Strokes of Genius | Fall 2025 Cohort Dossier

Strokes of Genius, LLC is on a mission to bridge the gap in literacy and technological access by designing engaging, and equitable learning experiences through an immersive testing platform. The EdTech company is driven to empower young people—particularly those from marginalized communities—through education, creativity, and technology so they can not only keep pace with a rapidly changing world but also shape it.

Founder and educational director Douglas Pitzer was troubled by an increasing educational gap he witnessed during the pandemic. Traditional literacy programs weren’t benefitting all students, especially those in underserved communities. To address this issue, he leveraged his background in education, technology, community leadership, and advocacy to form Strokes of Genius, LLC. 

“I wanted to create an approach that combined technology, culture, and creativity in ways that young people could see themselves in. Entrepreneurship gave me the freedom to design solutions outside of conventional educational systems that inspire students to learn, lead, and thrive,” Douglas said. 

Douglas is growing his startup alongside his deep involvement with community leadership, education, and innovation. He is the creator for Immersive Literacy Learners Program, an executive board member of The Humble Hustle Company, president of Blacks in Technology Southwest Virginia and the manager of the Neighbors Advocacy Council for Feeding Southwest Virginia. Douglas holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Tech, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in educational psychology. His research centers on the rising disparity of technological literacy, specifically how AI and immersive spaces affect literacy outcomes.

A native of Roanoke, Douglas chose the city as his headquarters because he’s attuned to the intersection between educational need and technological opportunity in the region. “Roanoke has a rich history and a strong community fabric that aligns with my mission of using education and technology to build equity,” he said. 

His company is currently building a virtual program that makes learning to read more interactive while also tracking how the brain is working during the process. The program helps students improve literacy skills while giving researchers valuable data on attention, comprehension, and cognitive growth. Participating in RAMP was a natural next step in growing Strokes of Genius into a scalable EdTech and community-driven powerhouse. 

As a member of the Fall 2025 RAMP cohort, Douglas is focused on gaining the tools to scale, strengthen business models, secure investments, and build sustainable structures that enable the company to reach more students, schools, and communities. “I want to expand my leadership capacity, refine impact metrics, and connect with other founders and mentors who share a commitment to solving real problems through innovation,” Douglas said.