Getting To Know The Akcela Incubator Community - Readingmate

In the second of our getting to know the Akcela Incubator community, we speak to one of our founding members of the Akcela Incubator community, Readingmate. Hannah and James Rix created Readingmate in 2020 with the goal of developing a lifelong love of reading. Supporting parents to understand and develop their childs reading journey with the Readingmate app, through to launching the Love Literacy Tool for schools which instills a love of reading that accelerates students’ progress.  

We were fortunate enough to speak to both Hannah Rix (HR) and James Rix (JR) through this interview. Responses are labelled accordingly. 

In two sentences, tell me about Readingmate

HR 

Readingmate are committed to instilling the love of reading and accelerating student progress with a free literacy app for parents and literacy improvement tool for schools.

Why did you start Readingmate?

HR

To help parents and improve the future prospects of children.

JR

After seeing Hannah struggling for years to promote a love of reading in children. We wanted to make a difference and make the process of literacy development more intelligent, easier and less time consuming for children, parents and teachers.

What’s been the hardest part of starting a business?

HR

Starting any business is hard, but it’s enjoyable. For us, app development, ensuring parent’s needs are completely met and communication with schools have been challenges, but we are so proud of where we have come to date in achieving them. It’s great to recognise them as a challenge, but also see we have solutions to meet them.

JR

Commercialisation. Great ideas are a dime a dozen, its execution and commercialisation that makes the difference when you need to deliver the good idea and make it financially viable.

Looking to find your community?

The Akcela incubator brings together a team of experienced startup consultants, inudustry partners and some of Norfolks most exciting startups into one space. Creating exciting opportunities together.

Find Out More

What advice would you give to anyone starting a business?

HR

Have a Crystal clear idea of your what, why and how before spending a penny. Don’t expect anything to go to plan. Accept every failure as a learning opportunity.

JR

100% do it. Its the most bipolar experience you could ever imagine with everyday filled with crazy optimism and spiralling despair. But nothing can ever beat taking on the world with your idea about a subject you are passionate about.

As part of the Akcela incubator, what made you take your business to be part of the community?

JR

When you are a start up, there is a lot to be said for being around other like minded individuals trying to change the world in their own unique ways. The Akcela incubator has fostered a really special community filled with truly passionate people who want to make the world a better place in a number of truly fascinating ways.

Favourite part of the day in the incubator?

JR

The morning – I normally get in before everyone else and I love watching everyone else arrive whilst the atmosphere and anticipation about the day grows.

Lastly, what’s next for Readingmate, what should we watch out for?

You should watch out for our new “improve literacy at KS2” webinar series in the next couple of weeks and the launch of our Love Literacy Tool in the new year. Other than that, we are a show me not tell me company so you will all have to wait and see…

November 12, 2021