Tech + Startups
Brain Racers Merges Curriculum and Esports to Maximize Educational Impact!

Strap in your virtual seats and get your brain ready to go! Brain Racers has started the countdown!
When video games started to gain momentum in the 80s, many parents hoped their popularity would fade as quickly as leg warmers and parachute pants, but when game developers began to tap into the complexities of game design and human motivations, something changed. They realized that the potential applications for animated characters in a little glowing box were endless. Video games ignited something inside kids (and adults) that couldn’t be ignored. Now with esports, games have evolved into something even more exciting, allowing players to showcase capabilities that were otherwise overlooked.
This idea of untapped potential is what Brain Racers wants to bring to education! Their AI-powered technology blended with gaming and entertainment promotes learning and self-esteem in a community environment, through friendly competitions and celebration!
Founder, Gianender Khanna, has been making brain games since childhood and enjoys hosting a TikTok game show where he creates brain games out of clues or language and plays them with the community. Along with his passion for gamification, he supports teachers in their untiring dedication to educating young learners.
He has watched his mom and co-founder, Vandana Khanna, teach grades 1 to 8 for over 20 years – getting kids to learn while navigating tight schedules and limited resources. She has taught across 4 countries, inside classrooms, learning centers and privately, and this unique experience gives Brain Racers a deep understanding of how to motivate kids and accelerate learning.
Pointing to a SeedScientific study that says teachers work an average of 400 hours overtime a year, Gianender responds that teachers are “burnt out and don’t have enough time or the right tools to properly engage kids toward education. The good thing is they want to!” There has to be a way to support kids while giving teachers a break so they can spend more meaningful time with their students.
Adding to the strength of the Brain Racers team are Gianender’s brother and co-founder, Manu Khanna, a seasoned expert in product and operations; the head of AI, Koyuki Nakamori, who specializes in machine learning and mathematics; along with Michele Attisani, Ben Feferman, and multiple school principals advising them. With such a tight-knit team poised on the pulse of education and technology, it’s no wonder the developing platform has received such high praise.
At the core, Brain Racers takes content based on curriculum standards and gamifies it into a gripping race format. They go a step further to blend in cognitive challenges that strengthen attributes like attention to detail, pattern recognition, and memory. The AI-enhanced backend creates content at scale, and they are building a personalized recommendation engine that adapts to learning styles and performance levels.
Teachers use the Brain Racers platform and curate specific content for each race, saving them time every week from class prep and assessments. Users can also play through a variety of unpredictable content, from Math to Geography to Science, to puzzles or pattern games. The online adventure provides fast-paced and pleasantly addictive excitement. It’s no surprise that 82 percent of students say they love Brain Racers!
When asked about the future of Brain Racers, Gianender replied, “We want to use esports to energize education and get kids excited about learning, and in the long run build the best-personalized education for every child.”
“Our goal right now is to build an esports platform that celebrates ‘brain athletes’ like we do physical athletes in the world. Superstars like Michael Jordan and Serena Williams genuinely inspire millions of kids, and idols like these are non-existent in academics.
Let’s change that!” – Gianender Khanna / Founder, Brain Racers
The heart of the Brain Racers team, combined with their deep experience, creates a desire to see a change in how children learn, and how they are motivated towards it.
Currently, the platform focuses on grades 3 to 8 but is enjoyed by participants of all ages, supporting brain health and cognitive performance.
Find out what all the buzz is about. Play Brain Racers for free on any device.
