BLAIRSVILLE, Pa., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Apangea Learning, an educational support company providing cost-effective, differentiated instruction, announced today that its Chief Executive Officer, Louis Piconi, will present Apangea Learning innovations at the Software & Information Industry Association's (SIIA) On Demand conference in San Jose at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, November 8. The conference, which takes place at the Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, California, runs from November 8-9 and focuses on both the strategic climate for Software as a Service (SaaS) and operational issues that determine the profitability of a SaaS company. Several hundred Internet Service Vendors, platform vendors, venture capitalists, financial analysts and other SaaS thought leaders will attend.

"Schools have begun embracing software as a service," Piconi said. "They understand the cost and scalability benefits - but most importantly, SaaS enables them to provide education through a wider support network of home, community centers, library and more, resulting in increased student achievement. When we make education accessible via the Internet from anywhere at anytime, achievement follows."

In 2002, Piconi combined his talents as a tutor in inner-city math programs and a successful technology entrepreneur to found Apangea Learning, Inc. The company's mission is to ensure that every child struggling with achievement has access to a tutor. Prior to founding Apangea Learning, Louis launched WiredOrg.com, an innovative Intranet startup company and served as COO of CommNav, Inc., an early-stage portal infrastructure company. He was also Managing Director of the IT Networks for the Pittsburgh Technology Council (PTC).

Apangea Learning's SmartHelp, available to all schools for a price of just $1-2 per tutoring hour, is the only system with an artificial intelligence engine providing support to students until the moment they are in need of a live tutor - at which point SmartHelp makes available a live certified teacher over the Internet. The system can be used anytime; live tutors are available 8 a.m. - 9 p.m., Monday - Friday and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday. The SmartHelp model is being proven in schools across the country, with more than 25,000 students using it and with implementations in major cities like Chicago, Miami, New York City and Philadelphia.

About Apangea Learning

Apangea Learning is setting a new standard in the way students learn, enabling students to dramatically improve achievement, at the most cost-effective price. Apangea Learning provides differentiated instruction for every student via a unique integration of artificial intelligence and live one-on-one human tutors. Apangea Learning's solutions, including its groundbreaking SmartHelp, are based on one of the world's largest bodies of cognitive research and utilize innovative Web-based technology that engages students and teaches fundamental problem-solving skills. Visit Apangea Learning on the Web at http://www.apangealearning.com/.

CONTACT: Jennifer Bannan of Zer0 to 5ive for Apangea Learning,
+1-412-580-3675

Web Site: http://www.apangealearning.com/