Founder Portraits: Angelique Paul
October 31st, 2019
Angelique Paul is the Founder and CEO of Fingerprints Inc. Over the past two years, She has been developing an inclusive digital education platform called In-Touch. Angelique is a designer and creative who is using her skills and experience working with children to bridge the gap between unconventional learners and the current teaching methods. In-Touch does this by pairing an unconventional learner in grades four through eight who is struggling in a particular area, with a mentor in grades nine through twelve who is excelling in that subject.
Tell us about how you started In-Touch. Why did you decide to tackle education and learning styles with your venture and how did you come up with the idea for the platform?
Angelique: The idea started as my undergrad thesis project during my final year at OCAD University and continued into my masters at Toronto Metropolitan. In-Touch was inspired by my own learning experience as an unconventional learner navigating elementary and secondary education. Although I excelled in creative and language-based subjects, I had a difficult time grasping the material in math and science courses, no matter how much I studied.
Just before graduating highschool, my math tutor realized that the issue lied in the way I was being taught the material. In order to learn effectively, I had to draw or write out the question while listening to the instructor. With the right patience and support to learn the way that works for me, I was able to improve my performance in my academics as well as my self-confidence. As I worked on my thesis in both my undergrad and masters, I realized that I was not alone in my experience. The more I shared my story, the more others would resonate with both the feelings of inadequacy and the longing for a change in our current education system.
What is the vision you have for In-Touch to impact the disparity between learning styles and the current education system?
Angelique: Research has shown that students who learn unconventionally respond better to someone in a mentorship position rather than a teacher. Through my work with students, the key feedback was that they benefited from having a friend explain the learning content to them. The sense of comfort and safety that comes with learning from someone they knew and trusted improved their understanding of the material. In-Touch is not meant to substitute the tutor but to facilitate the connection between a mentee in grades 4-8 with a student mentor in grades 9-12. The platform matches students with mentors based on a profile and provides a progress tracker, a messaging system, and a live chalkboard for questions outside of the scheduled in-person session.
Why did you apply to the Social Ventures Zone?
Angelique: I applied to the Social Ventures Zone because I was eager to be a part of a community that understood and could relate to the highs and lows of being a social entrepreneur. While working on my project in the first year, I felt isolated and struggled to continuously push myself. However, at the Social Ventures Zone, I’ve received mentorship and support from like-minded social entrepreneurs that are equally invested in building their startups to create social impact. I’ve had so many people tell me that I’m just one person, and question whether or not I can set out to make a difference for such a big problem, but being a part of the Social Venture Zone and watching people make a difference gives me the encouragement to keep going.
"I’ve had so many people tell me that I’m just one person, and question whether or not I can set out to make a difference for such a big problem, but being a part of the Social Venture Zone and watching people make a difference gives me the encouragement to keep going."
What is your favourite part about being a social entrepreneur?
Angelique: My favourite part about being a social entrepreneur is really enjoying the work that I do. Starting Fingerprints Inc. allowed me to work on a problem that hurts me and hurts others. As a social entrepreneur, I feel connected with the work that I’m doing. When I used to be asked what I wanted to be when I was an adult, I never had a distinct career in mind. I knew that I wanted to use my design skills, to help people and to feel fulfilled. Now, as the CEO of Fingerprints Inc., I’ve achieved all of those goals.
What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned about entrepreneurship since starting In-Touch?
Angelique: Through my journey as an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that I can’t be in constant control of everything. It can often feel like everything is dependent on you as the Founder, which can be overwhelming at times. As I progress in this journey I’ve really learned to release control and to accept that I can’t rush the process. In addition, after connecting with other ventures in the SVZ I’ve learned to value the importance of rest. It can be challenging to turn your brain off when you’re so involved in your business, but taking a minute to breathe has prevented me from burning out and losing my passion and drive for my work.
What’s next for you and In-Touch?
Angelique: The next steps for In-Touch involve working with the City of Toronto Parks and Recreation and co-create the future versions of In-Touch with 60-80 students. In-Touch will be used as a platform that will uplift the students seeking mentorship, but also provide student mentors with leadership skills as well as the community service hours they need to graduate. Additionally, moving forward I would like to integrate In-Touch into a University setting, as tool for post-secondary students learning to become teachers. In-Touch will facilitate an opportunity for teachers in training to have first-hand experience working with students of varying learning styles; a skill set that they will need when they become teachers in an actual classroom setting.