Building a Foundation for Lifelong Learning

When Ragavan and Saritha welcomed their twin daughters, Indra and Janani, they were determined to surround them with books from the very beginning. "Books were always there on the bookshelves. During playtime, they pick the books and we read them the stories," Ragavan explained.

As busy working parents, they started exploring educational tools early, beginning with laminated flashcards when the twins turned two. They tried various programs including IXL and Khan Academy, but quickly became frustrated with the experience. "There are many curriculums that I looked at—they all start good, but then they get distracted and after some time, it deviates," Ragavan shared. "So you'll become clueless. And that's when you feel you put forth the effort and you are not learning. It not only frustrates me, it frustrates the kids more and they lose motivation."

Discovering the Science of Reading

After testing numerous approaches between ages 1.5 and 2, Ragavan and Saritha realized that "nothing is working. Only phonics and the precise way of sounding the letters—that's the only thing that works." When Ragavan discovered Mentava through our blog, everything clicked. He saw how other programs were "teaching letters the wrong way," while Mentava's approach "sounded perfect."

The twins' first impressions exceeded all expectations. "The initial attraction was a cow—they said it was a play that they wanted to be part of," Ragavan recalled. What struck him most was how "interactive it was for them, they wanted to get engaged and we saw the end goal where you were going to take us."

Overcoming Setbacks

Just as the twins were gaining momentum, the family had to travel out of the country, forcing them to pause their progress. When they returned in January 2025, "they forgot it," Ragavan admitted. But the family was determined not to give up. "I felt that we shouldn't stop it, so I emailed you and you resumed the program."

The restart wasn't without challenges. "We went through bumps, the digraphs and blending, and I kept taking all your help. You are very encouraging! You kept suggesting ideas [for our kids’ needs]" Ragavan shared. "The bottom line is, they kept progressing, without giving up, like probably 40 minutes, 50 minutes a day."

With support from both the Mentava coaching team and their nanny, the twins maintained consistent daily practice. "It kept on for 3 months, from mid-January through mid-April. And by the time they turned 3, they finished everything."

The Transformation

The moment that truly moved Ragavan and Saritha came when they watched their daughters read independently for the first time. "Now they're picking the books and then reading. We both are like, we became very emotional at times," Saritha reflected. "It's something we never thought through. It would've never happened with any other app, a hundred percent sure."

Their babysitter was equally amazed by what she witnessed: "They were already reading books on their own out loud. And even like other materials that we're going through, they just read it with no issue. And they're only three. I can't believe it. They will actually read the sentences and then just ask me, 'Did I get this right?' It's been insane to just know, like I just look over and they're already reading. I don't have to read out loud to them. They're far advanced from any of the kids I've been working with for sure."

The Thoughtful Detail

What impressed Ragavan and Saritha most wasn't just the results, but the thoughtfulness behind every detail. "Both our kids are a little different in their way of learning too. So having this adaptive one for each one having their own login—even that was amazing. It's not like a book where both of them read it the same," Saritha noted.

Ragavan was particularly struck by the curriculum design: "You carefully placed the spaced repetitions so that just when they could forget, the similar concepts get applied and they get repeated. Awesome! Every small thing, you guys have thought through."

The family also felt the genuine care from the Mentava team. "We never felt that you are running a business, you are trying to charge us—No, you are trying to help us genuinely, make the kid read. So that's what we felt all throughout and that was very encouraging," Saritha shared.

The Ripple Effect

Today, Indra and Janani are voracious readers who carry books everywhere. "They're always carrying [books]—we have some in the car, we have some everywhere. We never forced anything. They just say, 'Can I bring my book?'" Ragavan explained. They're reading Dr. Seuss, Amelia Bedelia, and Ladybird series with complete independence.

The twins have become so proficient that Ragavan confidently states: "I 100% can say nothing else can teach from zero to mid-2nd grade in three months. Impossible."

Looking ahead, the family's only frustration is that Mentava stops at reading. "Our only regret is you only stopped at English," Ragavan laughed. "How come you don't have math? Where is the Mentava for comprehension? Where is the Mentava for science? Where is the Mentava for social studies?"

A Life-Changing Impact

Perhaps the most telling indicator of Mentava's impact is how difficult it's become for Ragavan and Saritha to share their story. "Actually, it's very hard for us to tell people that they actually read because nobody believes," Ragavan admitted. "When I tell them, they're like, 'Oh, maybe you are just talking about some other app. It's just playing games and all.' Because your product is so good, it's hard to believe."

Reflecting on their journey, Saritha summed up the transformation: "You are changing how families feel about their learning abilities and seriously, their life. The foundation that you have given gives children confidence. For the rest of their life, our kids will never forget Mentava! It is the one that made them learn to read. That's such a big gift."