This week hosts Tim Ryan and Zack Miller sit down with Howard Hesson, Founder and CEO of Fun1st, an education technology company specializing in integrating technology and wellness practices into schools. Fun1st incentivizes students to achieve academic success by tracking their behavior & performance and rewarding them with tokens that can be spent in Fun1st’s digital school store. Watch this week’s episode to hear about Howard’s journey, the importance of disruptive behavior in classrooms, EdTech Markets growth, and much more!
Show notes:
(0:00) Introducing Howard Hesson
(8:19) What is Fun1st?
(10:31) Living in New York City during the Pandemic
(14:28) Rewarding good behavior + Integrating with schools
(25:11) Importance of positive reinforcement
(29:27) Physical fitness + learning
(35:49) Howard’s’ background + gaining funding
(41:44) Helping teachers
(51:02) The opportunity within the region
(56:38) What’s the best local food/drink?
(1:00:10) Creating a common goal + Conclusion
About Howard Hesson & Fun1st:
Howard Hesson is the Founder and CEO of Fun1st. Fun1st is an education technology company specializing in integrating technology and wellness practices into schools. Our programs have brought PK-8th grade educational services to thousands of local students for the past ten years. Supporting healthier students is crucial to supporting healthier schools.
(PBIS) or Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports is a set of ideas and tools that schools use to improve the behavior of students. PBIS uses an evidence and data-based approach to help improve student behavior. Ultimately the goal is to promote student growth and support academic performance. Establishing Positive Behavior Interventions fosters school safety, improves student behavior, and establishes a positive school culture.
Learn more: https://www.fun1st.org/about-us
About the hosts:
Tim Ryan is an angel investor and the Executive Director of StartWheel, an organization dedicated to connecting entrepreneurs with resources in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Tim also serves as the Director of REaKTOR, a space for technology-based startups to start and grow.
Zack Miller is a serial entrepreneur and author of Anomaly, a guide on differentiating yourself and your business from the crowd.
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Social Media:
Howard Hesson
Instagram: @fun1st_school_store (https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-hesson-611143197/)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-hesson-611143197/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fun1st.ed
Tim Ryan
Twitter (personal): @ryantnt (https://twitter.com/ryantnt)
Twitter: @StartWheel (https://twitter.com/StartWheel)
LinkedIn (personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryantnt/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startwheel-org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StartWheel
Zack Miller
https://www.zackmillersays.com
Twitter: @zackmillersays (https://twitter.com/zackmillersays)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zackmillersays
Thanks to our Sponsors:
StartWheel – https://www.startwheel.org
Companies Mentioned:
Fun1st: https://www.fun1st.org/
Jake Maines: https://jakemainesrealtor.com/
The Wire: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0306414/
An Achievable Dream: https://achievabledream.org/
WWE: https://www.wwe.com/
Backyard Wrestling: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backyard_Wrestling:_Don%27t_Try_This_at_Home
Three Notch’d Brewing Company: https://threenotchdbrewing.com/
Untappd: https://untappd.com/
B-Force Accelerator: https://blackbrand.biz/b-force-accelerator/
757 Startup Studios: https://757startupstudios.org/
Something in the Water: https://somethinginthewater.com/
