It is already an award winner, empowering a growing cohort of more than 15,000 learners globally. We spoke to her to find out how it all adds up…
At 14, most teenagers are busy obsessing about their obsessions, being cranky with their parents, and generally testing the boundaries of this, that or another forbidden fruit to see what’s good, or just adds some much sought-after credibility.
Few of them have a well-planned, realistic, career path, or a general clue what they are going to do with their lives. Which is, of course, fine.
Sofia Dey Choudhury, however, already knows.
She’s the co-founder of Mathletico – an app she built with her dad at just 11 – and it’s already reached more than 15,000 learners around the world.
“I was inspired by the former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Maths to 18 vision, which aimed to ensure every young person continues studying maths until the age of 18,” she says.
“When I learned that poor numeracy costs the UK around £25 billion per year and that 49% of working-age adults have the maths skills of a primary school leaver, I felt strongly about helping to change that. I wanted to create something that would make maths more engaging, practical, and accessible. I started by designing simple prototypes and testing them with peers, gradually refining the content and interface. Over time, that small idea grew into Mathletico – a complete learning platform combining core numeracy, functional maths, and games to make maths both useful and enjoyable.”
Bringing maths into everyday life
She may well also be interested in those usual teenage tropes of rebellion, street cred, social media, fashion, music and so on, but right now her main focus is squarely on what makes Mathletico different as a learning tool.
“I think Mathletico’s success comes from its focus on real-world maths. We show how numeracy connects to daily life – from managing money to interpreting data – which makes learning feel more meaningful. Our approach blends core concepts with interactive games, so students stay motivated while actually improving their skills. We measure impact through engagement analytics, feedback forms, and student performance data, which consistently show increased confidence and understanding. The fact that Mathletico is accessible to learners globally has also helped it grow so quickly.”
That global reach matters to her. But so does the way maths feels to users and how Mathletico can help reconnect them with the subject.
“For many students, maths feels disconnected from reality, which is why so many lose interest,” she says. “I wanted to change that by showing how maths underpins almost every part of daily life – from budgeting and travel planning to making smart financial decisions. By focusing on functional maths, we’re not just teaching formulas but building essential life skills. I believe when students see the relevance of what they’re learning, they not only understand it better but also feel more empowered to use it.”
Tech for inclusion and mobility
Her mission isn’t just about academic success. It’s about access, and the role technology can play in levelling the playing field.
“Technology can make education more inclusive by removing barriers of location, cost, and access,” she explains. “With Mathletico, learners anywhere in the world can strengthen their maths skills at their own pace, often for free or at minimal cost. Our platform uses gamification and interactive lessons to engage students who might struggle in traditional classroom settings.”
By improving numeracy, she hopes that the app is not just helping with academic success, but supporting employability and confidence, which directly impact social mobility.
The social mobility angle is central to what she’s building. For Sofia, the app represents a way of connecting learning to real-world opportunities.
But even for a maths prodigy, the entrepreneurial side of running a company has meant learning on the go.
“I love the creative side of building Mathletico – especially designing the user experience and seeing ideas turn into features that students actually enjoy using,” she says. “I’ve learned so much about coding, UX design, communication, and leadership through this process. Running social media has also helped me understand how to connect with audiences and present educational content in a way that feels fresh and engaging. Every aspect of Mathletico has taught me something new about teamwork and problem-solving.”
Awards, ambition and growing confidence
Recognition hasn’t been slow in coming. Mathletico has already won the Atherton Award (an annual prize that aims to recognize and encourage entrepreneurial spirit in young women) and Sofia says that kind of validation pushes her to keep evolving the platform.
“[It] has definitely boosted my confidence and reinforced my belief in Mathletico’s mission,” she says. “It’s been amazing to see our work recognised on a larger scale, especially as a young founder. These milestones have motivated me to keep pushing boundaries – to keep improving the app, reaching more learners, and finding new ways to connect maths with real-world skills. They’ve also shown me that innovation and impact can come from anyone, regardless of age, if you’re passionate about what you do.”
That passion also manifests itself through her work with Teens in AI, a global initiative using technology for social good. It has helped her take Mathletico’s impact even further.
“Working with Teens in AI has been an incredible experience because it’s shown me how powerful technology and collaboration can be in driving social change,” she explains. “Creating educational videos that reached over 20,000 viewers taught me the value of accessible learning and the importance of inspiring younger audiences to explore STEM. I’ve also learned how diverse ideas from people all around the world can spark innovation and help solve global challenges.”
Balancing code, classes, and creativity
For someone still in school, she has a schedule that would task most adults. But she keeps it balanced with the other demands of teenage life and tries to remain grounded.
“I try to stay organised and prioritise what’s most important each day,” she says. “I keep a clear schedule, set realistic goals, and make sure to take breaks so I don’t burn out. What keeps me motivated is the impact. Knowing that the work I’m doing through Mathletico is genuinely helping people. I also make time for things I love, like playing guitar and spending time with friends, which helps keep everything in balance.”
If you’re interested, she’s Grade 8 on electric guitar and performs regularly. It’s a neat counterpoint to her mathematical precision, and one that she credits with keeping her fresh and de-stressed.
Still, there’s no mistaking that her mind is fixed on the future.
“In the next few years, I hope to grow Mathletico into a broader educational platform that continues to improve global numeracy while branching into areas like data literacy and financial education,” she says.
“I want to collaborate with schools, teachers, and education leaders to make maths more inclusive and exciting for students everywhere. Ultimately, my goal is to help shape a generation that feels confident with numbers and sees maths as a skill for life – not just for exams.”
It’s hard to predict the future for someone so young, but right now with interest in the app growing, and plans its future, it’s all adding up quite nicely.
