Episode 57 - Maria Huertas - Founder of MLToons

We’re kicking off Season 5 of the Chicago Techies Podcast with Maria Huertas, founder of MLToons—and this one’s a fun one.Maria is building at the intersection of music, storytelling, and language learning, helping kids pick up Spanish and English in a way that actually feels natural. Think songs, characters, and interactive experiences instead of worksheets and memorization. Her whole approach is rooted in immersion—making language something kids live and experience, not just study.We get into how this idea came from her time as an educator, where she saw firsthand how powerful music can be in helping kids learn and retain language. But like any startup story, it hasn’t been straightforward. Maria talks about the challenge of balancing education and entertainment, and figuring out who MLToons is really for schools, parents, or both.We also dig into the importance of proving impact. It’s one thing to have a great idea, it’s another to show that it actually works. Maria shares how she’s thinking about data, validation, and building credibility in the education space.Beyond the product, this is also a conversation about building in Chicago leaning into community, navigating the startup ecosystem, and staying resilient through the ups and downs.Great way to kick off the season, especially if you’re thinking about edtech, startups, or just doing something different.Connect with Maria: Maria’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-huertas-89a93a151/Maria’s Email: [email protected] website: https://mltoons.com/main/MLToons LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mltoons-llc/MLToons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mltoons/Connect with Chicago Techies Podcast:Website: https://chicagotechiespodcast.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chicago-techies-podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicagotechiesConnect with Ceci:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbenitez87/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbenitez_87