did that for a couple of years and I include some of that learning in my platform as well.

Got it.

Okay.

Yeah.

Because I wanted to ask about advice, you know, like if, if.

What kind of advice would you give to someone that maybe doesn't have that educational background or just doesn't come from a traditional edtech background, but if they have an idea that they want to explore and they want to build something out, what would you say to them?

If you don't come from traditional tech, don't let that stop you.

I guess because I also didn't come from a traditional tech ed tech background.

Some of the most meaningful ideas come from actually people who see the Gaps or from different perspectives.

So focus on the experience and test your idea with real people out there.

And you know, if you're always open to learning and the feedback along the way, you'll be finding the next step to progress.

So yeah, I like that.

All right, so looking ahead, what do you think are the next big milestones that you're working toward with ML Tunes?

So I'm focusing right now in growing the digital platform to become the best platform to learn language out there, expanding access to more families and schools, trying to get more in touch with directors, teachers and any nonprofit organization that works with kids.

I want to continue building strong data behind these organizations and I'm looking to get more in touch with more teachers.

Yeah, that's basically it that they want to test the program.

Yeah.

Well, I'm glad I definitely connected you to my kids teachers.

So hopefully you guys can connect with soon.

We actually talked today.

Oh, no way.

How did it go?

And they were very interested.

So we will.

I'm actually going to be in one of their night parents parent nights and I'm going to put a little table there.

So it was today.

It just happened today.

Happened to be today.

So I'm very excited about it.

Good, good.

I'm glad.

So grateful.

No, of course I'm happy that that worked out.

I know sometimes it can take a little while for like teachers to get back to you.

I mean they're, they definitely busy, but sometimes, or maybe sometimes it's the wrong person, you have to go someone else.

But I'm glad this one is working out for you.

So hopefully something come out of that.

Okay, well, for anyone that is listening right now and wants to either follow ML tunes or you or support you in what you're building, how can they connect with you?

Well, you can find mltoonz online on our website www.mltoons.com and follow us on Instagram.

I just created one that is aside from Chiquiticos, which was the original one that is at mltoons as well.

As we continue to grow, I'm also very connected to the Chicago community through organizations like the Founder Institute or million cops, mostly 1 million cops and the women's Co Op.

Lately, these communities have been incredibly important in my journey.

They've been giving me that support, perspective.

And last but not least, you can see me in person at the well Met Library, Evanston Library and Frankfurt Library.

So this summer we're going to be having like a series of courses with the Evanston Library and a specific location.

So they have two locations, but I do not remember the location.

It's not as is one of them.

So check their website and find us there.

And last but not least, we will be having a tent at the Northbrook Artisan Market this June.

I think it's the 27th and the 28th, so we hope to see you there.

Look at you.

You've been busy.

I remember a few months ago when you were still struggling to get in touch with libraries and all that, and now you got like three and events.

That's awesome.

I'm so happ you here.

We're trying.

We're just rowing.

Rowing.

Hustling.

Yeah.

Hustling.

Yeah.

Maria, this has been such a great conversation.

Thank you again for sharing your story and telling us what you're building.

It's really exciting to see this kind of creativity that is, you know, applied to learning.

I really appreciate what you're doing, and I'm looking forward to seeing where mltoons goes next.

Yay.

Yeah.

It's gonna be the best platform of language learning for kids.

I'm so excited.

Spanish and English.

Thank you, and we'll talk soon.

Thank you, Ceci.

I appreciate this invitation.

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