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Zion Zhang – Co-Founder of Ponder | Rethinking Education with AI and Agency
Zion's Bio At just 18 years old, Zion Zhang is the Co-Founder of Ponder, a platform helping youth build real-world skills through projects guided by AI simulations of their future selves.
Zion believes education will look radically different by 2035. The rise of AI, self-learning, and homeschooling are early signals of that transformation—and Ponder is his contribution to accelerating this change.
A passionate thinker and builder, Zion combines bold vision with hands-on experimentation, shaping a future where learning is personalized, adaptive, and purpose-driven.
We talked about the following and other items • Zion's personal journey and the origin of Ponder • Self-learning, curiosity, and early influences • Building a product that redefines education • Finding purpose and vision at a young age • The role of parental support in entrepreneurship • How cold emailing helped him network with founders and investors • Building a strong technical co-founder relationship • Generational differences in how people learn and grow • The evolution of homeschooling and AI's role in education • Department of Education policies and systemic reform • Educational inequality and funding challenges • College education — purpose, cost, and future relevance • Investor relations and startup execution • Ponder's long-term mission and global potential • How AI will reshape learning and personal development
Zion's Social Media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zion-zhang-984345262/ Website: https://ponder.school/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/ZheyunZhangJ
Zion's Advice "Agency is about disagreeability in a positive sense — the willingness to challenge assumptions, think critically, and take action.
When I was 17, I started acting on opportunities instead of overthinking them. Even when I made mistakes, I learned faster. That's what agency really is — the ability to move forward, learn through experience, and build confidence through doing.
When you feel stuck or hesitant, that's a signal of low agency. The solution? Just start. Action creates clarity."
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By Jason Cavness
5
9797 ratings
Zion's Bio At just 18 years old, Zion Zhang is the Co-Founder of Ponder, a platform helping youth build real-world skills through projects guided by AI simulations of their future selves.
Zion believes education will look radically different by 2035. The rise of AI, self-learning, and homeschooling are early signals of that transformation—and Ponder is his contribution to accelerating this change.
A passionate thinker and builder, Zion combines bold vision with hands-on experimentation, shaping a future where learning is personalized, adaptive, and purpose-driven.
We talked about the following and other items • Zion's personal journey and the origin of Ponder • Self-learning, curiosity, and early influences • Building a product that redefines education • Finding purpose and vision at a young age • The role of parental support in entrepreneurship • How cold emailing helped him network with founders and investors • Building a strong technical co-founder relationship • Generational differences in how people learn and grow • The evolution of homeschooling and AI's role in education • Department of Education policies and systemic reform • Educational inequality and funding challenges • College education — purpose, cost, and future relevance • Investor relations and startup execution • Ponder's long-term mission and global potential • How AI will reshape learning and personal development
Zion's Social Media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zion-zhang-984345262/ Website: https://ponder.school/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/ZheyunZhangJ
Zion's Advice "Agency is about disagreeability in a positive sense — the willingness to challenge assumptions, think critically, and take action.
When I was 17, I started acting on opportunities instead of overthinking them. Even when I made mistakes, I learned faster. That's what agency really is — the ability to move forward, learn through experience, and build confidence through doing.
When you feel stuck or hesitant, that's a signal of low agency. The solution? Just start. Action creates clarity."