We started Atrium with a simple question: "how will we educate our kids?". Will we send them to public school, homeschool them, or do something else? This led us down a rabbit hole—researching online, going through Reddit threads and Facebook groups, visiting local schools, and talking to parents.

We were not only astounded by the number of options out there but also by how little information exists about whether or not a school, tool, or program is worth putting your child in.

At the same time, it's clear the world has changed dramatically since we were kids ourselves. AI is changing everything, credentials are on the decline, and new education options like microschools and educational apps are now everywhere. And thanks to programs like Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) in the US, everything is more accessible than ever before.

Sam's a Montessori kid and a product of one of the earliest Canadian school choice programs, and Karel's a college dropout turned entrepreneur. Together, we've seen firsthand the need to take education into our own hands, and the power of choice.

We've come to this conclusion:

We fundamentally believe that modern education should be "à la carte". Where we accept that a one-size-fits-all approach is not the only option and young people would benefit from having a learning journey that is more personalized to each and every individual.

The problem is... you can't have choice without discovery.

The information is disparate—it's hard to find, hard to trust, and hard to sort through. If your child spends nearly 15 years of their lives in school, how they're educated sets the stage for the rest of their lives. Clearly, education is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make in their lives... and it shouldn't be left up to chance.

This is why we built Atrium.

To help bridge the gap between parents and education providers, and between discovery and choice. If this mission strikes a chord with you, let's connect.

Karel & Sam Vuong
Co-founders of Atrium