English is the language of the internet. Yet only 20% of us speak it. An interview with Emma Rogers.

Emma Rogers - Co-founder & CEO of Little Bridge

English is the language of the internet.
Yet only 20% of us speak it
an interview with co-founder
Emma Rogers 

Miron Bykov London - 02/09/2019

Today we spoke to Emma Rogers co-founder & CEO of Little Bridge
 
Little Bridge is an award-winning, research-backed platform where children around the globe are connected to learn English, quickly and effectively, together.
 
Tell me about the day the idea was born.
It wasn’t a single day; it was a growing sense that the more the world is connected, the more people are excluded from the ‘global conversation’ – especially if they lack English language skills. English is the operating system of the world and the language of the internet. Access to quality learning is a huge problem and technology has the potential to solve it.
 
What was the biggest turning point in the life of Little Bridge?
This was when families began signing up to our platform from all over the world. It was a surprise since at the time our target audience were schools. We also began to understand the power of the social community in Little Bridge to improve learning outcomes. This prompted our research as part of the ‘UCL EDUCATE’ program
 
Three top tips for aspiring entrepreneurs…

1. You have to fall in love with the problem before the solution
2. Have fun! Keep a healthy balance
3. Give back – no matter how educated, clever or cool you believe you are – it’s how you treat others that matters

 
What gets you out of bed every morning?
Anyone who knows me well also knows I can be annoyingly enthusiastic! Most mornings, I bounce out of bed ready to take the next steps towards achieving our goals.
 
What did you want to be when you were little?
In the books I was reading, in the things I watched on TV, boys seemed to get all the good parts and I aspired to have the same. I didn’t have a singular career ambition – it changed regularly. But I always liked making things. I guess it was inevitable that I’d be drawn to the creative industries.

Favourite Disney character…
Back in the day, the Disney character I felt closest to was probably Bambi. I just loved the way Bambi was able to survive everything life threw at him and emerge as a strong, beautiful being.
 
What is Little Bridge planning for the world next?
We are now experimenting with Artificial Intelligence, using Machine Learning to support multiple ways that our users can learn English. We are excited by the potential of placing learning in a social context and, to that end, we’re looking at ways to connect more and more children from around the globe and enable them to be competent users of English.

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