Our Beginning
In 2012, Frank Vahid, a computer science and engineering professor at UC Riverside, and Smita Bakshi, who brought academic expertise from UC Davis and a decade of high-tech industry experience, recognized that more than half of STEM students never completed their degrees. The issue was clear: expensive, dense textbooks failed to match how students learn. Facing this challenge, Frank and Smita founded zyBooks and created a better way to engage students.
Our Solution and Products
zyBooks reimagine learning materials from the ground up with a simple philosophy of “Less text, more action.” Walls of text are replaced with interactive experiences: animations, question sets, hands-on tools, integrated homework, and real-world labs. With zyBooks, students learn by doing—a long-proven, more effective practice. Just as importantly, we set our prices at a fraction of the cost of traditional textbooks because we believe financial barriers shouldn’t derail STEM careers.
Our interactive learning solutions are designed for courses in computer science, engineering, data science, IT, math, and statistics—all of which can be explored through our online catalog.
Our Commitment
Beyond our innovative approach, we’ve always operated on the single principle of doing right by students and instructors. This includes providing exceptional customer support and continuously refining our platform for simplicity. Our collaborative teams of professors, content developers, and software engineers work tirelessly to create and improve materials that help students succeed.
Our Impact
zyBooks has empowered over 1.9 million students across more than 1,800 academic institutions. Each student represents a future computer scientist, engineer, data scientist, IT professional, or mathematician who might have otherwise been lost to outdated materials. We’re not just creating learning solutions; we’re removing barriers, building confidence, and helping students discover their potential in fields that will shape our collective future.