Tangle & Thrive is an applied research and design project focused on helping middle school students build stronger motivation, confidence, and engagement in math through thoughtfully designed AI-enabled supports. The project partners with teachers, students, and families to co-create and test practical in-class and after-school interventions that integrate with existing digital math platforms. By using rapid R&D cycles and mixed-methods data analysis, Tangle & Thrive aims to identify which combinations of behavioral supports and AI tools most effectively sustain students’ interest in math over time, especially in under-resourced school contexts. The long-term goal is to produce scalable, evidence-informed strategies that educators can realistically adopt to foster both academic growth and a lasting sense of purpose in learning math.