DERRY based MakeMatic is one of 15 companies who will be showcasing the North West’s ‘entrepreneurship and innovation’ when they travel to Boston Massachusetts in mid-November as part of a joint collaboration between Councils in Derry/Strabane and Donegal.The trip is part of the region’s strategy to promote inward investment and provide local businesses access to potential export opportunity.
Launched in 2015 by co-founders Catherine Ross (Television producer) and Mark Nagurski (former CultureTECH Festival director), Makematic is an educational platform that gives kids and teachers access to short 2-3min video lessons focusing on creative and digital skills.
The company are currently based in the ‘8081 Workspace’ in the newly rejuvenated Ebrington Square and are collaborating with leading institutions from around the world to create a series of video-based digital technology masterclasses for teachers – covering everything from 3D printing to filmmaking.
Speaking ahead of the Boston trade mission, MakeMatic co-founder Mark Nagurski said: “Rapid changes in technology are putting schools and teachers under greater pressure than ever to adopt, learn and teach new technologies.
“Unfortunately, workshops and in-service days are expensive and difficult to get right.
“MakeMatic focus on bitesized content to help educators learn where and when they want, saving teachers and schools time and money.
“We are developing an increasing number of content partnerships in the US but have yet to explore the Boston marketplace. We’re excited to see what new partnerships we can develop there.
“We already collaborate with a number of companies, educational initiatives and high-profile museums in the US.
“We provide a unique opportunity for innovative companies to help improve the uptake and delivery of technology education in our schools – by working with us to develop new course content for teachers.
“And for government, philanthropic and commercial CSR programs, we can use our course content to power new or existing educational and community outreach initiatives.
“Our aim is to change the way educators learn by connecting them to world-class learning opportunities anytime, anywhere.
“We also want teachers everywhere to be more confident implementing innovative new ideas and technologies in their classrooms.
“Over the next five years we will continue to build our library of content and hope to establish new partnerships – particularly in North America and Asia.”
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