Creativity and technology lessons for interactive learning

Cadiz-born Pablo Márquez, co-founder and CEO of ClassInThe Box, completed his studies in Film and Entertainment Production in Madrid… until one day he came across Computer Science: “A friend introduced me to it and it became an obsession, so much so that I enrolled at the University of Alcalá. I mentioned it to my father, an architect and engineer, the day before he died… he would have liked to see what I'd achieved.”

He started in networks and moved into security, "with experience in hacking , certification in all security solutions, and I provided training throughout Spain." This was the seed of his first company, AoTech Security, where he met Lorena Sánchez, co-founder of ClassInTheBox ("Her experience as an entrepreneur has been essential to our journey").

At AoTech Security, they were working on digital security for educational centers, which allowed them to experience firsthand the vulnerability to which schools were exposed. And then, the pandemic arrived, the game-changer that preceded 'Boxie': "We started with a cardboard box as a stand, a plug-and-play device with a microphone and camera to serve as a support in classes." This proposal was a huge success ("we sold thousands in Spain, Peru, India, etc."), with the corresponding logistical challenge. 'Boxie' has been recognized with several international awards, including the BETT Award in London and the FETC in the US.

Once the Covid era was over, ClassInTheBox's proposal was virtualized: "We saw the option of adapting the solution to develop software to support digital education in the classroom through any type of video; in short, indexing the format on demand by teachers and students with just one click, using our own AI engines." A performance of technological creativity that has led to its inclusion in Samsung's educational tablets, a team effort involving engineers, designers, educators, trainers, editors, AI specialists, and more, disseminated in more than 20 countries.

This solution, whereby teachers enhance any video with summaries, notes, audio, etc., is growing... but more so in Latin America than in Spain . "We have hundreds of 'demos' spread across Spain, but institutions are slow to respond. However, there are agreements with Puerto Rico, with the Mexican University of Guadalajara, with El Salvador. Even with Estonia, whose Education Development Manager responded to us via LinkedIn to meet."

ClassInTheBox increased its presence in the Americas with its participation as one of the two Spanish startups selected (with Didit) at South Summit Brasil , co-organized in March in Porto Alegre with IE University. "It was a very interesting experience," notes Márquez, "with many networking contacts. One of them led to the possibility of a very interesting agreement with the State of Pará." It is part of a path that includes, in September, the opening of possible funding channels "to be able to pursue our projects and grow with guarantees of success." Success is necessary to continue fulfilling this startup's objective: "To convert a simple PDF, a video, or a podcast into an interactive, lively, and meaningful learning experience , respecting what is most valuable: the human bond between teacher and student."