How Logan Cohen Is Leveraging Screen Time To Empower Kids To Do Good Things

The Founder and ceo of the mobile app kudzoo talks about launching things as a way to learn, proactive sceen time and paving the way for others.

Name.

Logan Cohen

Occupations, affiliations, and projects.

Co-founder & CEO of KÜDZOO, a mobile app that encourages students to make screen time worth their time by recognizing and rewarding them for good habits, kindness and academic achievements.

People Who Do focuses on those who take action to pursue meaningful life passionS. why is it important to you to “do”?

“Doing” is the only way to truly learn. To me, the opposite of doing is stagnation. Stagnation of your mind, your business, stagnation of you. When you “do,” doors open, you run into new obstacles to conquer, you grow. Doing leads to progress, and worst case scenario: you fail and you learn. I don’t think I’m being too hyperbolic if I equate doing to breathing. It enables me to continue to thrive and be the best version of myself.

To date, what accomplishments are you most proud of?

I am proud of creating a harmony between what I do for work and who I am as an individual. Once that alignment happened, professional and personal growth flourished. I’m proud of building a purpose-driven, for-profit business. Early on, I was told I had to choose between being profit driven or turning into a nonprofit. Now, we live in a world where corporate social responsibility is expected. I am grateful each day that I can work with an incredible team to build a company that's business success metrics directly correlate with making an impact in students (over half a million students and growing) lives.

“I don’t think I’m being too hyperbolic if I equate doing to breathing.”

What would you say was the initial goal when you started Kudzoo and what determined your decision to start it?

We wanted to build a resource for proactive screen time. Smartphones can be distracting and are major drivers of the rising depression and anxiety rates in teens. We work to leverage the usage to do good. We were determined to start it once we found out that this did not exist yet and students who were soft-launched with were extremely engaged.

How has starting this app and business changed you?

Building KÜDZOO has taught me so many lessons. I learned that working towards something larger than myself is the greatest motivation there is. Making an idea a reality always requires perpetual learning. Building a startup constantly humbles you. You’re regularly reminded how much you do not know. Instead of feeling intimidated by this, KÜDZOO has made me not only welcome the unknown, but seek it. That way, I can best position KÜDZOO for future growth.

What's your go-to song to put you in a better mood?

Eight days a week by The Beatles

What’s the best piece of advice that you can give someone right now?

It’s okay to sit back and marvel at your life. We are so hard on ourselves, take a moment to appreciate how far you've come while avoiding complacency.

What’s the next goal?

Launching KÜDZOOs next version that includes additional ways for students to earn for kindness, healthy habits, mindfulness and community service. We want to recognize that academic achievements are important, but students are so much more than their GPA.

“Don’t wait. Do it. Launch to learn. Do not mistake this for being unprepared, do you research, but just start. Aim for progress, not perfection.”

Who are your heroes and why do you look to them for inspiration?

My father. Not only is he my hero in life, but he’s my hero in business. Growing up, he would share stories from work, I would listen in awe of how he navigated through successes, failures and tough conversations. Now, he’s our CFO at KÜDZOO and I couldn’t pick a better person to build with.

Seneca for his perspective and wisdom.

Patti McCord former Chief Talent Officer at Netflix for her straightforward way of putting people and company culture first.

The students on KÜDZOO. They always find a way to remind me why we started when times get tough.

By "do-ing", you create your own unique legacy. How do you want your legacy to look?

As a knowledge seeker. That I viewed each level of knowledge as a responsibility to give my version back to the world in an effort to make it a better place.

“Smartphones can be distracting and are major drivers
of the rising depression and anxiety rates in teens.
We work to leverage the usage to do good.”

how do you make your own history within what you do?

I hope to do my small part in helping to leverage the opportunity playing field. I hope that KÜDZOO serves as a tool to activate untapped potential so that students of all backgrounds realize the best version of themselves.

Do you have any female historical or present-day heroines?

RBG. She fought for progress by equipping herself with knowledge as a tool to make real, societal change.

Why do you think as a woman it's important to pave the way for other women particularly in business and tech?

I truly believe that you cannot be what you do not see. So many women paved the way for me and my generation to have the opportunities that we do. I hope to do my small part in carrying the progress forward. One of my proudest moments was when a teenage girl approached me after a talk that I gave. She said, “when I used to think of a CEO, I pictured a man in a suit. After meeting you, I believe I can be a CEO one day.” Representation is everything.