Home / About

About Hi-Math

Who We Are

Armenia's tech sector generates $2.3 billion in annual revenue, employs 58,000+ specialists, and grows at 23% per year. Companies like ServiceTitan, Picsart, SuperAnnotate, and Krisp have built global products from Armenian talent. NVIDIA, Adobe, Cisco, and Siemens run R&D centers in Yerevan.

Behind this ecosystem is a pipeline of exceptional talent — and that pipeline starts at PhysMath School. Founded in 1965, the Artashes Shahinyan Physics-Mathematics School is the #1 ranked school in Armenia and was shortlisted among the world's top 10 by the World's Best School Prizes in 2023.

Hi-Math is the US-based fundraising arm that channels tax-deductible donations directly to the PhysMath Friends Foundation's programs. As a subsidiary of the Hi-Am Charity Foundation (501(c)(3)), 100% of funds go directly to the labs, clubs, and programs that produce measurable results.

Students and instructor in the Engineering Lab at PhysMath School

The Challenge & Opportunity

Concentrated Excellence

Armenia's olympiad success is concentrated in Yerevan and largely within PhysMath. Talented students in Lori, Shirak, Kotayk, Armavir, and Tavush lack access to trained mentors and structured preparation. The Foundation is replicating the PhysMath model across five provinces.

Early Talent Gap

Armenia's national olympiad system excludes students below Grade 7, cutting off early talent identification at a critical age. The Foundation is launching its own national math olympiad for Grades 5–6 — directly mirroring China's proven model of identifying gifted students early.

Girls in STEM

Currently 17% of olympiad club participants are girls and 20% of 2025 international medal winners are female. The Foundation is actively working to increase both numbers through mentorship, girls' robotics teams, and public campaigns featuring women in STEM.

Our Mission

“To enhance the quality of physics and mathematics education by fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and growth-oriented learning environment.”
  • Support professional development of teachers and students through training and mentorship
  • Encourage creative and critical thinking through hands-on, problem-solving education
  • Provide access to modern teaching tools and technical resources
  • Expand olympiad-level education beyond the school to reach broader student groups
  • Build partnerships with local and international educational stakeholders

Our Vision

1

International STEM Olympiads

Making PhysMath School competitive at the highest global level in mathematics, physics, informatics, and engineering competitions.

2

Innovative Laboratories

Building modern physics, computer science, and engineering labs that give students hands-on experience with professional-grade tools.

3

Collaboration with Industry

Creating mentorships and partnerships with universities and technology companies in Armenia and abroad.

4

Entrepreneurial Mindset

Encouraging student-led projects, real-world challenges, and innovation competitions that prepare students for the modern economy.

5

Communication Skills

Ensuring our students are not only technically brilliant but also effective communicators who can lead, persuade, and inspire.

Organization

Organization

Hi-Math

Type

Charitable Foundation (Subsidiary)

Parent

Hi-Am Charity Foundation (est. 2002)

Status

501(c)(3) Non-Profit

Founded

2024

Location

Los Angeles, CA + Yerevan, Armenia

EIN

95-4856301

Our Team

Ana Nikoghosyan Acton

Ana Nikoghosyan Acton

Hi-Math Branch Director

Applied Math (YSU) and Finance MBA (AUA). Former VP at William O'Neil & Co. and co-founder of Altacode LLC. Leads the Hi-Math branch since 2023.

Elena Semerdjian

Elena Semerdjian

Board Member

Triple UCLA alumna. NASA Solar System Ambassador and former White House intern. Gov. Relations experience (CA State Assembly, Glendale).

Arpi Beshlikyan

Arpi Beshlikyan

Board Member

Senior Software Engineer at Northwood (space infrastructure). UCLA CS & Engineering graduate. Former Venture Scout at Gen She.

Liana Khachatryan

Liana Khachatryan

Director of Hi-Math Armenian Branch

Co-Founder of Armenian Robotics Alliance. Regional Coordinator of Armath Engineering Makerspace. Economics researcher at YSU.

Artur Bayramyan

Artur Bayramyan

Board Member

Economics PhD candidate at UCSD dedicated to community building and uniting PhysMath alumni worldwide.

Partners & Affiliates

PhysMath School
PhysMath Labs