Fund Me, KC: ‘Off Kilta Matilda’ aims to inspire girls’ love of math
October 30, 2017 | Startland News Staff
Editor’s note: Startland News is continuing its segment to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses. If you or your startup is running a crowdfunding campaign, let us know by contacting news@startlandnews.com. Today’s featured entrepreneur, Sarah Shipley, is also board chairwoman of the Kansas City Startup Foundation, the parent organization of Startland News.
Sarah Shipley and Off Kilta Matilda
Who are you?
Sarah Shipley, founder and CEO of Shipley Communications.
What’s your product?
After having my communications company for more than 10 years, I’m launching something new. It’s a book — “Off Kilta Matilda and the Prime Number Club” — aimed at getting girls excited about math at an early age. The project starts with a series of books and the Off Kilta Matilda doll. I’d like build out this project to a snazzy website, teaching guides, the Prime Number Club and educational video shorts.
The book series is aimed at young girls, kindergarten through second grade. It teaches prime numbers and prime number theory in a fun way, using the spots on the back of Off Kilta Matilda’s wings. Her spots are not symmetrical and kids make fun of her. She starts the Prime Number Club with her mom and learns to love her spots and be a leader at math.
When I was researching this project, I realized girls start to deviate from math at kindergarten and can be deeply swayed away from math by second grade. My focus is to counter this, in a fun way and get girls excited about math.
How much do you hope to raise?
Off Kilta Matilda
What do you plan to use the funds for?
I plan to use the funds to print and distribute the first set of books and illustrate the second book. If I hit a stretch goal, I’ll start making the educational videos.
How are you differentiating your campaign?
I’m sending a lot of emails, I’m leaving card in coffee shops. I’m also using social media and all of my networks. I bought some Facebook and Twitter ads and I am doing a 1 Million Cups pitch in November. I’m speaking to groups like the Girl Scouts and other STEM groups. Most of all, I’m engaging my networks.
Is there anything quirky with your campaign?
I took the prototype book and doll to Indianapolis and Washington, DC,and did “flat Stanley” photo shoots. I used those photos to drive traffic to the website. Off Kilta visited NASA, the Smithsonian, and many of the monuments in DC. Matilda will do many photo shoots in KC, as well.
Any advice on crowdfunding?
Spend a long time planning the campaign. Do all the work you can upfront. It will make the campaign more manageable. Get people excited about the campaign early and often. Don’t forget to ask for what you want! Also, remember to thank everyone for their donations.
Featured Business
2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Help from above: Why protecting satellites from cyber attacks could hold key to adapting to climate change
Humans must responsibly rise to the occasion as Earth’s climate changes, Charles Beames said, detailing the role well-protected satellites and space systems can play in putting life-preserving solutions into orbit. “Space systems are one of the keys to the future, our future, of dealing with the changing climate and our adaptation,” said Beames, aerospace expert and…
In the field: Industry-specific, hands-free voice tech helps ‘hero up’ data collecting workers
After years of research, Bruce Rasa and his team identified a consistent pain point for field workers: capturing data on-the-go and looping it back to their headquarters. They need a co-pilot, he said, noting the role played by KC-based Dexer (formerly AgVoice), agriculture’s first handsfree data capture service to help cross-industry specialists create records —…
New city flag designed for KC’s now (and tomorrow): Here’s where you’ll see it flying first
Kansas City is ushering in an era of growth and development, Jared Horman said, and the unveiling of a new municipal flag is just the way to recognize this new chapter. “The timing feels particularly exciting with the Chiefs headed to the Super Bowl, the opening of the new terminal at the airport and the…
Pushing without force: Founder credits accelerator’s collaborative ‘in the trenches’ guidance for overseas scaling success
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by the NMotion startup accelerator, but was independently produced by Startland News. The powerhouse mix of global and localized support David Biga received from the NMotion Growth Accelerator was well worth the program’s required exchange of equity, the proptech startup founder detailed. Particle Space — one of Startland News’…