FAV FOOD: Avocado. FAV COUNTRY: Croatia. PEOPLE DON’T KNOW: I’m secretly a pretty good cook. CELEB CRUSH: Justin Timberlake.
Brian Backus
Crafting safe, engaging places for kids in a digital world
NURTURING CURIOSITY. Brian Backus is no stranger to taking on challenges. A serial entrepreneur focused on kids education and technology, Brian’s latest venture, Hello Wonder, reimagines the internet for children.
Brian’s insatiable curiosity traces back to his early life: surrounded by his free-spirited mother, a dancer, and his geophysicist father. This dynamic upbringing, coupled with an early awareness of his LGBTQIA+ identity, shaped Brian’s journey. His love for animals, encouraged by a long childhood trip to Africa, eventually led him to Harvard, where he studied evolutionary biology. However, realizing a career in evolutionary biology would confine him to remote research, Brian shifted gears.
Brian’s creative streak found expression at film school, followed by producing at Disney. It was at Disney that Brian’s fascination with business strategy took root. “I realized no one would ask a producer about strategy, which I was really interested in. To have a seat at the table, I needed to go to business school,” he says. Returning to Harvard for his MBA, Brian was driven by the desire to start his own company, leading to the creation of his first venture during the dot-com boom.
His early entrepreneurial journey with UBUBU, a graphic user interface enhancing computer use for younger users, was a rollercoaster. “We raised too much money too quickly, grew to 75 people, and then the crash happened,” Brian recalls. Though the company ultimately folded, the experience was invaluable. “Being a first-time CEO, I took it personally. Now, I understand there are macroeconomic forces you can’t control and you need to ride the waves.”
Following the dot-com bust, Brian returned to his creative roots, studying art at Berkeley and launching Qi Spirits, artisan liqueurs made with organic teas and spices. This venture was followed by Kidlandia, a platform for creating personalized fantasy kingdoms for children, which achieved success with products in Pottery Barn, Walmart, and Toys R Us.
CRAFTING WORLDS OF WONDER. Brian’s passion for developing educational content for kids flourished at NBCUniversal working in the DreamWorks universe, and later Amazon. “I led an educational game studio at Amazon, producing 53 games in two and a half years. It was thrilling to understand and execute at scale,” Brian says. His experience at Amazon paved the way for co-founding Hello Wonder.
Hello Wonder aims to create a safer, more enriching internet for kids. “We use AI to scour the web for safe content, blocking the bad and curating the good. It’s voice-driven, and parents get visibility into what their kids are exploring,” Brian explains. The platform encourages family communication, helping parents understand and engage with their children’s interests. “LGBTQIA+ people tend to be more collaborative, resilient, and curious. These qualities have helped me take on new challenges and build meaningful projects,” he reflects.
For aspiring LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs who are considering stepping into their own founder journey, he advises they harness their empathy and collaborative skills, emphasizing the importance of building strong, supportive teams.
With Hello Wonder, Brian and his team are committed to using AI for good, ensuring inclusivity and safety while fostering connections within families. “We aim to help kids and parents connect at a deeper level, using technology to repair some of the past damage it has caused,” Brian says. As he continues to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship, Brian remains driven by his passion for creating positive, impactful experiences for the next generation.
