The company’s flagship program, Grounded, introduces students to geology and Earth systems using virtual reality and inquiry‑based exploration. Instead of reading about rocks or minerals, students interact with them, experiment, make mistakes, refine ideas, and uncover how Earth science connects to the resources, structures, and technologies that surround us.

Virtua partners with:

• School boards
• Community organizations
• Postsecondary institutions
• Industry stakeholders

The goal is to bring high‑quality lab experiences to learners who might otherwise never access them. Programs are designed for senior secondary students and early learners at key decision points—especially those from communities historically underrepresented in STEM.

By combining immersive technology with expert facilitation, Virtua shifts students from passive instruction into curiosity‑driven discovery. The result: deeper interest, stronger confidence, and clearer pathways into future study and careers in Earth science, mining, environmental science, and related fields.

Virtua’s mission is simple: make learning tangible, accessible, and human. When students can explore safely, fail productively, and see themselves in the science, they begin to imagine a different future.

The spark for Virtua came from a powerful moment in the classroom. Nahgeib saw firsthand how traditional education systems can unintentionally exclude students who juggle work, family responsibilities, and financial pressures.

One of his students was fired from their job for leaving early each week to attend Earth science labs. They weren’t struggling academically—they were struggling to balance the realities of life with the demands of education.

That moment made something clear:
The system wasn’t failing because students lacked discipline.
Students were being failed by a system that assumed they could simply rearrange their lives around rigid schedules.

Virtua was created to change that dynamic. To remove the false choice between education and livelihood. To bring hands‑on, experiential learning directly to students—where they are and in ways that honour their time, mobility, and lived realities.

As Virtua began gaining momentum, Nahgeib reached a point where intuition wasn’t enough. He needed support to:

• Build rigorous financial models
• Distinguish pilot programs from scalable offerings
• Understand true development and delivery costs
• Navigate the complex landscape of grants and funding
• Align mission, pricing, and partnerships responsibly

I highly recommend Start SMART to any entrepreneur who feels stuck at the idea stage and wants guidance, structure, and a clear path forward.

Key benefits included:

• Clear financial modelling and realistic pricing structures
• Stronger, defensible assumptions behind program costs
• A better understanding of funding pathways
• Strategic clarity on scalability and delivery models
• A thought‑partner for testing ideas and assumptions

BACD played a significant role in helping Nahgeib pivot toward revenue‑aligned offerings with confidence. Instead of reacting to opportunity, he gained a structured way to evaluate partnerships, pricing, and long‑term viability.

This shift created:

• Better decision‑making
• Stronger partnerships
• Clearer expectations for collaborators and funders
• A deeper sense of confidence in the business direction

The result is a company that’s grounded in mission and guided by strategy.

Virtua is in an early growth phase, intentionally focused on building strong foundations before expanding the team. The business currently operates through a lean model:

• Founder‑led
• Supported by contractors and collaborators with expertise in curriculum, VR development, and program delivery
• No fixed physical location
• Programs delivered directly in schools, community spaces, and partner sites

Growth is measured by partnerships, pilot programs, and expanded reach across education, community, and industry sectors. As long‑term funding solidifies, Virtua plans to grow into a core delivery and operations team.

Advice for Entrepreneurs

Understand the difference between building a business and owning your job. When you only earn revenue by personally being present, you own a job. A business creates value and revenue beyond your individual capacity.

Build with that distinction in mind—from your pricing and partnerships to how you design your programs.

Know your costs. Know your customers. Know your true value.
Passion can spark a business. Clarity is what sustains it.

To learn more about Virtua and its mission to transform science education: