In this episode of Inside Startup Investing, Chris Lustrino speaks with George Moringer about building a platform that teaches kids emotional intelligence through engaging, gamified group sessions. [00:00]

Tapouts focuses on helping children ages 4–16 understand and regulate their emotions by turning behavioral science into interactive, easy-to-use tools. [01:00]

George shares how the idea originated from his interest in resilience and stress psychology—and the realization that these skills are rarely taught early in life. [02:30]

Early product challenges revealed a key issue: parents valued the product, but kids didn’t want to participate—forcing the team to rethink engagement entirely. [04:30]

That led to a major pivot toward gamification, rewards, and group-based sessions, which dramatically improved retention and participation. [06:30]

Since then, Tapouts has scaled to over 20,000 kids served and more than 200,000 sessions delivered without missing a single class. [08:30]

The company’s model leverages small group sessions to create strong unit economics, with margins around 70% while maintaining high engagement. [10:30]

George breaks down how Tapouts acquires customers through performance marketing, referrals, and growing organic demand. [12:30]

Looking ahead, the company plans to expand its programs, increase lifetime value, and explore new distribution channels like schools, employers, and insurers. [15:00]

Ultimately, Tapouts is building a preventative approach to child wellness—teaching emotional intelligence before problems escalate. [17:00]