Derek Pando
Beeloo – MICRO Spring 2023
Published July 12, 2023
As part of our ‘Meet Our Founders’ series today, we introduce Derek Pando, CEO and Founder of Beeloo based in Holly Springs, NC. Beeloo is an AI powered daily alternative to screen time for busy parents, teachers and caregivers of young children.
Q: What problem are you trying to solve and what influenced you to start your company?
A: In 2020, like a lot of parents, I started working from home. My young kids would constantly come to my office and ask me to print off coloring pages. I was happy to do this because it would entertain my kids without screen time.
Finding the right balance with screen time is a real struggle. That is why I created Beeloo, it’s our mission to help parents, teachers and caregivers of young children to have a daily alternative to screen time through fun printable crafts, activities and worksheets made by automation, AI and talented creators.
Q: What are you most excited about right now? What keeps you up at night?
A: I’m most excited about using the latest advances in AI technology to create products that help kids spend LESS time on screens, not more.
Q: When did you know you wanted to take an entrepreneurial path?
A: In high school my father encouraged me to start a lawn mowing business. During high school I had a successful lawn mowing business with commercial equipment, contracts and employees. After that success, I knew that entrepreneurship would be part of my career at some point.
Q: What have you enjoyed most about starting your own company?
A: Since starting my own company I have enjoyed most working with talented people that I really like, the autonomy and the ability to iterate quickly.
Q: What is your greatest fear as an entrepreneur?
A: My greatest fear as an entrepreneur is not being able to turn what I love to do with my company into something that can sustain myself and my family financially.
Q: What is your favorite productivity app?
A: Lately, I’ve been extremely impressed with Canva, you can do so much. It’s a robust, low cost and easy to use tool.
While visiting Holly Springs, Derek recommends:
- Eat at La Costena. It’s an unassuming taco place in the back of a gas station, but I believe they have the best authentic Mexican street tacos in all of North Carolina.
Support Beeloo and Derek by:
- The best way anyone could support Beeloo is to use it! We have a freemium business model so a lot of the amazing printable activities we have for kids on our site are free. We welcome all and any feedback, please send it to info@beeloo.com.
