Why do so many people fear math, and how is Matiks changing that?
In this episode of Calculated Conversations, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mohan Kumar, co-founder of Matiks, a fast-growing platform that is making mental math fun and competitive. What began as a simple love for numbers has grown into a movement inspiring other people around the world to build confidence through real-time duels and problem-solving.
In our conversation, Mohan shares insights on the psychology behind math anxiety, how his background in art and music influences product design, and why fun needs to come before logic when building educational games. We also explore how Matiks is evolving into more than just an app, becoming a digital community that is redefining how people spend their time online.
1. What inspired the idea of turning math into a “sport” with Matiks, and what’s the early feedback been like?
I was always decent at math, topped my school and won multiple school and district-level Olympiads. But I also saw a stark contrast: many people around me were afraid of math. I always wondered, why do people hate such a beautiful subject?
That question became clearer when I met Sudhanshu Bhatia, a world champion in mental math. He was easily 4-5x faster than me with numbers. Watching him made me realize an important pattern: those who are strong in basic mental math never struggle with the subject. The fear of math, in most cases, comes from weak fundamentals, if someone masters basic calculations, that fear just disappears.
Our third co-founder, Sushant Timmapur, is also a national-level mental math champion. Sudhanshu and Sushant used to play number games just for fun and that playful, competitive spirit sparked the core idea behind Matiks: to make math fun through duels.
Instead of treating math like a subject, we built a game that people love to play and one that strengthens their core abilities at the same time.
The early feedback has been really encouraging. A few parents told us their kids now choose to play math games on Matiks instead of scrolling Instagram that, for us, is the best validation.
2. How have your backgrounds in art and music influenced the way you design educational games?
I’ve never really seen things as “subjects” to be studied. Whether it was art, music, or even math, I just gave my 100% to whatever I genuinely enjoyed. I was good at art and music, but more than that, I enjoyed sketching, creating, and playing instruments. I never approached them with the pressure of exams or marks.
That same mindset shapes how we design Matiks. People love to play games not because they’re told to, but because it’s fun and social. So we thought, why not turn math into that same kind of experience?
We designed Matiks to give users the same dopamine hit they get from winning a game or solving a puzzle except here, they’re also improving their mental aptitude. It’s not about forcing people to learn; it’s about creating something they want to play.
3. When you’re building a game around a math concept, where do you start? Logic, user experience, or fun?
For us, it always starts with fun. If it’s not fun, users won’t stick no matter how logical or educational it is.
Sudhanshu and I both grew up treating math like a game, not a subject. We knew the thrill of solving fast, beating your own time, and challenging friends. So we try to recreate that same energy in every game we build.
Once the fun layer is nailed, we focus on logic: what exact skill are we sharpening? Is it basic calculations, number sense, or mental speed? And then finally, we build a smooth user experience around it so players stay in the flow.
The goal is simple: to give users the same dopamine hit they get from any good game, while secretly improving their core math instincts.
4. What makes Matiks different from traditional learning apps in helping users internalize math?
Matiks isn’t just a learning app, it’s a math sport and a social platform. While traditional apps treat math as a subject to study, we treat it as a game to play. Inspired by our co-founders mental math champions who grew up challenging each other, we designed Matiks around real-time duels, where users sharpen their basic math instincts through fast-paced, competitive play.
What truly sets us apart is our focus on mental speed and confidence-building, rather than rote memorization. Users unknowingly improve their core calculation skills while enjoying the thrill of the game.
But Matiks goes beyond math, it’s becoming a social community. People don’t just play; they connect, compete, and grow together. Many users, especially kids, are now choosing Matiks over Instagram or TikTok. That’s when we realized: we’re not just helping people love math again we’re redefining how they spend their time online.
5. What’s been the biggest challenge in shifting the general mindset from “math is scary” to “math is fun”?
The biggest challenge has been getting users to even try our platform. Many people assume that because it’s a math platform, it’s not for them, especially those who don’t like math. They dismiss it without giving it a chance. But once they try it, they realize how fun and engaging it is. That’s when they become regular users. So, breaking through that initial barrier of “math isn’t fun” is key. Once users experience the competitive, game-like aspect of Matiks, they start enjoying math in a way they never thought possible.
6. Growing up in rural Bihar, what sparked your early connection to math? How did that journey shape your path to IIT?
Growing up in rural Bihar, I didn’t have access to good schools, coaching, or many resources. But math was the one subject I could practice on my own with just a notebook. That self-reliance gave me confidence. I knew I had to change the fate of my family, so I worked hard and fell in love with numbers. I learned advanced math through YouTube and later went to Kota to prepare for IIT.
There, I faced real competition and that’s when I met Sudhanshu. Through him, I came to know about things like abacus and how some people had trained in mental math from a very young age. I never learned abacus myself, but it opened my eyes to the kind of preparation others had. I just worked harder to compete with those who were already ahead of me in math. I pushed myself harder, surrounded myself with people who were better than me, and kept learning. I eventually secured a seat at IIT. Looking back, every milestone in my journey happened because of the people around me and my willingness to keep growing. Math was my escape, my strength, and my way forward.
7. Looking ahead, do you see Matiks growing into a competitive platform, an edtech tool, or something entirely new?
Looking ahead, Matiks is evolving into both a competitive platform and a community-driven space. While we started as a platform focused on making math fun through duels, we’re also building a social community around mental math and cognitive skills. Users don’t just compete they connect, learn from each other, and grow together.
We’re not just an edtech tool; we’re redefining how people engage with math and mental fitness in their daily lives. Our goal is to become the go-to platform where people come to challenge themselves, improve their mental abilities, and move away from traditional social media platforms. In the future, Matiks will continue to grow as a fun, competitive, and socially engaging platform that encourages lifelong learning and cognitive growth.
Whether you’re a student, a parent, or someone just curious about improving your mental agility, Matiks is showing the world that math doesn’t have to be intimidating, that it can be fun, fast, and deeply rewarding. Under the leadership of co-founder Mohan Kumar, the platform is helping users build confidence and find enjoyment in mathematics, which has been a huge struggle for the vast majority of the population!
To explore the platform, head to matiks.com here, or download the app here.
If this episode resonated with you, take the first step toward becoming a mental math champion today! Share it with a friend, challenge them to a duel, and rediscover the joy of mathematics together.
Before you go, don’t miss my recent conversation with Mr. Arsh Goyal on breaking into big tech! If you’re looking for more inspiration on personal growth and career-building, be sure to check it out!
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