The Voice of Local Utah

Marketplace

What is Zaniac?

A new tutoring service offered with video games helps kids to learn math and science.

by

Richard Markosian

|

The bright purple and green building on 2100 South and around 1000 East, once the home of Sugar House Coffee, certainly attracts attention. The sign outside reads “Zaniac.” “What’s this?” I wondered. “Another Zumba-like fitness studio?”

The immaculately remodeled interior is full of brand new Apple computers. Chess and game boards fill the tables. I was still guessing at the function of this place when I walked in and discovered that Zaniac is a tutoring and learning center for kids.

Zaniac is a very big idea launched by New York Times best-selling author and entrepreneur Paul Zane. Zane wrote the best-selling books Unlimited Wealth and the Wellness Revolution, He has served as an economic advisor for two presidential administrations. So why did he start a tutoring business? His goal is nothing short of revolutionizing the way students learn science and math.

CEO of Zaniac, Paul Reddy, plans to launch many national locations. Sugar House is their second Utah location. They chose Sugar House because of its proximity to schools and commerce, and for the exposure their frontage would gain in the heart of 2100 South.

Reddy says that students learn math and physical science through a video game called Minecraft Exploration. They also offer a software program called Zane Math which is geared towards making math more enjoyable. “A lot of what we do is ‘edutainment,’ helping kids learn math while they believe they are playing games,” he notes.

The overall goal, Reddy explains, is to “bridge the gap between the kids who can afford to go to the best private schools and the kids who cannot.” Reddy adds that there are many excellent public school teachers, but the programs Zaniac offers give kids tools to achieve excellence in math and science. Zaniac hires tutors who are studying math and science while attending a university.

With American kids currently in 26th place in the world for their math and science test scores, it will be interesting to see if this program makes a difference.

For more information on Zaniac contact zaniaclearning.com

,
, , , , ,

Richard Markosian

I am a story teller and journalist. I have a passion for farmers, local craftspeople, and folks who aspire to create, build and grow their business in the local marketplace. Why local? By supporting locally-owned businesses we create more opportunity for entrepreneurs, and we claim our sovereignty to shape our communities how we want to see them. I aspire to build Utah Stories Magazine into a household Utah name, and assist Utah businesses and makers with marketing. On the journalism side of things my passion is investigative journalism that offers true insight into issues. I believe strongly in the forth estate: strong, meaningful, insightful journalism is essential to a free market Democracy.

Join our newsletter.
Stay informed.

Join Utah Stories Newsletter

  • Addiction

    Ritual Chocolate Tasting Class in Heber City: Inside Utah’s Bean-to-Bar Factory

    Inside Ritual Chocolate’s Heber City factory, guests learn how to taste chocolate like professionals during weekly bean-to-bar classes. From Madagascar’s bright citrus notes to savory pairings with olive oil and smoked salt, the experience blends science, craftsmanship, and Utah creativity into one unforgettable night.


  • Go Local

    An Argentine Food Tradition Finds a Home in Sugar House

    In Sugar House, Maria Florencia Farr makes empanadas that carry more than filling. They carry memory. Each one recalls suburban Buenos Aires, where families gathered late at night and meals were unhurried, familiar, and shared.

    “In Argentina, dinner doesn’t happen at five,” she says. Empanadas were a constant in her childhood, as ordinary and dependable as cookies in an American home. Learning to seal them, shaping the distinctive repulgue by hand, marked a small but meaningful rite of passage.

    When Florencia moved to the United States 18 years ago, food became one of the clearest reminders of what she had left behind. She missed the everyday tastes of home and kept searching for them. Over time, that longing evolved into something larger, shaping the decision to build a place rooted in tradition, meant to be shared.

    The remainder of this story is available to subscribers.

    To access this post, you must purchase Utah Stories (Digital + Print) or 3 month free trial (Digital).


  • Utah Stories

    Utah Winter Events Calendar: Ice Skating, Festivals, and Things to Do in January–February 2026

    From ice skating at Millcreek Common, Gallivan Center, and the Utah Olympic Oval to winter festivals, outdoor adventures, and cultural events across the state, this January–February calendar highlights a wide range of activities happening throughout Utah, from Bluff Balloon Festival and SkiJoring Utah to concerts, races, and seasonal celebrations.


  • Utah Stories

    How I Lost 120 Pounds and Changed My Relationship With Food

    Throughout most of my life, I used food to cope with chaos, depression, and pain I did not yet understand. By my early twenties, I weighed over 320 pounds and felt trapped in a body that limited every part of my life. This is the story of how learning about food, mental health, and habit-building helped me lose 120 pounds and rebuild stability.