Angel One Joins MemoryOS’ Mission to Transform Mnemonics with Gamification and AI

• Angel One Fund joins MemoryOS’ USD 1M round 
• The app gamifies Mind Palace techniques for accessible memory training and enhancement
• The platform can boast about 73% memory improvement in tested users worldwide
• MemoryOS 2.0 launching soon with AI personalization and collaborative features

This May, the fairly new but already proactive Ukrainian VC firm Angel One Fund (invested in NORDA Dynamics recently) announced joining the latest funding round of memoryOS, a global edtech company with Ukrainian roots. The round amounts USD 1M, the lead investor is another well-known Ukrainian VC fund SID Venture Partners (exited Elai.io, among others), and other investors included Flyer One Ventures, Vesna Capital, and angel investor Anthony Brenninkmeijer.

MemoryOS in a Nutshell

MemoryOS is a gamified memory enhancement app started by Alex Ruzh (CEO), who experienced the stress of traditional education and exam systems during his academic years. When he discovered Mind Palace memory techniques, he found them beneficial but overly complex and inaccessible to many people who could benefit from them.

Determined to create a more user-friendly solution, Mr Ruzh assembled a team in 2019 that includes two-time world memory champion Jonas von Essen. They made it their mission to develop an app that would make memory training engaging rather than intimidating, unlike conventional methods that often create resistance.

The app centers on the Mind Palace concept, a mental storage system where memories are organized in specific locations called Loci. These serve as folders where users store memories through strong associations. To recall information, users mentally ‘walk’ through their palace, following these associative pathways.

MemoryOS transforms this traditional technique into an interactive, gamified experience that visualizes the Mind Palace for users. By making memory training more accessible and enjoyable, the app addresses the pain points that often discourage people from pursuing memory enhancement practices. The platform offers structured methods for building and developing both Mind Palaces and individual Loci, helping users improve their memory capabilities without the complexity barriers of traditional approaches.

‘Making ancient memory techniques widely accessible through modern mobile app technology addresses a deeply overlooked need in our increasingly fast-paced and distracted societies. I recognized the value of this approach even before we met, and today, I feel genuinely privileged to be part of this journey. It’s vital to remember that for most of human history, our ability to memorize was essential for survival—long before writing or printing existed. This innate capacity is a universal human trait. With just a bit of training, anyone can tap into it and experience immediate results, along with a boost in confidence and satisfaction,’ Mr Brenninkmeijer comments.

ITKeyMedia covered memoryOS’ record-breaking Kickstarter campaign in 202 as the startup raised more than 30x the intended amount. Since then, the startup has grown into a global EdTech company reporting over 60,000 monthly users and more than 500,000 app downloads. The team expanded to 30+ members across 10 countries and the product evolved into an award-winning, gamified memory training app used by students, professionals, and lifelong learners worldwide.

The USD 900B Information Overload Crisis

 

Mr Ruzh quotes Basex, a New York–based consulting firm that’s been studying information overload since the early 1990s. According to their report, which has since been widely cited— including in Harvard Business Review—information overload is estimated to cost the US economy over 900B annually in lost productivity and stifled progress.

‘The idea that people now handle five times more data than they did ten years ago really reflects what we’re all feeling: the explosion of emails, messages, video calls, and nonstop notifications. It’s become a constant mental juggling act just to keep up, and that growing cognitive load is something industry research has been warning about for years,’ the CEO notes.

‘In today’s world, every day we are bombarded by ever-increasing volumes of information, which overloads short-term memory, and we increasingly rely on technology and gadgets to outsource the storage of important information, such as birthdays and other important dates, personal thoughts and insights, routes etc. Not only does it cause social awkwardness of varying degree and context and hurts our relationships with those closest to us, but also further degrades our ability to retain information—which is basically a downward spiral,’ Vesna Capital’s investment director Petro Sovyak-Krukovskyy agrees.

Memory Improvement, Recall Precision and Speed, and User Retention

To remedy this, memoryOS blends centuries-old mnemonics with modern tech—immersive 3D memory palaces with patented mechanics, the most effective mnemonic techniques used by memory champions, spaced repetition, personalization, and Duolingo-like lessons—to deliver an engaging, effective learning experience. The team is convinced that such fusion ensures lasting, measurable improvements, setting memoryOS apart from simple memory apps.

The company measures the app’s effectiveness through user performance metrics built into the app tracking improvements in recall accuracy, speed, and consistency over time. Based on a group of over 4,153 participants aged 17 to 60 (who took a pre-test, completed initial lesson experiences within the app, and did a post-test), memoryOS reportedly provided a rapid increase for 73% of users, improving their recall precision by 73% and recall speed by 57%.

‘What stood out to us most was the high level of user retention: the data showed that users weren’t just trying memoryOS once, but returning and actively using it over time. For us, this is one of the most critical indicators of an EdTech product’s viability and real value,’ Angel One Fund’s managing partner Ivan Petrenko specifies.

‘Currently, we’re collaborating with academic researchers from Stockholm and Berkley using advanced MEG on more formal, external research to assess long-term memory retention and overall cognitive performance, and brain health impact. High-quality research in this area takes time to prepare, gather, and analyze.’ Mr Ruzh shares.

Memory Enhancement as a Universal Need

According to the company’s information, a few main types of users are coming to memoryOS. There are students trying to nail their exams, professionals who need to keep up with loads of info at work, curious minds who just love learning new things, and older adults who want to keep their memory sharp.

The app gets updated regularly to work well for any users and supports different learning styles. Whether the user may be a visual learner, prefer hands-on interaction, or like breaking things down into small, easy steps, the 3D memory palaces, bite-sized lessons, and gamified elements make it engaging and flexible.

‘Edtech has been a priority for Angel One Fund since our inception, and we are constantly seeking Ukrainian startups that combine innovation, proven effectiveness, and strong founding teams. memoryOS, a startup at the intersection of education, neuroscience, and memory enhancement technologies, is exactly that kind of project,’ Angel One Fund’s principal Valeriia Fedeienko tells ITKeyMedia.

An Elephant Companion and Further Evolution

In view of the new investment, memoryOS 2.0 is in the works. A major upgrade from the original, it promises to be faster, smarter, and much more personalized. The entire experience is enhanced with better AI guidance, smoother navigation and a more pleasant and immersive 3D environment. On top of AI-powered personalisation, users may expect lessons and other learning experiences to get more engaging and much smaller and ‘digestible’ overall. People will also be able to learn and play together.

‘One fun addition is the deeper integration of Mo, a friendly Elephant companion, who will play a more active role throughout the app. Mo helps guide users, celebrate wins, and make the whole learning experience more engaging and enjoyable,’ Mr Ruzh adds.

MemoryOS 2.0 is currently in the advanced development and testing phase, with internal user feedback helping to fine-tune things. The plan is to start rolling out memoryOS 2.0 as soon as this year, but there isn’t a final release date yet.

Further Ambition: Transforming Education and Workplaces and Unlocking Human Potential

Aside from this, memoryOS is exploring ways to bring the app into formal education systems and workplaces. It’s something we’re genuinely excited about, as the potential to transform how students learn and retain information is massive, and it can also help working professionals perform better.

‘Memory techniques should be a fundamental part of education for learners of all ages—it’s not just a skill, but a natural part of who we are,’ Mr Brenninkmeijer firmly believes.

The standing goal is to make memoryOS a truly global tool for learning and remembering needed knowledge. In line with this goal, the top priority remains in strengthening and refining the core experience to make it as effective and accessible as possible for all users to be able to unlock the full power of their memory.

‘While memoryOS is designed to help individuals improve their memory, the long-term vision goes far beyond that. We believe that stronger memory and cognitive skills can have a ripple effect – boosting confidence, reducing learning anxiety, and empowering people to learn and remember more efficiently throughout their lives,’ Mr Ruzh concludes.

There is an apparent potential impact in education systems, workplaces, and even mental health on a broader scale. In the long run, tools like memoryOS are positioned to help shift how society approaches learning altogether—from boring rote memorization to a truly joyful process of comprehending and retaining what matters.