Charlie Hopkins-Brinicombe on Why Most Gamification Fails and How Trophy.so Does It Better
Edtech Insiders
Podcast Learnings and Resources
Charlie shares insights from his Levels podcast and recommends Octalysis and e-learning resources for gamification.
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.
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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.
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