Entrepreneurial Couple Launch Story Creation App for Children

Dr. Renee Dua and Nick Desai Made The Storytime Adventure Creation Platform For Kids To Choose Their Own Adventure.

By Keemia Zhang

Palisades Entrepreneurs ​​Dr. Renee Dua and Nick Desai have launched their third collaborative app, SmartDreams, on April 4th. The app uses AI to generate custom bedtime stories for children, based on their age, reading level, and storytelling preferences.

Desai, who was raised in Orange County, has worked in the entrepreneurial space for thirty years, but began working with his wife, Dr. Dua, in 2014. “Renee and I started a company together in the healthcare space, we’ve been entrepreneurs together ever since then” says Desai. Heal, “an Uber-like app”, provides doctor house calls. “We started, literally, with me driving her around.” The company went on to raise $200 million in funding and operated across ten states before being sold to Humana in 2021.

 

“I’m a kidney doctor, I’ve been in practice for 20 years – and I still do practice, but now I’m home much more with the kids.” remarks Dua. Their three children, aged four to nine, played an active part in the app’s development and design. “If we don’t know what we’re doing, we can hear all about it.”

“The app came out of, literally – one day I was working out of the master bedroom,” explains Desai.” Our daughter comes up to me, and goes “Daddy, I want you to tell me a story. I say get the book, and she says, ‘No, I want you to make a story about a bear eating pizza in a forest.’ And right then, inspiration struck.”

After signing up, parents and children can use SmartDreams by selecting cartoon images of animals, settings, and foods, which are used to generate their unique, specific story each time. “You don’t cut down trees, you don’t spend money, but you get an infinite number of stories.” 

The app took a month to develop using Chat GPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot. Precautions were taken to ensure safe, appropriate content and consumer privacy. The stories are customized  “based on the age of the kid, the story’s length, and the words that are used.” Desai explains. “Each story reflects a life lesson, you know, being a good friend, sharing, teamwork, the environment, each of these things are incorporated very subtly into the story.” Fun facts also appear about the animals and setting selected, as a further educational element.

The couple’s children are described as enthusiastic readers of the app.  “What’s really cute is [their daughter] asks for it now. She understands how the story comes alive. She’s able to pick what she wants to see and learn.” Dua says. Parents can also use the app to select vocabulary words, allowing their children to learn in an imaginative environment. “It’s them learning and me having less work to do to make sure they’re learning […] It’s more for kids to just see their creativity come to life.”

The app is free to use, with additional paid features that require licensing – such as read-alouds from favorite Disney characters – as an upcoming update. Other future developments include custom avatars, where children can upload pictures of themselves to be inserted into the story’s visuals, and custom illustrations. SmartDreams currently works for English and Spanish speakers, and aims to operate in multiple languages.

This reflects the couple’s awareness of the city’s diversity. “You can drive eight miles from here and go to a community where no one speaks English, because they speak Spanish, or Tagalog, or Armenian,” says Desai. “It’s so crazy how lucky we are to have all this diversity.” remarks Dr. Dua. “We love L.A. Unless you live here you don’t appreciate it.”

Both Desai and Dr. Dua are Southern California natives, having completed their graduate studies at UCLA. “We are very proud to be part of the L.A tech scene,” Desai declares. “L.A has something no other place in the world has that fosters startups. L.A is Hollywood, L.A is tech, restaurants, tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, sports, universities,  aerospace. All these things exist in one place – it becomes a crucible for great ideas to come out of that.”

The family have resided in the Palisades since 2009, with SmartDreams as their third startup while in the neighborhood. “We’re as local as local can be.” proclaims Dr. Dua “It’s very much a community of parents who are very invested in the education of their kids – and at the heart of everything we do, we want to be a part of our community.”

in News
Related Posts

Black History Greens Festival to Celebrate Community Legacy of Virginia Avenue Park

February 14, 2025

February 14, 2025

The free community event is part of Santa Monica’s Black History Month celebrations, with the 2025 theme, “Roots and Reflections:...

Executive Order Suspends Environmental Regulations for Wildfire Rebuilding

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Regulatory Relief Aims to Accelerate Wildfire Recovery in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive...

Country Club Donates $1M for Palisades Recovery

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

The club has encouraged members and partners to contribute to an established fund The Riviera Country Club has pledged $1...

Flour Pizzeria & Cafe to Bring Brooklyn-Style Pizza to Brentwood This Week

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Family-Owned Favorite from the Palisades to Open on San Vicente  Flour Pizzeria & Cafe, a restaurant from Pacific Palisades run...

Tai Chain to Donate Santa Monica Grand Opening Proceeds to Wildfire-Affected Restaurants

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

The restaurant’s U.S. presence began in Arcadia, Calif., in 2000, and has since expanded to 17 locations  Din Tai Fung,...

Santa Monica Hotel Event Space Offers Affordability, Accessibility

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Elevate Your Events with Versatile Venues and Exceptional Service Coastal stays and eclectic event spaces don’t have to be expensive....

New Map Tracks Palisades Cleanup Progress, Identifies Phase 1 and Phase 2 Areas

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

New interactive map helps residents track debris removal progress as officials emphasize unprecedented cleanup speed A newly released interactive map...

(Video) The Willows Students Bring a 50-Foot Dragon to Life Through Art and Teamwork

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Kristy Acero, The Willows DK-4th Grade Art teacher, led her students in a large-scale, collaborative project, with each grade creating...

Man Sues Famous Marina del Rey Bar for Alleged Assault

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

The plaintiff is seeking compensatory and punitive damages By Zach Armstrong A patron has sued Brennan’s Pub in Marina del...

Phase 2 Debris Removal Underway in Palisades, Officials Tout Historic Recovery Speed

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

Residents Urged to Submit ROE Forms as Crews Accelerate Debris Removal Efforts Crews have begun Phase 2 of debris removal...

One of Palisades’ First Black Homeowners Seeks Support After Fire Destroys Home

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

Now displaced, she faces uncertainty in finding stable housing Nearly $42,000 has been raised for Louvenia Jenkins, a 97-year-old woman...

 (Video) Beaten Dead Body Found on Santa Monica Shore

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

The Victim Was Pronounced Dead at the Scene The Victim Was Pronounced Dead at the Scene. pic.twitter.com/7lIkEpwvRa — Palisades News...

How Much Have Palisades Property Values Slipped After the Fire?

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

Property prices drop as sellers and buyers remain at odds in post-fire market Property values in Pacific Palisades have taken...

Worker Relief Fund Launched for Those Impacted by Palisades Fire

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

In addition to direct relief, the county is seeking donations for the fund Los Angeles County has launched the LA...

Venice Beach Church Goes on Market for $9.75M

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

The property also includes seven bathrooms, one of which has a shower, and is equipped with security cameras A 0.34-acre...