The brainchild of three Aussie entrepreneurial friends who saw a problem that needed a solution
Practically everyone they were talking to (with tweens and teens) were all having an issue managing their kids' screen & video game time.
The Founders
It all started at a BBQ
Peter, Gary & Steph saw a great opportunity to create a product to help kids and families regain balance and life healthier and happier lives. They partnered up, recruited investors and each week the idea is coming closer and closer to commercial success.
CEO
Stephanie Kakris
Stephanie has a Masters in Sport Psychology and has spent most of her life learning what makes people behave in certain ways. She coaches High Achievers to reach success.
Stephanie has two screen-loving kids, 11 & 16, and understands the needs of busy Mums who are trying to keep a healthy balance for the whole family.
Business Development
Gary Borham
A communications, change management, learning and development expert. Gary has worked across the globe creating behavioural change programs to adults through communication strategies, E-learning and training programs.
Gary is a fun-loving Dad who loves to surf.
Software Development
Peter Kakris
Peter is an entrepreneur and visionary who is passionate about building technological solutions to make people’s lives easier. Self-employed since he was 23 in several IT companies, he has expertise in building and managing large scale software projects.
He is also the father of 2 kids and is thrilled to be working on a powerful solution to support families all over the world with the ScreenTime issue.
Peter & Steph
The parents of two early teens Pete & Steph both face today's challenges of managing screen time
Parents of two sensitive kids who love their screens, Stephanie has spent many years learning how to parent them in a way that honours their gifts and talents, while keeping a healthy balance of various activities and help around the home.
Pete has a strong relationship with gaming but their son is now 14 spends way more video games than Pete would like. Their 10 year old daughter also loves to relax in front of her iPad.
Gary & Liz
The parents of two tweens, Gary & Liz are navigating the early stages of screen time with their family
Gary has two daughters and is often finding himself feeling frustrated with the battle to get them off their devices and go outside and play.
Our Company History
ScreenCoach has continued to make strides in their milestones since inception
An idea is hatched
Three friends Gary Borham, Peter & Stephanie Kakris were discussing the problem of managing their kids’ excessive screen time use at a BBQ. Realising they all shared this ongoing challenge in common despite their individual efforts, it became clear that screen time management support was a gap to be filled.A company is founded
ScreenCoach was founded by the three friends shortly after, initially self-funded with AUDÂ $100K.First investors welcomed
By year’s end, ScreenCoach had attracted a further AUD $200K in investment from friends, families and fans of the parenting solutionThe work begins
The ScreenCoach proof-of-concept is built for the software and hardware components, qualitative and quantitative research starts (a mix of focus groups, 1:1 interviews and online surveys) and the patent process commences.The government takes notice
ScreenCoach secures AUD $330K through the Australian Government’s Accelerating Commercialisation grant which provides SMBs, entrepreneurs and researchers with funding with the aim to strengthen, grow, innovate and commercialise Australian business both nationally and globally.Dollar-matched capital is raised
ScreenCoach raises an additional AUDÂ $330K to actualise the dollar-matched grant.The product is developed
The team works hard to advance the software and hardware components to create a minimum viable product (MVP). This is built based on intense market research conducted with families, psychologists, health providers and - most importantly - children and teenagers.Alpha trials begin
The ScreenCoach team conducts Alpha trials of the product with participating families from around Australia.Another grant win
ScreenCoach secures an additional AUDÂ $670K in government funding in Stage 2 of the Accelerating Commercialisation grant, bringing total government support of ScreenCoach to AUDÂ $1million.The Next development phase begins.
ScreenCoach commences development. Incorporating the feedback from the Alpha trial participants and other features in preparation for Beta trials, late 2021/22 and launch March/April 2022.Media take notice
In light of research confirming the negative effects of screen time on children’s health, the ScreenCoach solution takes the interest of media outlets A Current Affair, 7news, The Courier Mail, ausbiz TV, Ticker News and the Austereo radio network.Beta trials commence
In November Beta trials commenced. The team were swamped with over 2,500 people who had registered interest in participating.Excited stakeholders await launch
We already have 633 customers sign up to get early access to ScreenCoach Additionally, the government has committed to purchase 100 subscriptions of ScreenCoach for less privileged familiesScreenCoach to Launch
ScreenCoach is expected to become available on the Australian App stores by March 2022 with the expected overseas launch to late 2022