Inspiring the inventors of tomorrow

Edmund Hillary Fellow

Forbes 30 Under 30: Education

Piper, Inc. CEO & Co-Founder (2013-2018)

Learn With Mochi CEO & Founder
(2019-Present)

Mark Pavlyukovskyy

hi there, I’m

Born in the Ukraine and educated in America and the U.K., Mark has always been a tinkerer, finding creative ways to solve problems. While studying to become a biologist at Princeton University, Mark traveled to Ghana to implement a game-based public health curriculum for children. However, he found that the reason public health was lacking was not because of any lack of knowledge, but rather the lack of infrastructure and tools necessary for change.

"I thought, why am I doing research in a lab, pipetting all day long, when I could be creating something that could impact millions of kids everywhere, and give them a way to move forward themselves?"

The trip to Africa inspired Mark to change his focus at The University of Oxford, towards the early prototypes of what became the Piper Computer Kit — a DIY computer that anyone, anywhere in the world, can build. You can watch a video about the story behind Mark’s vision for Piper and what he hopes to empower kids to do here. In 2018, Mark was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in Education for bringing his vision to thousands of schools and homes around the globe.

2019-Present

Learn With Mochi

Robotics and Coding
through Storybooks
and a Cuddly Bear

Mochi is the Award-Winning Coding Rover for Ages 3-9. Kids learn the basics of computer programming in a playful, hands-on way as they explore STEM subjects through fun storybooks. Montessori approved, LEGO Compatible.

Piper

2013-2018

Piper Computer Kit:
Award-Winning
Build-A-Computer
Age 8+ !

Piper is not just about learning the basics of computer science and electrical engineering. Piper was founded in 2013 with a simple vision: to create experiences around learning with technology that are hands-on, effective, and fun.

#education #STEM #inventors #coding #creative

Talk to me about:

Science work

Mark graduated from Princeton University with a degree in molecular biology, went to graduate school at Oxford, came up with Piper, decided that the creation of products that help a large number of children was his calling with IT being the obvious future.

“I went to Oxford and worked on a doctorate about applying computer science and machine learning in biology”

Games in Ghana

Inspired to create a more immediate impact with his molecular biology knowledge, Mark created a game-based curriculum to teach kids about infectious disease. He received a grant from Princeton University to pilot his curriculum in several schools in a small village outside of Kumasi in Ghana. An A/B test showed that game-based learning resulted in more engagement, more retention and more positive associations with learning after the game-based intervention. Read more...