Charlie Hopkins-Brinicombe on Why Most Gamification Fails and How Trophy.so Does It Better

Edtech Insiders

Content provided by Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell, Alex Sarlin, and Ben Kornell. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell, Alex Sarlin, and Ben Kornell or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

1d ago 47:26

MP3•Episode home

Send us a text

Charlie Hopkins-Brinicombe is the co-founder of Trophy.so, a gamification infrastructure platform helping EdTech and wellness companies build engaging learning experiences in weeks, not months. With a background in product development and motivation design, Charlie focuses on creating scalable systems that boost retention, habit formation, and learner satisfaction.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why most gamification fails.
Which mechanics truly motivate learners.
How social features boost engagement.
How Trophy.so measures retention impact.
How AI can personalize motivation.

✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:02:07] How Trophy.so began.
[00:03:23] Why platforms reinvent gamification.
[00:05:02] The real value of streaks and badges.
[00:08:50] Trophy.so’s retention and impact tools.
[00:12:40] Gamification for both consumer and school EdTech.
[00:14:36] Key mechanics—achievements, streaks, leaderboards, leagues.
[00:17:47] The power of social and community challenges.
[00:22:20] Common gamification pitfalls.
[00:28:29] Engagement vs. actual learning outcomes.
[00:35:28] AI-driven, personalized motivation.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

As a tech-first company, Tuck Advisors has developed a suite of proprietary tools to serve its clients better. Tuck was the first firm in the world to launch a custom GPT around M&A. If you haven’t already, try our proprietary M&A Analyzer, which assesses fit between your company and a specific buyer. To explore this free tool and the rest of our technology, visit tuckadvisors.com.

Chapters

1. Charlie Hopkins-Brinicombe on Why Most Gamification Fails and How Trophy.so Does It Better (00:00:00)

2. How Trophy.so began. (00:02:28)

3. Why platforms reinvent gamification. (00:03:44)

4. The real value of streaks and badges. (00:05:23)

5. Trophy.so’s retention and impact tools. (00:09:11)

6. Gamification for both consumer and school EdTech. (00:14:20)

7. Key mechanics—achievements, streaks, leaderboards, leagues. (00:16:16)

8. The power of social and community challenges. (00:19:27)

9. Common gamification pitfalls. (00:24:00)

10. Engagement vs. actual learning outcomes. (00:30:09)

11. AI-driven, personalized motivation. (00:37:08)

421 episodes

#Tech #Podcasting Education #News #Tech News #Alex Sarlin