Empowering Neurodivergent Learners: Priya Tronsgard on Building Edify Learning Spaces

🎙️ In the latest episode of the Small Tech Podcast, we talk with Priya Tronsgard, the founder of Edify Learning Spaces. Edify is a platform that connects neurodivergent children with tutors who understand their unique learning needs.

Priya’s journey is personal. As a mother of neurodivergent kids, she saw how hard it was for them to fit into traditional schools. This inspired her to create Edify, where kids with ADHD, autism, and other learning differences can get the support they need.

Her entrepreneurial experience started young. Priya helped run a DJ business to support her family. This early experience taught her the importance of focusing on customers and resilience.

Priya also spent five years in Japan, working in education. There, she learned about different teaching methods and the value of adapting to cultural contexts. These insights have shaped how she runs Edify.

At Edify, Priya blends technology with personalized teaching. The platform carefully matches kids with the right tutors, ensuring they get the best possible support. Even as a non-technical founder, Priya leverages strong community relationships to navigate the tech world.

Looking ahead, Priya is excited about growing Edify. She aims to expand its reach and continue supporting more families with her innovative approach.

Priya’s story is a powerful example of how personal experiences can drive professional success and create positive change. Through Edify, she’s making a real difference in the lives of neurodivergent children and their families.

📚 Learn more about Edify Learning Spaces here!
https://edifylearningspaces.com/

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https://goec.io/contact-us/

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Creators & Guests

Host

Raphaël Titsworth-Morin

Trying to do good in the world with tech and design. I also take the occasional photograph. Co-founder of Éphémère Creative. He/him.

Guest

Priya Tronsgard

Founder at Edify Learning Spaces

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Raphael: Hey folks, and welcome
back to the Small Tech Podcast.

Today, we have another amazing guest.

She has been a business advisor,
a director of a Montessori school,

and for the past few years, she has
been building Edify Learning Spaces,

the world's leading tutor matching
platform for neurodivergent children.

She is Priya Tronsgard.

Hi, Priya.

Priya: Hi, thank you.

I think most people, to say neurodivergent
is a mouthful, and I like to say

neurodivergent, and I also like to
say anyone who learns differently,

Raphael: Yeah,

Priya: and I think that is very
easy to understand and say.

Welcome to the club.

Raphael: Yep, definitely
tripping over my words there.

Priya: Everybody.

I mean, saying it, spelling it, you
think they would choose an easier

word, but here we are, neurodivergent.

Yeah.

So that's anybody with ADHD living as
an autistic has dyslexia, dyscalculia,

and any other learning difference
and need more support and have.

There's a lot of additional powers that
are given to them that we can all benefit

Raphael: yeah, I mean, with that, I'd
love to learn more about how you got here.

I was you know, Doing my research, digging
through your LinkedIn and, you know, I've

talked to you in the past, so I kind of
know some of this stuff, but I wanted

to dig into how you ended up starting
Edify what was this journey like through

life that led you to to this place?

Priya: Yeah so I've lucky in
life to experience lots of

different things like most of us.

But I think what really helped me
start Edify was And I think that was

my belief in seeing kids who could
do better in our current system.

Both of my kids are neurodivergent,
they learn differently, they

are awesome and autistic.

They are awesome and have ADHD.

And I learned so much from them.

And I think seeing them thrive in
our current education system was the

impetus of what helped me start Edify.

And You know, working in the education
field for over 20 years helped me

realize that parents need support.

And I knew that there was
something really magical happening

and I wanted to share that.

And that's what Edify is.

Raphael: Awesome.

And I think I know this already, but this
is your first step into entrepreneurship,

or not, had you started things before?

Priya: Oh, yeah.

So I basically started when I was 12.

So what happened was a sad story.

So my mom passed away when I was 12.

My dad's an entrepreneur.

And my brother was seven years old.

So there we were with a
mortgage to take over.

And mortgages were a lot
more affordable back then.

But it's still we still
were not making enough.

So So on the weekends, we would DJ
local weddings during the summer.

And then we started to
build out our offerings.

And I did that for 10 years
until I graduated from UBC.

So I think that was my first opportunity
in really building the product

offering and increasing our revenue.

Our net revenue by 10X, so
I think it, that was our

first, that was my first step.

Even though I didn't start it, I
was part of that business and then

also started with the offerings.

And there was a lot I learned in
that, in those years while growing up.

Raphael: Mhm.

What sort of things can you think
of that you learned back then

that you're sort of applying

Priya: Yeah, and I think a lot of
that still sticks with me today.

I'm a non technical founder, but
the things that I learned about

building relationships started
from that young age of 12.

And so I was DJing at 12 and you know,
Like setting up the amp and making sure

that I knew how to run a turntable and
connect all of that to the speaker system

and then put the speaker system away and
by the time you hit the bed, it's 4am

and you're still, you know,
in grade eight for example.

And so I think I got lost in the
sauce, meaning that I was really

about how to set up the DJ equipment.

Raphael: Mhm.

Priya: But as I grew into the business
and saw opportunity, I saw that the

main thing that I had to serve is
for the customers, not the speakers.

And that has stayed and stuck with me.

And I think those No matter if
there's a technical aspect to what

you're doing, or a brick and mortar,
or you're doing, you know, a barter

system, I think the most important
thing is who you're trying to help.

Raphael: Yeah.

Priya: And so that stuck with me.

Raphael: Amazing.

And so from then, from
UBC where do you move on?

What happened next?

Priya: Okay you know,
Everybody's get into business!

And I have my degree in
psychology, which is useful.

And then I decide, you know, I think
I want to live in Japan and work

for the Tokyo Board of Education.

Raphael: Amazing.

Priya: Yeah, not the same thing.

, it was very cool.

I really wanted to know
more about the culture.

I really wanted to immerse
myself in a culture.

Growing up in Vancouver, I felt
Vancouver didn't have a culture.

And now I think differently.

I think that it is a
beautiful culture of many.

But there wasn't like a monoculture and I
really wanted to immerse myself into that.

And I learned a lot about education
in Japan as well and how they

run their education businesses.

And that was interesting
and eye-opening for me.

So I learned a lot of different things
there and I really, I heard a lot of

things like, you're not going to get a job
because you were brown and they're really

just looking for a white person with blue
eyes and blonde hair to teach English.

And I ended up just making
more connections and making

more friendships and getting
extremely awesome opportunities

that nobody else was getting.

And so if 99 percent of the population
is Japanese and there's only 1

percent who isn't, and they have
a big idea about foreigners, and I

found a way to make that connection.

I think that was my biggest win
is making that those connections

and those relationships that were
meaningful that cut through some

of the, you know, apprehension.

Raphael: Yeah.

Can you pull a bit or dig
a little deeper into that?

I feel like you've talked about
building connections and talking to

people and connecting with people.

What, how does that work for you?

What's important when you're exploring
a new culture, when you're trying

to connect with a new community?

Yeah.

Priya: Yeah.

So I really think that I really
wanted to know, you know, why

the culture was so polite and how
they had systems within systems.

And I looked at that and I
looked at how it's an island.

My family originally comes from
an island, so I kind of felt like

I understand a little bit about
you know, the community aspect.

And so I think I went in with the
understanding and that the empathy that

I know what it feels, I kind of know what
this could feel like even though I grew

up in Vancouver, so I kind of, use that
empathy to make stronger connections.

I didn't think of it at the time.

I just vibed with it and, you know.

Enjoyed it.

But as I look back now, I think
there's some clear themes of

connecting, making real relationships
and really trying to understand.

Of course, it's easy to be like,
okay you're racist and that's done.

but then that would
have been a short trip.

I ended up staying for five years.

Raphael: Oh, wow.

I didn't know it was that long.

That's awesome.

That's super cool.

Priya: Yeah.

I felt very welcomed by most people.

Raphael: Nice.

And so when you were there, you
were working in the education space.

What did you pull out of that experience
that you're applying now or in your

previous experiences here in Vancouver?

Priya: Yeah, I think the idea of
doing your best is something that

I will always take away from Japan.

Like they really have that
ethos of trying to do your best.

It doesn't mean everywhere.

It means in your specific lane, and
I think the teachers seeing that in

the kids and really trying to pull
that And, you know, the quality

out is kind of different from here.

Yeah.

And then also I feel like they work
a lot and so that's really hard.

So I wanted to use that as a warning
to, to myself okay there's a limit.

It's, There's nobody, no culture
is perfect, but I think based on

what I saw in the education system
there, they had few resources.

They had very little
resources in comparison.

I think it's very interesting
to what I see here.

They have more students in a classroom.

They have less support.

They don't have EA's.

They have teachers who are working
way too late into the night.

And I just think we have
something special here too.

I had to see.

There's, you know, Canada has a great,
It has great resources, even though it

doesn't feel like it, but in comparison
to a country like Japan that does, still

does really well with math and science and
has fewer resources I think we can pick

good things from each of these systems.

And make a little, you know,
wonderful product for families

to get the best of the best.

Raphael: Amazing.

Yeah.

So maybe let's dig into
Edify a little bit.

Like how what are these things that you've
brought together and that you're sort

of infusing into this platform, Edify?

Priya: Yeah one of the things that's
really interesting about Japan is that

they have a separate school called Juku
that's after school, and the kids usually

study, From late to late, so like 3.

30 till 8 o'clock, but it's not
even related to their school.

Raphael: Oh, interesting.

Priya: Yeah, it's related to it
could be their university entrance

exam, or it could be other exams
that they're preparing for.

So that is one idea that I think
Edify uses so what we study after

school one on one, or it doesn't
even have to be during school.

So we have all modalities that use Edify.

So we even had a family that wanted
their child to know how to read mortgage

rates and interest rates, right?

Rather than doing certain types of math,

Raphael: Yeah.

Priya: so the family had their own goal.

And I think That piece of juku is
okay, this is a big goal that your

family wants, which is different
from your daytime education.

So I think that's one of
the things that we take.

And then the other is
to stretch capabilities.

So a lot of times kids who are
neurodivergent, who have ADHD, who

are autistic, feel like they are bored
at school or that it's not important.

And then Coming from that, if you're
not interested, you're not going to

do your best, and all of these things
kind of cascade in a way that we think

doesn't have to be the only way, and so
stretching the capability based on the

child's interest, so that, based on the
child's interest, that's separate, but

stretching the capability, it is possible,
especially if they're interested, let's

say they like Minecraft so then we can
do math through Minecraft, and it's,

Or there's kids who have a, so in Canada
we say ODD officially, but parents around

the world have been using PDA, which
is a pathological demand avoidance.

But a lot of parents are saying
a pervasive look for autonomy and

like looking for that autonomy.

And that the kids bodies are,
and minds are wired that way.

So it's really important to kind of see,
a lot of kids don't want to go to school.

If they have that profile of PDA, a
pathological demand avoidance, that

means they're going to school, able to
do all of those things, but once they

get a demand, their mind says, no.

Raphael: Interesting.

Priya: So what happens to those kids?

A lot of them can't do well in the school
system because they're not given that.

You know, autonomy to explore for
themselves, and they're wired that way,

and, you know, to get penalized for your
life because you can't do a couple of

years of school seems a bit harsh to me.

So I know, and these kids are amazing.

So we have some kids that teach our teach
our tutors of how to get into their games.

Raphael: I love that.

Priya: Yeah, so

the tutors jump into their world.

Raphael: Huh.

Priya: A lot of these kids
are didactic, autodidactic.

They learn best by themselves.

Raphael: Yeah.

Priya: So how do we stretch that?

We jump into their world.

Raphael: Huh.

Priya: And you know, it's kind
of interesting because that

piece, that face to face piece.

Of course, kids could learn a lot of
things through the Khan Academy or other,

you know, math videos online or AI.

But the reality is that there's some sort,
there's still some sort of connection.

Through face to face

Raphael: Yeah.

Priya: and voice to voice,
that's a real person

and there's still that connection.

So I think that's where we stretch
capabilities when the child is

ready and they feel safe and they
can show us what they're doing

and we can help them stretch that.

I think That's a bit of how we get our
children to thrive and give them the

opportunities to be leaders in this world.

Raphael: yeah, that's amazing.

I'm curious, like, how, okay you have
all of these ways of structuring your

teaching, and you're building a platform,
like, how do those two things come

together the education side of it, and the
technology side of it how do those merge?

Priya: I feel like I'm still figuring
out exactly how they merge, but

what I do know is that my experience
working, training And supporting

and providing resources for staff is
part of what makes Edify different.

So we hire people who know how to
work with kids like mine and ours.

And Then, so the hiring process has
to be vetted very carefully, right?

These aren't average
teachers, nor should they be.

This is specialized.

This is niche.

You know, this could be
considered even coaching, right?

So it's really going with strengths and
where children show their own strength.

So it's really important that we
hire the type of person that really

understands who these kids are and
what these families are trying to do.

So that's.

The main thing, and then we're still
coming up with training opportunities.

But at the moment I am looking to
grow the teaching aspect of that.

So it's more automated.

Raphael: Awesome.

Priya: Yeah.

And there's different segments, right?

So ADHD, and sometimes
it's ADHD with dyslexia.

Sometimes it's autism with dyslexia.

And sometimes it's PDA.

Like it's a, it's all mixed.

It's never usually just one.

Raphael: Yeah and so you have this
platform and you have these educators

that you're sourcing and you're making
sure that you've got the right people.

How do you bring them together?

How do you find, like, how do you
match children to the right educators?

What does that process look like?

Is it a tech process or is it a

Priya: It's a tech, it's a semi
tech process, I think there's the

opportunity as a non tech founder
and a business minded person to

create the technology ourselves.

But currently we are pre matching using
simple aspects such as Google Form right?

And so I think the pre matching component.

It's here at the moment until we reach
the tipping point of not being able to

manage it and then build out the matching
technology, which we're not there yet.

So we are on our way.

Currently, I have not
automated The lead generation.

And once that happens, I think
it's an opportunity to build

out because I always grew up in
that way of not not having debt.

Because I'm an old school, old,
I grew up in the old school way

where you make the money first,

Raphael: Yeah.

Priya: right?

So I guess now we could
say product market fit.

So I wanted to prove the product market
fit, know my customers, know my families,

and know what works best for them
before I invest in a standalone product.

But until then, I've been
using products that exist.

And that's been really lovely.

And it has allowed me to
grow and still be here.

Most businesses fail in
the first five years,

Raphael: Yeah.

And

you're on your six and a half
or something like that now?

Priya: But so Edify, this
iteration started in August, 2020.

Raphael: Okay.

Priya: Yeah.

So it's been four years.

Raphael: All right.

Priya: Yeah.

And you couldn't you couldn't
put me out of business unless I.

I got into building a brand new
product or just paid somebody

a bunch of money because on its
own, it's running on its own.

And I think that's a fantastic place to
be because it's just running on its own.

Any new onboarding that happens
is without any paid advertising.

But I know that there's other people all
around the world that would benefit from

this and are completely underserved.

We grow, the tech component will
need to be more standalone it won't

be wrapped up by somebody else.

I'm going to have to do that.

I need a lot of advisors to help me
make the right decision because I'm a

non technical founder, but even then,
even if you are a technical founder,

I think you kind of know what you
know, and things are changing daily,

Raphael: Yeah.

Priya: right?

Even with AI and how that's integrated,

Raphael: All of this stuff moves so fast.

And I feel like it's, I feel like
if you're going to be in tech, like

one of the things that you need to
embrace is just that you're going to

have to constantly learn about stuff.

It's, yeah, it's

Priya: yeah I

Raphael: there.

Yeah.

Priya: Yes, completely agree.

And I think one of the things
that helps me sleep at night as a

non technical founder is knowing
that I have a community of people.

That's my moat.

Raphael: Yeah.

Priya: My moat is the community, right?

The community of advisors, the
community of experts, and they're

all I'm going to be supportive and
they're all data points in how I make

the best decision for my company.

And I think that's how I sleep at
night because if I didn't have that,

I would constantly be trying to fill
in the gaps and I'm only, one person

and even with a team of a hundred
people, I think you still don't know,

based on what technology is coming
ahead and you just still don't know.

But I think with that community piece,
you have a better sense on how to proceed

to your vision in the, in a better way.

Raphael: Yeah.

I feel like particularly in tech and I
think particularly for technical people

in tech, we tend to undervalue the
strength and just sort of power that

comes from the human connections and the
value that you provide to an actual human

being within the context of a business.

So yeah, I think

Priya: Yeah.

I think and I agree that
it's the real person.

And a lot of times, you know.

I got lost in the like reading what
was the best and who put out this

information and they're a leader, a
thought leader, but the best information

always came out from my circle.

And yeah, I think as a non technical
founder that is one of the most

important things that I have.

Yeah.

And so going from, you know, non technical
founder in kind of the old world not

using technology and trying to move that
into a tech enabled world has been a

lot smoother because of the community.

I've also been really fortunate to be part
of an incubator and accelerator program.

And I think anybody who's a non
technical founder, if there is an

accelerator program or incubator
program, Where there's some sort

of structure and community built
in that is going to increase your

chances of success even more.

So I've been really fortunate
to, to be part of that.

Raphael: That's awesome.

And with that in mind what's next?

Like how are things moving forward?

What's, what are you excited about?

Priya: Yeah, so I just left the
Mosaic Accelerator yesterday.

That was the end of the eight weeks.

And so what's next is we loved it so much
that our cohort has decided to stay in

touch and have a standing meeting time.

So that is a continuation.

Everything that I had learned
from the incubator is basically

being implemented as we speak.

So I am obviously changing my
landing page and making sure that

is optimized to mobile phones that
are being used now and operating

systems, making sure that it shows up.

It's clear.

I'm speaking to my
audience and all of that.

Needs to be updated quite often.

So that's what's next is my UX UI piece.

I will be going to the Collision
Conference in Toronto June 15th.

So in a couple of weeks from now, I
will continue to grow my community and

look for partnership opportunities.

I'm always looking for, More tutors
who want to help the outcomes of

the lives of these kids that can
do so well if they're supported.

And just a continuation and
growth and scalability for Edify.

Those are Really, I'm
going for the moonshot.

I really think that and believe that
once people see that in three to

six months, their kids have changed
how they approach learning, and

they have that inner confidence,
and they have that inner confidence.

Increased their grades by one year or
two years within three to six months,

or they're going back to school, or
they're standing up to their bully, or

they're passing grade 12, or they're
entering the program that they want.

Once they see that, then I know that
other families will be positively

affected and just want to join in to
that opportunity for their families.

Raphael: I love it.

That's awesome.

I'm, yeah, I'm super excited to
see what comes next, and I love

the way you talk about your vision
and your mission and where things

are going, yeah, thank you so much

Priya: I believe in it.

Thank you.

It's so easy.

It's so easy when your kids are
showing you how good things can be,

Raphael: Yeah.

Priya: right?

You know, before we end, I want
to say that I found out that you

know, my daughter was autistic
when she was two and a half.

And they gave me this report.

And in the report, it said that
she was more likely to have autism.

Raphael: Oof.

Priya: And here's this girl who's
two and a half and I knew that

there was a better way they did not
talk about the good case scenarios.

Raphael: Yeah.

Priya: It all came from a deficit model.

I really want to change that because
I know that if it wasn't for my, I

guess, optimism, that I could have
fallen into this downward spiral.

Raphael: Yeah.

Priya: And I think it's very important for
families to know that there are Fantastic

outcomes, there's great outcomes,
and there is a pathway to success.

And I want to highlight that to
all these families so that they

don't have to see what I saw.

Raphael: Yeah.

I, that's, you're amazing.

I love it.

Priya: Oh, thank you.

I really, I'm really hopeful, and
I know that we can help families.

And when I see families after a
couple years and they start crying

when they see me, and they're crying
happy tears, I didn't know at first.

Raphael: that's so lovely.

Priya: Oh, no, they're crying.

What did I do?

We changed the trajectory of our lives.

So I think it's really easy
to keep going with Edify.

It's already built in
terms of helping families.

It doesn't need any additional money.

Until we get to a certain point.

So it's really easy to do this.

I'm fueled on good vibes.

Raphael: That's awesome.

Priya: yeah thank you for
this opportunity to share.

And, you know, for all of the impact
support that you have for small

entrepreneurs and for small businesses,
it's really hard to, that support, but to

have you, you know, shout out an impact
company like we are trying to solve United

Nations Sustainable Goal Number 4 for
inclusive education, and to get that shout

out from your podcast is such a gift,
and I really appreciate you for that.

Raphael: No, it's, I'm, I appreciate you.

This was amazing.

I love talking to you.

It's always just lovely to hear
what you're building and it was,

Wonderful to have you on the podcast.

Um, with that this is
the small tech podcast.

So if you want to talk about a
small tech product , that has

a positive impact on your life.

Yeah.

What do you got for us?

Priya: This is a Canadian
company called Virtual Gurus.

It's based out of Alberta and basically
they help entrepreneurs like me.

They have all types of support,
not just administration, but lead

generation, automation, sales.

The owner, Bobby Reset, who's
Indigenous and is amazing, an amazing

CEO, has found women who are needing
to work more and needing to share

their knowledge and she's amazing.

Giving them their value back.

So she's hiring women and people
who can help others and have these

specializations based right out of Canada.

And they're so good at what they do.

And I really feel like the
CEO is so very helpful.

It's just the vibe of the company.

Everybody that has been
there, who's helped edify.

They've been so amazing, and it
makes me feel so happy that we have

people like this in leadership.

I know Bobby Reset also was a
judge on Bear's Lair, which is the

Indigenous version of Dragon's Den.

And I just think it's so wonderful to see
Indigenous people get that power back but

still continue to spread that generosity.

Raphael: That's amazing.

Priya: Virtual gurus.

Yeah, amazing.

Raphael: That was a great one.

I'm going to check it out.

Thank you so much, Priya.

Priya: Thank you.

Thanks for the opportunity.

Raphael: Folks that is it for my
interview with the awesome Priya

Tronsgard of Edify Learning Spaces.

I loved this chat.

I hope you did too.

You can find her and edify
at edifylearningspaces.com.

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I will see you in the next one.

See ya.