Ilya Novodvorskiy’s startup Readmio is reinventing family bonding through Storytime. A Vision Born at Home
Entrepreneurship was never about business for Ilya Novodvorskiy. It was about meaning. It was about connection. It was about family.
After his B2B mobile app development agency success Ilya became the leader of a 150-person team until the company got acquired. He stood at a new crossroads. He had proven himself in the tech world. What called to him was something deeper than that which was closer to home.
The time Ilya spent reading stories to his children held great value for him as a father. These magical quiet moments slowed time and sparked imagination to reveal their true power to him. He understood that storytelling extended beyond simple entertainment. It was a connection. It was education. It was love. He recognized the potential for it to evolve into something greater.
That vision became Readmio.
Readmio presents itself as an interactive storytelling application which enhances parental-child relationships through voice-operated immersive narratives. When parents read aloud the real-time sound effects adjust their voice tone to enhance storytelling and help children enter the heart of the story. This experience becomes vibrant through sharing between participants as they explore its wonderful nature together.
Readmio stands out from other apps because it does not pursue automated solutions. Ilya and his team selected a meaningful direction instead of following the current trend of modern apps that focus on artificial intelligence and screen-based engagement. Readmio avoids handing imagination over to machines because it wants to fuel creativity through human interaction.
The application features hundreds of original and classic stories in English, German, Slovak, Czech and Polish language options. Readmio stands apart from other apps because of its emotional core.
The Path to Purpose Through Challenges
The development of a product which genuinely enhances parent-child relationships proved to be a difficult process. Ilya experienced typical entrepreneurial obstacles which included restricted funding along with short development periods and intense market competition. The biggest challenge for him was designing digital functionality that encourages people to step away from their screens.
Ilya implemented specific design principles when he developed Readmio. The application functions best when used jointly by parents who read to children who follow along through listening and imagination. It’s not just another distraction. It functions as a tool to create focused engagement in our present-oriented society.
The combination of thoughtful design and deliberate expansion and absolute dedication to its purpose made Readmio grow into a global company which now has thousands of dedicated users who report real family benefits.
Recognition That Speaks Volumes
Readmio received the title of Best Startup at the Second Pitch Event in Palo Alto followed by the Cohort Award at the Last Pitch Event in Austin. Readmio received the prestigious World Summit Award in Culture & Heritage and obtained more than €1.5 million in funding for worldwide expansion.
Ilya finds his greatest fulfillment in the heartfelt letters parents send him showing how their children have developed a love for story time. The moment brings laughter when children listen to a dragon’s roar precisely when it appears in the story. A family experiences quiet shared happiness through reading together.
Readmio represents Ilya’s core values and his love for his children and his belief in the importance of being present to him.
Readmio presents to the world a unique value by giving people an opportunity to slow down and experience stories together in close proximity.
Here are the social media links to reach Ilya and Readmio:
