We're happy to have you here, Kumadio. You're working on something truly unique in the EdTech space, and we're excited to learn more. Could you start by telling us what Kumadio is all about? What inspired the idea, and what specific problem are you aiming to solve for children and their families?
What motivated us to start Kumadio is a problem affecting both children and parents today – the decline in reading habits and attention span, as books are increasingly replaced by passive content like social media, cartoons, and video games. Parents we spoke to are worried and want a solution that will entertain their children while still giving them the benefits of reading. Kumadio is an interactive audiobook app for children aged 4 to 10 that turns listening into active participation – kids use their voice to choose characters, story paths and endings, solve challenges, and discover new scenarios, keeping their attention while fostering imagination, critical thinking, and a love for reading.

What inspired you to focus on this particular problem? Was there a personal experience or insight that led you to create Kumadio?
The inspiration for Kumadio came from the personal experience of our co-founder, Vojislav, who grew up with ADHD and often struggled to maintain focus while reading. Later in life, he developed a passion for writing children’s books, but noticed that today’s kids are far less engaged with traditional reading. Realizing that something needed to change, he saw the opportunity for innovation in how stories are experienced. Together with Mihajlo, he came up with the idea for Kumadio as a way to make stories more engaging and interactive for children who struggle with focus, helping them enjoy reading and gain the same benefits from books that previous generations did.

How did the team come together? Can you share a bit about each team member’s background and what they bring to the startup?
The team came together when Vojislav, inspired by his idea for Kumadio, started shaping the concept together with Mihailo. The two of them have known each other since childhood and are like brothers, which made working together feel natural. They began developing the idea intensively – Vojislav focused on writing children’s stories and used his design and editing skills to create the audio experiences and shape the app’s look, while Mihailo brought his programming expertise and later expanded into the business side of the project. We met Vladimir a bit later, and after collaborating on other projects, we quickly realized he was a perfect fit for the team. He brought strong programming skills as well as valuable experience from a previous startup he was part of, adding both technical strength and entrepreneurial insight to Kumadio.

Children today are used to fast-paced, interactive digital content. How do you keep their attention through audio alone?
That’s a great question, and it’s exactly what makes Kumadio so different from traditional audiobooks. Throughout the story, children are constantly asked questions, and their answers shape what happens next. This makes the experience fully interactive, where the child isn’t just a listener but a co-creator of the story. In a way, they step into the author’s shoes, building their own unique version of the tale each time – and that’s what keeps them engaged from start to finish.

What kind of educational content is built into your stories? How do you balance fun and learning in your narratives?
We aim to combine education and fun by building learning moments directly into the story. Sometimes, children will get questions that have a correct answer, but if they answer incorrectly, the story doesn’t just end – it takes them down a fun, alternative path where they naturally discover why their answer was wrong. This way, learning becomes part of the adventure, and the correct information is shared in a way that’s more engaging and memorable. By turning mistakes into exciting detours, we make the experience both educational and entertaining.

Kumadio offers a screen-free experience. What feedback have you received from parents about this aspect of your product?
This is actually the feature that makes parents lean in and pay even more attention to what we’re building, because it’s something no other app really offers. The idea that their child can use a phone without looking at the screen – and that this could have a real impact on their creativity – is surprising and exciting for them. Many are still skeptical at first, wondering if their kids will really stay engaged without visuals, but once they see how interactive the stories are, they quickly realize it works.

What were your expectations coming into the DDAccelerator, and how has the experience met or challenged them so far? Have there been any specific mentors, sessions, or moments that were especially valuable for you?
We joined the DDAccelerator expecting strategic advice on scaling, refining our business model, and connecting with other founders. So far, it’s exceeded our expectations – the insights have been practical and immediately applicable. One standout was the peer-to-peer session with Louis Warner, where we gained a completely new perspective on pricing of our subscription model. That single conversation has already influenced how we think about customer value and long-term growth.

A big thank you to the Kumadio team for sharing their story and vision with us. It’s inspiring to see how personal experience and creativity can come together to build something that truly supports children and families. We wish you continued success — both throughout the DDAccelerator and on your wider entrepreneurial journey with Kumadio.