Voices 2025 - Innovation in Action
David Carr completed his degree in Actuarial Mathematics at DCU in 2004 before doing a Master's degree through the Naughton Fellowship at the University of Notre Dame in Engineering, Science and Technology Entrepreneurship (ESTEEM).
Currently based in Michigan, working with human resources service provider AEBetancourt as their Director of Strategic Insights and Innovation, David is also the founder of the Pi² app – a fun, competitive maths app that was recently launched.
The DCU experience
Reflecting on his time at DCU, academically and personally, David says: “I’m a big fan of DCU. The atmosphere and the vibe around campus is great. People are doers there. There are societies for everything, and everyone feels at home because there’s something for everyone.
"In the maths department, I probably had a small circle of about 20 lecturers over the four years and built close relationships with them. These were the people who wrote my reference letters and were there for me when I needed to talk about what I wanted to do aftercollege. They were more than just teachers – almost like big brothers – always looking out for you,” recalls David.
That sense of support, he says, extended beyond the classroom: “There was a real family kind of vibe. Everyone wanted the best for each other, especially when it came to balancing sports and academics,” he says.
“The teachers were really understanding, and so were the sports managers. When I was balancing being on the Division 1 soccer team, my manager was always supportive of my studies. And if I had to miss a class for a match, my professors were happy to share notes or help me catch up.”
For four years, David threw himself into all aspects of student life from tutoring, to sports to travel.
“I was playing on the Gaelic football, hurling, and soccer teams at DCU. I was one of three people who set up the DCU Chess Club. I also competed in the DCU Boxing National Championships. I went on the ski trips and the surf trips, and I was involved with the different societies. I really enjoyed my time there.”
The US experience and the launch of Pi²
As someone who is passionate about maths, David was keen to use that gift to help others overcome their struggles with the subject.
“Maths always has a bad rep: most people would say it’s their least favourite subject. I went to America on a scholarship for a year and that gave me the freedom to try something new.”
It was there, as part of the ESTEEM graduate programme at Notre Dame, that his idea for Pi² was born.
“I had built up years of maths knowledge through tutoring and I reached a point where I felt like the brick-and-mortar model was too limited. I could only teach so many students in a physical classroom. I knew I needed to take it online. The original idea was a bit like Duolingo for maths.
"My first job through DCU was tutoring maths and that experience gave me the motivation. I got to see first-hand the struggles students have with maths: the lack of motivation, the disbelief, the low confidence. That really pushed me to try tackle the bigger issue – people’s attitudes towards maths, and how difficult they find it,” says David.
From idea to launch, it took months of determination, data and user insight.
“We made the app available for students to download on their phones. Every time we pushed an update, we gathered feedback from them.
"We had around 300 students involved in what we called our beta phase; they were using the app, getting interviewed, hopping on calls with us, giving feedback about what worked, what didn’t, and what they wanted to see improved. What was interesting was that sometimes students would say they liked a feature, but when we checked the data, they weren’t actually using it. So, we really tried to balance the feedback with the usage data to understand what was truly valuable.”
Initially aimed at Leaving Cert and A-Level students, the app has evolved.
“We added a daily challenge feature; six trivia-style maths questions a day…kind of like a fun mini game. There is a leaderboard and the idea was to get students logging in daily. We thought once they were on the app, they might stay and study.
"But what we found through interviews and tracking usage was that most people weren’t using the study resources as much, but they kept coming back for the daily game. We had to listen to that data and adjust accordingly.”
Pi² is currently available on the App Store. “We put a lot of work into it and we’re constantly improving it,” says David.
Giving back
Even while based in the United States, David still finds time to stay connected with his alma mater.
“I’d still be around watching the sports when I’m home, and I keep in touch with people. But the main way I’ve been giving back is through the Open Days. I usually give the talk for the Actuarial Maths course to potential students.
"Every year at the virtual Open Day, I put together a slideshow and talk through the course, answer their questions and try to offer whatever advice I can. I definitely don’t know it all, but I’m happy to help in any way I can,” he says.
Naughton Fellowship
The Naughton Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for aspiring ESTEEM graduate students from Ireland to experience this innovative graduate program and immerse themselves in Notre Dame campus life.