The CTO of RoboKind joins the ranks of unstoppable entrepreneurs in social technology including Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn
(Dallas, TX) July 15, 2019 – EY today announced that Richard Margolin, chief technology officer of RoboKind, a company that produces educational robots and social-emotional learning curricula for students with autism spectrum disorder and STEM learning for all students, received the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2019 Award in the social technology category in the Southwest region.
The award recognizes entrepreneurs who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities, while also transforming our world. Margolin was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a special gala event at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, TX on June 29th.
“It’s an honor to be selected as an entrepreneur of the year,” said Margolin, “but the real reward for our work is helping students make sense of the world around them, whether that be through an understanding of science, technology, engineering, and math, or by helping them gain social-emotional understanding and skills to better connect to the people around them. We look forward to leveraging the increased visibility this award offers to help open more students to the world of ideas and to the people in their lives.”
Since 1986, EY has honored entrepreneurs whose ingenuity, spirit of innovation, and discipline have driven their companies’ success, transformed their industries, and made a positive impact on their communities. Now in its 33rd year, the program has honored the inspirational leadership of such entrepreneurs as:
- Howard Schultz of Starbucks Corporation
- Pierre Omidyar of eBay, Inc.
- Jodi Berg of Vitamix
- Robert Unanue of Goya Foods
- Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn
- Hamdi Ulukaya of Chobani
- Kendra Scott of Kendra Scott LLC
- Andreas Bechtolsheim and Jayshree Ullal of Arista Networks
- James Park of Fitbit
- W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr. of Marriott International, Inc.
- Lonnie Moulder and Mary Lynne Hedley, PhD, of TESARO, Inc.
As a Southwest award winner, Margolin is now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2019 National Awards. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 16, 2019. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum®, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored by SAP America and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In the Southwest region, sponsors also include Colliers International, Haynes and Boone LLP, PNC, Donnelley Financial Solutions, RHSB, Marquee Event Rentals, Smith Frank & Partners, D CEO Magazine, and SocialStrategy1.
About RoboKind
RoboKind is a Dallas-based company whose mission is to create cost-effective and inclusive education for all. Working closely with the ASD community, RoboKind has developed robots4autism and Milo, the most advanced, facially expressive humanoid robot, who has proven effectiveness in engaging learners with ASD at 80% as opposed to the 3% for traditional therapy. Milo never gets tired, never gets frustrated, and is always consistent, which is important when teaching through repetition.
RoboKind founded robots4STEM to assist students in learning visual programming through the use of a personalized avatar and Jett, the most advanced, facially-expressive robot. Robots4STEM helps students develop fundamental coding and programming skills, and can be easily implemented by educators, without any prior coding experience needed.
About Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Entrepreneur Of The Year®, founded by EY, is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing, and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national, and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries.
About EY’s Growth Markets Network
EY’s worldwide Growth Markets Network is dedicated to serving the changing needs of high-growth companies. For more than 30 years, we’ve helped many of the world’s most dynamic and ambitious companies grow into market leaders. Whether working with international mid-cap companies or early stage, venture-backed businesses, our professionals draw upon their extensive experience, insight, and global resources to help your business succeed. For more information, please visit us at ey.com/gm or follow news on Twitter @EY_Growth.
About EY
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