In this episode of Capital Class, Adam Giery sits down with Mohannad Arbaji, Founder and CEO of ChalkTalk, to discuss a journey that shaped the development of teacher-led and humanized personalized learning for students throughout the world.

Arbaji discusses his early beginnings as an international student that embraced a love for education as a vehicle of opportunity. He expands on entrepreneurial shifts that opened his eyes to the ultimate importance of finding tech solutions that provide teachers with the resources and support necessary to advance learning.

According to Arbaji, building education technology that listens to educators with actionable steps far outweighs promises of disruptive revolutionary change. Instead of asking teachers to spend hours training on technology, the most effective tech tools function behind the scenes, augmenting instruction for continuous student learning.

Listen to learn about the development of ChalkTalk, funding strategies, and lessons learned along the way, where passion for student learning and increased engagement act as an undercurrent of entrepreneurial growth.

What You Will Discover:

• 00:00 Episode Begins

• 02:50 Arbaji shares his coming to America story, plus the backstory of how ChalkTalk was founded.

• 08:10 How his Jordanian culture, love for education, and immigration inspired his drive.

• 13:07 Why building what people needed worked instead of disrupting or changing.

• 19:50 The importance of building technology that people need to solve their problems.

• 22:08 How ChalkTalk impacts students with confidence and motivation that tech doesn’t offer.

• 24:27 The exceptional qualities that make teachers great in connecting with students.

• 28:03 The features ChalkTalk is using to make life easier for teachers and reduce burnout.

• 30:37 ChalkTalk’s fundraising journey to bring in the right investors that add value and credibility.

• 35:48 The importance of driving for progress and staying in alignment with investors.

• 38:58 Top ways to measure a tech company's tangible and intangible progress.

• 42:46 How Arbaji relaxes to balance the pressure of work and life.

• 47:34 The fast-forward questions with Arbaji.

Connect with Mohannad Arbaji

• Websites: https://chalktalk.com/ & https://www.mohannadarbaji.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohannadarbaji/

Produced by Old Soul