Ilisha Masaun

Ilisha Masaun is the founder of Econominds, an innovative educational technology company that personalises learning through AI-powered solutions. After being excluded from school six times due to undiagnosed dyslexia, she achieved A*, A, A at A-level using her own learning system. This personal triumph became the catalyst for challenging traditional teaching methods. “Education faces a critical crisis with 22% of students disengaged from traditional learning.” Ilisha says. Econominds’ platform addresses this through AI-driven personalised learning journeys, with particular focus on supporting neurodivergent students. The solution has proven effective, achieving an average grade increase of 18% while reducing teacher workload by 45%.

“We believe every learner deserves the chance to thrive through personalised, efficient learning that equips them with real-world skills,” says Ilisha.

A pivotal moment came aged 19, when her first mentor advised: “Whatever you are thinking of doing right now, think bigger.” This transformed her tutoring agency, expanding from 100 local users to a thriving community of 100,000 globally. Her achievements include recognition from the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce’s Education Award, the Santander Just Do It Fund, and collaboration with Samsung.

“Winning the Women in Innovation Award is a tremendous honour,” says Ilisha. “With the support, funding, and mentorship offered, I aim to enhance our AI-driven platform, making personalised learning accessible to thousands more students.”

“As a young woman of colour in the tech and education industries, I’ve overcome multiple barriers that challenge my work and perspective,” Ilisha reflects. “I’ve done this by letting my work speak for itself – building a community of over 30,000 students across seven countries, with social media engagement rates five times the industry average.”

Her advice to aspiring women innovators: “Stay true to your vision and embrace your unique perspective. Innovation thrives on diversity, so believe in the value of what you bring.”

For more information on Women in Innovation

Find out more about the Women in Innovation Award and other support available across the Innovate UK ecosystem on the Women in Innovation programme page.