With $400 Million Rich Business Empire, Dr. Shaquille O’Neal Takes a Bet on $14,000,000 Worth Startup for 1 Very Important Reason

One of the richest entrepreneurs in the world, Jeff Bezos, told Shaquille O’Neal to invest in changing people’s lives. That’s what the Big Aristotle is doing with his latest investment. The multipreneur grew his NBA earnings with a diverse portfolio of businesses. While he prefers to keep most of it on the down-low, he’s proud of his newest venture. He’s made his first foray into the EdTech space through an AI-driven startup. The purpose behind this company was the driving factor.

Shaq has strong principles when it comes to his business investments. While previously wary of AI, he’s added his star power to Edsoma because it pushes a cause close to his heart.

Shaquille O’Neal boosts a startup for children

Children are central to Shaquille O’Neal’s philanthropy and literacy and education access are subjects he’s passionate about. These causes form a major part of Edsoma, an AI-powered app to promote reading, comprehension, pronunciation, and communication habits in children. Shaq is picky about his investments. So Edsoma CEO Kyle Wallgren let the product convince Shaq.

Former rodeo bull rider, Wallgren developed the app when the pandemic made remote learning a necessity. O’Neal tried the app himself as well before he decided to support it. Moreover, Wallgren didn’t appeal for money. He wanted the Big Diesel seal of approval.

He got that in a big way. Shaquille O’Neal is the primary investor in Edsoma. Though his investment is not disclosed, he helped raise $2.5 million at a $14 million valuation from individual investors in the first seed round. While discussing the company at TechCrunch Disrupt, Shaq said he was confident they could raise even more in the coming months.

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The 51-year-old cited his admiration for his young fans as what drove him to partner with Wallgren. Currently, the app’s content targets young children. But Shaq has an all-encompassing vision.

From the get-go, the 4x NBA champion has inspired the people at Edsoma to expand the app’s reach. They hope to not only take it to the university level but also enable it as a foreign language and ESL learning tool.

Through Edsoma and his many other philanthropic works, the $400 million worth star aims to empower children with education. He has a dream of pushing socio-economic growth through his young fans.

Shaquille O’Neal’s plans to increase the company’s reach

The Big Aristotle’s vision is a lot deeper than young kids. Studies have proven that increased literacy brings down crime rates. Shaq and Wallgren believe Edsoma has the potential to be that tool that will break the cycle of poverty and crime. By taking the app to an underserved population, O’Neal fulfills his desire to improve education access.

Shaq confessed that he has a juvenile delinquency past. He has since transformed his life, not only with basketball but also pursuing three college degrees to support purpose-driven businesses. He similarly hopes to bring Edsoma into the criminal justice system, providing education opportunities within correctional facilities.

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While they plan to introduce Edsoma in schools, Shaq and Wallgren’s combined goal is to ensure that there is a tool available should remote learning become a necessity again. Even families dealing with separation or work-related travel could access Edsoma, which is still in its early stages. Under Shaq’s leadership, it’s going to be transformative for a lot of lives.