LearnDistrict

LearnDistrict Inc. is an American educational media company founded in 2013 by the husband-and-wife team Laila Shabir and Ish Syed. The company describes itself as aiming to create meaningful video games and experiences that empower and educate its audience. Its founding vision centers on the idea that games can teach as effectively as traditional materials, and that students can be engaged through interactive entertainment rather than competing against it. LearnDistrict is best known as the organization behind Girls Make Games, a series of summer camps, workshops, and game jams designed to inspire the next generation of designers, creators, and engineers. Launched in 2014, the program has reached thousands of girls through workshops, camps, tutorials, games, and resources. The initiative was created by the same founders and reflects LearnDistrict's broader mission of creating educational access through video games and enrichment programs. The company operates in the educational games and media space, combining game development with educational programming. Its work addresses representation and opportunity gaps in the video games industry, where women make up a large share of players but a much smaller share of industry professionals. LearnDistrict positions itself at the intersection of entertainment and education, arguing that all games teach and that educational games can be both fun and instructive. As a private company, LearnDistrict does not disclose detailed financial information. Its primary public-facing activities are the Girls Make Games program and related educational games and resources. The company's website and program materials emphasize impact metrics, including the number of girls reached through camps and workshops, and the broader social mission of bringing more women into game development.

LearnDistrict Inc. was founded in 2013 by Laila Shabir and Ish Syed, a husband-and-wife team. The company was established as an educational media company with the goal of creating meaningful video games and experiences that empower and educate its audience. From the outset, LearnDistrict's founding vision challenged the stigma surrounding educational games, arguing that all games teach and that educational titles could be both fun and instructive. In 2014, LearnDistrict launched Girls Make Games, a series of summer camps, workshops, and game jams designed to inspire the next generation of designers, creators, and engineers. The program was created by the same founders and became the company's flagship initiative. According to the company, Girls Make Games has reached 8,100 girls through workshops and camps, and over 27,000 through tutorials, games, and resources. The initiative was driven by three main concerns: representation, social responsibility, and opportunity. LearnDistrict noted that while women make up over 45% of the gaming population, they represent less than 24% of the video games industry. The company also emphasized that the video games industry is one of the biggest content creators influencing society and youth, and that when women do not make games, their perspective is left out of a powerful vehicle for social change. Additionally, the company pointed to the growing global games market, expected to reach $230 billion by 2026, as an economic opportunity. LearnDistrict's work has been documented in the award-winning documentary "Girls Level Up." The company continues to operate as a private educational media company, combining game development with educational programming and advocacy for greater diversity in the games industry.

• 2014

  Girls Make Games program launched.

• 2013

  LearnDistrict Inc. founded by Laila Shabir and Ish Syed.

Educational media company creating meaningful video games and enrichment programs that empower and educate, with a focus on increasing female representation in the games industry.

• Girls Make Games

  A series of summer camps, workshops, and game jams designed to inspire the next generation of designers, creators, and engineers.

1. 1LearnDistrict Inc. — Girls Make Gamesgirlsmakegames.com
2. 2Mission & Founding Story — Girls Make Gamesgirlsmakegames.com
3. 3LearnDistrict — Wikidatawikidata.org