Paul Marshall, an Arden University student, is the founder of Focus Cyberspace — a bold EdTech startup aiming to transform how we teach and learn using immersive technology. Combining virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI), Paul is building a platform that delivers personalised, inclusive, and engaging learning experiences — starting with the learners who are most often left behind.
Paul’s motivation for launching Focus is deeply personal. His experiences have instilled in him a passion for making education more inclusive and accessible, particularly for neurodiverse learners.
His personal experience has become his fuel for innovation:
“Education needs to evolve,” he says. “It needs to work for everyone, not just for those who fit the system’s mould.”
Focus Cyberspace is still early-stage — but Paul’s ambition is anything but small. His vision is to develop a VR learning platform where students can explore historical events, conduct virtual science experiments, and receive real-time support from AI-powered virtual tutors. The system will analyse student interactions to tailor learning paths that fit individual styles — visual, auditory, or experiential.
While the vision is big, Paul knows execution starts with small first steps. With guidance from the Arden Enterprise Incubator, he’s now focusing on a specific wedge opportunity: delivering immersive, accessible content for students with Special Educational Needs (SEN). This use case aligns with Focus’s mission and gives the team a concrete way to build, test, and improve the product with real-world feedback and insights.
Paul’s background — from managing events to co-founding creative ventures — shows his entrepreneurial drive. But he’s the first to admit that building a tech platform is a steep learning curve. That’s why he’s surrounding himself with mentors, collaborators, and technical support through Arden and beyond. He’s also in early discussions about building a prototype that can be tested by educators, with a view toward securing grant or angel investment.
Focus Cyberspace stands out not just for its bold vision, but for its heart. Paul isn’t building this company just to make money — he’s building it because he believes that no student should be left behind due to how they learn.
If you’re an educator, technologist, designer, or potential collaborator who shares that belief, we want to hear from you. Focus is seeking support, ideas, and partners from across the Arden community and beyond.
Together, let’s build a future where learning feels alive — for everyone.
Interested in helping? Contact the Arden Enterprise Incubator at aei@arden.ac.uk
