Our Vision
Our goal is to build a comprehensive training system for academic competition athletes. We want to help students develop from curious beginners into strong competitors through intelligent practice, adaptive learning, and voice-first training that mirrors real competition conditions.
The Problem We're Solving
Academic competitions like Knowledge Bowl, Quiz Bowl, and Science Bowl share a fundamental challenge: knowing the answer isn't enough. Students can study for hundreds of hours yet still lose to competitors who know less material but recall it faster, communicate better with teammates, and perform under pressure.
Traditional study methods treat academic competitions like flashcard memorization when they're actually high-speed team sports. Our platform bridges this gap.
Our Approach
Voice-First Training
Every major academic competition is primarily oral. Students listen to questions read aloud, discuss with teammates in real-time, and deliver answers verbally. Yet most study tools are text-based.
Our platform puts voice at the center:
Audio Questions
Questions delivered by audio, just like real competition. Train your ears, not just your eyes.
Voice Recognition
Natural voice answer recognition for practice that feels like the real thing.
Real-Time Feedback
Immediate feedback on response speed and confidence to build competition reflexes.
On-Device Capability
Train anywhere with on-device processing. No internet required for core practice.
Adaptive Learning That Finds Gaps
Static question sets can't address what each student actually needs. Our system:
- Tracks performance across every subject area and difficulty level
- Identifies knowledge gaps and weak domains automatically
- Adjusts question selection to target areas needing work
- Balances breadth (covering everything) with depth (mastering weaknesses)
Skills Beyond Knowledge
Success in competition involves more than facts. Our training helps develop:
Speed
Progressive timing drills from relaxed to competition-pace. Build sub-3-second recall for buzzer-speed responses.
Confidence Calibration
Learn when to buzz and when to wait. Develop accurate self-assessment of what you know.
Team Coordination
Communication protocols and role specialization. Know when to defer to teammates.
Pressure Performance
Simulated high-stakes scenarios. Build mental resilience for tournament conditions.
Three Competition Formats, One Foundation
We're building dedicated modules for the three major team-based academic competitions. Each module is designed for its specific competition's rules, strategies, and question styles. But underneath, they share a unified question database, common training techniques, and the same voice pipeline.
| Competition | Format | Reach |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge Bowl | 3 teams compete, team-based answering, written + oral rounds | Primary in Minnesota, Washington, Colorado |
| Quiz Bowl | 2 teams compete, individual tossups + team bonuses, pyramidal questions | Nationwide (NAQT, ACF, PACE) |
| Science Bowl | 2 teams compete, STEM-focused, tossup/bonus format | Nationwide (DOE-sponsored) |
Knowledge Bowl Module
The original team-based academic competition, Knowledge Bowl features three teams competing simultaneously through written and oral rounds. Unique elements include:
- 3-team format requiring different strategic calculations
- Combined written (multiple choice) and oral rounds
- Team buzzer systems where any member can answer after the team buzzes
- Regional rule variations (Minnesota, Washington, Colorado all differ)
Our module covers all regional formats with appropriate rule configurations.
| Component | Status |
|---|---|
| Module Specification | Complete |
| Implementation | Phase 2 In Progress |
Implemented Features
- 12+ Subject Domains: Science, Math, Literature, History, Arts, Current Events, and more
- Written Round Practice: MCQ training with instant feedback
- Oral Round Practice: On-device TTS/STT with conference timer simulation
- 3-Tier Answer Validation: Fuzzy matching, phonetic matching, semantic embeddings, and optional LLM fallback
- 50+ Sample Questions: Bundled with expandable question bank architecture
- Question Importers: Qbreader, OpenTrivia, DOE Science Bowl with merge pipeline
Quiz Bowl Module
The most widely played format nationally, Quiz Bowl features pyramidal questions (clues arranged hardest-to-easiest) with individual tossups and team bonuses. Key aspects:
- 2-team head-to-head competition
- Individual buzzing on tossups, team collaboration on bonuses
- Power marks rewarding early correct answers
- Extensive tournament circuit (NAQT, ACF, PACE, local leagues)
Our module emphasizes pyramidal question recognition and interrupt timing, skills that help players improve at higher levels.
| Component | Status |
|---|---|
| Module Specification | In Progress |
| Implementation | Planned |
Science Bowl Module
The Department of Energy's premier STEM competition challenges students across all science disciplines plus mathematics. Features include:
- Rapid-fire tossup/bonus format
- Exclusive focus on STEM subjects
- Both computational and conceptual questions
- National tournament with regional qualifiers
Our module provides deep coverage across all Science Bowl categories with appropriate difficulty progression.
| Component | Status |
|---|---|
| Module Specification | In Progress |
| Implementation | Planned |
Content Coverage
We aim to cover the full breadth of competition content. Our goal is that students won't encounter a subject in competition that they've never seen in practice.
Literature
American, British, World, Poetry, Drama, Mythology
History
Ancient, Medieval, Modern, American, World, Military
Science
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Astronomy
Fine Arts
Visual Art, Classical Music, Opera, Architecture, Film
Mathematics
Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, Statistics, Number Theory
Geography
Physical, Political, Cultural, Economic
Social Science
Psychology, Economics, Philosophy, Religion, Anthropology
Current Events
Politics, Technology, Sports, Entertainment (updated annually)
Quality Commitments
Accuracy First
Facts checked against authoritative sources. Questions reviewed for clarity and fairness. Answers validated with acceptable alternates.
Competition-Authentic
Each module reflects actual rules. Official timing and format specifications. Regional variations where applicable.
Always Current
Regular audits to catch outdated information. Current events content updated annually for each competition season.
Unified Database
15+ subject domains shared across all modules. Skill transfer recognized between competition formats.
Who This Is For
Students
From middle school beginners discovering academic competition to varsity veterans preparing for nationals. Individual practice between team meetings, targeted work on weak areas, and competition simulation when you can't practice with your team.
Coaches
Tools to identify which students need work in which areas, track team progress over the season, and run effective practices. Data that helps you make lineup decisions and focus limited practice time.
Teams
Shared progress tracking, team-based practice modes, and preparation for the specific competitions you're entering. Build team cohesion even when you can't meet in person.
Our Philosophy
Excellence and enjoyment together
A training system that produces champions who hate the activity has failed. So has one where everyone has fun but never improves. We optimize for both.
Technology Amplifies Coaching
We provide data coaches couldn't collect manually, personalization at scale, and practice opportunities beyond team meetings. We don't try to replace the human relationships that make teams work.
Broad Curiosity Over Narrow Optimization
The skills developed through academic competition transfer far beyond competition. We encourage genuine intellectual interest, not just strategic memorization.
Your Data Belongs to You
Your proficiency data stays with you regardless of which modules you use. Export it anytime. It's yours.
Open Source Foundation
The core platform is open source. Build on it, contribute to it, or run your own instance. Quality education technology shouldn't be locked behind paywalls.
Other Specialized Modules
Beyond academic competitions, UnaMentis supports specialized learning modules for other high-stakes scenarios. These use the same voice-first approach and adaptive learning engine.
SAT Preparation Module
Comprehensive adaptive learning for the Digital SAT (2024+ format). This module goes beyond content review to build test-taking strategy, timing discipline, and performance psychology.
| Component | Status |
|---|---|
| Module Specification | Complete |
| Implementation | Planned |
Future Modules Under Consideration
| Category | Potential Modules |
|---|---|
| Standardized Tests | ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT |
| Professional Certifications | Bar Exam, CPA, Medical Boards, IT Certifications |
| Language Learning | TOEFL, IELTS, DELE, JLPT |
| Admissions Preparation | College Essays, Interview Practice |
Interested in a Specific Module?
If you have expertise in any of these areas and would like to contribute to module development, or if you have suggestions for additional modules, we would love to hear from you.
Share Your Ideas