At Xelaris, a 14-year-old builds a website for his school’s uniform store. A 10-year-old designs a game to teach virology. An 11-year-old codes a donation app. These aren’t prodigies—they’re students learning under Sam Eseyin and Malik Gwandu, former educators who founded Xelaris to teach kids real-world tech skills.
From Teaching Adults to Empowering Kids
Sam and Malik, friends for eight years, previously worked at elite ed-tech startups like Synthesis (inspired by Elon Musk’s Ad Astra school), Springboard, and Ideal Robotics, where they trained thousands in coding. But a question nagged them: Why wait until adulthood to learn critical tech skills?
“We saw adults in their 30s and 40s struggling to pivot into tech,” Sam recalls. “Imagine if they’d started earlier.” That idea became Xelaris—a platform where kids as young as 10 learn AI, blockchain, and Web3 through hands-on projects.
Learning by Building
Unlike traditional coding classes, Xelaris teaches kids to connect tech to real-world problems. Students don’t just study blockchain—they explore how it powers digital ownership. They don’t just learn AI—they use TensorFlow to build solutions they care about.
“We’re not a bootcamp,” Malik says. “We’re a space where kids think like innovators.”
Elite Instructors, Personalized Learning
Xelaris hires only the top 2% of instructors after rigorous testing. These mentors don’t just teach—they collaborate, guiding kids from idea to execution.
The team recently expanded with:
- Aisha Abdukadir (ex-Corely Technologies) leading Software Engineering
- Casweeney Ojukwu (blockchain expert) heading Web3 & Blockchain
- Emilia Zhang (AI specialist) overseeing Machine Learning
Organic Growth, Global Reach
Without ads, Xelaris grew through parent referrals. Today, students from 11 countries build projects, with a 98% retention rate.
“Parents call us saying, ‘Look what my child made!’” Sam shares.
The Future of Early Tech Education
Classes are live, one-on-one, and tailored to each child. For Sam and Malik, the goal isn’t just coding—it’s nurturing a generation of problem-solvers.
“The next founders and innovators are already here,” Sam says. “They’re just 10 years old.”
With students worldwide building real solutions, Xelaris might just be right.
Want to see what kids can do? They’re already building it.
