The very beginning
Women with a love of science, that’s how Killer Snails came to be. Together, they thought that there had to be a better way to get kids, middle school girls in particular, to connect with science. There was a need for more engaging ways to learn the subject, ways that specifically appealed to young girls and students traditionally underrepresented in STEM. They saw their opening and took it, and Killer Snails began.
Starting with “Assassins of the Sea,” whose main focus was marine biology and, you guessed it, killer snails, they saw great success. This led them to create “Biome Builder” and immersive reality experiences “Scuba Adventures”, “BioDive,” and WaterWays. Through crowdfunding, grants, and community engagement, Killer Snails has raised millions since inception. Now, their patented, fun learning experiences have made their way into schools nationwide, and Killer Snails is a force in bringing science out of laboratories to help students find the joys of discovery and exploration.
Meet the team
The Killer Snails Co-Founders
Founded by great minds working in science, education, and business, Killer Snails creates imaginative and fun ways to experience science, capturing the excitement and challenges that come with being a real-life scientist. Our award-winning results show how we can change the way students engage in class by utilizing technology and making inventive learning experiences that are accessible for educators and students.
Mandë Holford, PhD
Chief Science Officer of Killer Snails. Dr. Holford is a professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University as well as the Curator of Malacology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology. She gave a TED talk on the power of venom, received a 2023 NIH Pioneer Award, an NSF CAREER Award, and was elected Champion Young Scientist and 2020 Sustainability Pioneer by the World Economic Forum.
Mandë Holford, PhD
Chief Science Officer of Killer Snails. Dr. Holford is a professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University as well as the Curator of Malacology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology. She gave a TED talk on the power of venom, received a 2023 NIH Pioneer Award, an NSF CAREER Award, and was elected Champion Young Scientist and 2020 Sustainability Pioneer by the World Economic Forum.
Jessica Ochoa Hendrix, MBA
CEO of Killer Snails, has worked in K-16 education since 2003. Ochoa Hendrix was named the Small Business Administration’s New York 2022 Small Business Person of the Year and gave a TED talk on incorporating Virtual Reality into the classroom. She has served as the principal investigator on Small Business Innovation Research grants from the National Institutes of Health, Institute of Educational Sciences, and National Science Foundation, and holds an extended reality patent.
Jessica Ochoa Hendrix, MBA
CEO of Killer Snails, has worked in K-16 education since 2003. Ochoa Hendrix was named the Small Business Administration’s New York 2022 Small Business Person of the Year and gave a TED talk on incorporating Virtual Reality into the classroom. She has served as the principal investigator on Small Business Innovation Research grants from the National Institutes of Health, Institute of Educational Sciences, and National Science Foundation, and holds an extended reality patent.
Our mission is to nurture the next generation of scientists and bring the excitement of laboratory discoveries to learners.
Our partners
