Growing with Technology Awards

Think-and-Learn

Operational Excellence
Second Runner-Up

URL: www.kidport.com and www.think-and-learn.com
Location: Saratoga, CA
Employees: 3 full-time, 8 part-time
Executive Sponsor: Bryan Knysh, President
Cisco Products: Cisco Linksys DSL router, Cisco Ethernet switches, and Cisco WiFi access point.

Where Better Learning Is Just A Click Away

Think-and-Learn provides interactive educational products and services that empower K through 8th grade students to learn—and have fun in the process. It provides multi-step programs, as well as a unique "virtual school" educational environment for math, science, social studies and language arts. Students learn difficult concepts, improve grades, get help with school projects, and practice core curriculum through interactive modules such as the English Language Learner Program. The kidport.com resources and think-and-learn.com online school can be used by homeschoolers, special education students, and traditional students alike to fully develop their learning potential.

A Company That's Built On an Internet Foundation

The staff at Think-and-Learn use the Internet to take operational costs to its lowest levels. The company has minimal facility costs, with staff working primarily from home offices. Although the staff is spread out between Saratoga, CA, Edison, NJ, and Hyderabad, India, they collaborate with each other daily over the Internet. In fact, the founder and the VP of Development worked in this virtual manner for 2 years before they ever met each other in person! Also, through extensive use of viral marketing on the Internet, the company has grown to 650,000 users per month from 130 countries with limited sales and marketing expense. Despite the company's small staff, it can provide around the clock development, and worldwide, 24/7 customer support from its three "offices." Thanks to the Internet, Think-and-Learn can devote less time to operations and promotions—and more time to helping students learn.