Rewriting the story: the AI startup reimagining how the world learns to read | Ethan Pierce

*** Help us shape the future of Made For Us! Take our 4-minute listener survey for the chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and get instant access to our curated reading list of every book ever recommended on the show: https://forms.gle/pNyrCooa23oYsaVk7---In this episode:Ethan Pierce couldn't read when he finished third grade, but years later went on to win a full scholarship to Harvard. Recognising that not all students have the support he had, he founded Adaptive Reader, an AI-powered platform that adapts classic literature and other books to different reading levels and languages.In this episode, Ethan talks about building a product around the learners the education system leaves behind, why your first startup idea is probably wrong (and why that's a good thing), and how listening to teachers changed everything he thought he knew about edtech design.We discuss:How Ethan's own struggles with reading in school inspired Adaptive Reader’s missionWhy 130 user research interviews convinced him that print was a non-negotiable equity needHow Adaptive Reader designs for learners across neurological differences, physical disabilities, and languagesAbout Ethan PierceEthan Pierce is the Founder and CEO of Adaptive Reader, an AI-powered accessibility platform that makes any text accessible to any reader—across languages, reading levels, and formats. A former struggling reader who went on to earn a full scholarship to Harvard, Ethan is passionate about using technology to break down barriers to literacy and learning.Adaptive Reader has been recognized globally for advancing accessibility and inclusive learning, winning the Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge and the MIT Solve E Ink Prize.Learn more about Adaptive Reader: https://adaptivereader.com/Follow Ethan Pierce on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethanpierce13/Follow Adaptive Reader on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adaptive-reader/---If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Send questions for our guests or any feedback to: madeforuspod@gmail.comOther episodes you might like:Speechify CEO Cliff Weitzman on building the 'voice of the internet'---Connect with Made for UsShow notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/