Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Esoma Kids is an online learning tool delivering foundational literacy and numeracy skills to children aged 6-10 in Sub-Saharan Africa through adaptive and personalized learning paths.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Esoma Solutions offers learner-centered learning solutions across K-12. Our flagship product, Esoma Kids, bridges the learning resources accessibility and cost problems by providing teachers and learners with a low-cost, easily accessible, platform with curated digital content and tools to help improve learning outcomes. The platform is built on evidence of teaching and learning science and tailored to improve learning outcomes. We ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all from a tender age, as envisioned in SDG 4.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Limited access to quality education resources in Sub-Saharan Africa contributes to 89% of children failing to meet age-appropriate literacy and numeracy milestones. High costs and poor accessibility exacerbate this issue, hindering children's ability to develop fundamental skills essential for academic success and future opportunities. Without adequate literacy and numeracy proficiency, these children face significant barriers to accessing higher education, securing employment, and ultimately realizing their full potential in various aspects of life.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

1. Personalized learning journeys for our users - the system uses adaptive algorithms that adapt the learning path based on the learner's strengths and weaknesses. 2. Affordability - we have ensured that the platform is affordable by people across all socioeconomic levels, with a monthly subscription fee of KES 300. 3. Integrated use of AI Driven Insights (AIDI) concept - the AIDI concept helps in collection of behavioral and learning data of users, and uses that to build a data silo that the system references to make recommendations to learners, parents and teachers on the best approach to ensure effective learning.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

We have two categories of targeted beneficiaries 1. Learners in foundational literacy and numeracy levels (ideally aged 6-10, and in grades 1-4) in Sub-Saharan Africa. 2. Teachers to the category of learners highlighted above In each of the cases above, our end user and the client are different. Parents and institutions are out clients, purchasing out product to serve the said end users

01.05 When was your company established?

2024-03-06

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

1. Julius Njuguna Irungu The team leader bearing the vision for the business, and an accomplished crusader for equitable education. Julius is a graduate of Analytical Chemistry with Management from Kenyatta University, and recently participated in EdTech Hub’s program “EdTech Evidence for Entrepreneurs” from which he emerged top in his cohort, gaining essential knowledge on how to build viable evidence-backed EdTech solutions. Also a YALI Leadership Fellow of Education Changemakers Kelvin Kung’u Munyambu Kelvin is an Information and Communications Technology graduate, the visionary architect behind our web design and development, a creative virtuoso with a remarkable aptitude for full-stack development.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://esomakids.com/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

The greatest equalizer in life is education, and it should be provided at high quality from the foundational levels. With the work we are doing, we are giving young ones a chance to get quality education which unlocks limitless possibilities for the future, eradicating poverty being part if it.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

5

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Indirectly, when people are educated, they become smart enough to engage in projects and lifestyles that reduce hunger possibilities.

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

3

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

This is the primary SDG we are serving, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Lifelong learning can only happen when foundational principles of learning (numeracy and literacy) are achieved at the ideal times. As such, our platform is promoting acquisition of these principles using evidence-based learning science practices to ensure learning happens.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Our system is inclusive for all, ang gives everyone a chance to feel represented and appreciated. The presentation of out content, voicing, imaging, videos and even names used in content cuts across genders, ensuring there is a feeling of appreciation for all. As a matter of principle, we are crusaders of equality, equity, inclusivity and inclusion.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

We are working towards a future of dignified and fulfilling work, by preparing a generation of literate people who can effectively express themselves, plan, ad execute such plans. Education is a pivotal part of preparing for decent work and economic growth as it raises productivity and creativity. Further, education stimulates entrepreneurship and technological breakthroughs necessary for economic empowerment of society.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

3

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

6

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Inequalities have been raised by differences in socioeconomic classes, and one significant area has been level of education. As we increase access to quality education for the people, it improves their chances of living more fulfilling life and closing the gap between the haves and have nots.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

2

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

3

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

2

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

N/A

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

N/A

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

4

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

4

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

3

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

4

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

4

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

6

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

3

06.08 Justification for my startup

Esoma Kids stands out in the EdTech landscape due to its innovative Competency Attainment Process (CAP). Unlike traditional approaches, Esoma Kids' CAP ensures a thorough understanding of every concept through comprehensive and exhaustive coverage of all possible paths of explanation. What sets Esoma Kids apart is its integration of adaptive and personalized learning paths, facilitated by advanced algorithms. This dynamic approach tailors the learning journey to each student's strengths, weaknesses, pace, and ability, optimizing their potential. By constantly adjusting to individual needs, Esoma Kids provides a truly customized educational experience, fostering deeper comprehension and engagement. This blend of personalized learning and comprehensive competency attainment makes Esoma Kids a pioneering FLN solution in educational technology. We are also working to integrate Generative AI functionalities in the system to further enhance our learners’ experience.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

We view competition from two angles, based on the target market we are seeking to serve, which is children in the FLN levels. Our primary competition are the activities keeping children busy, where we need to draw them from to use our product. Such include animations on TV and web, and games on smartphones. Our other level of competition is other EdTech players in the FLN space, including EIDU, Angaza Elimu, and Nyansapo AI. Our edge over them is the novelty of the algorithms we use for adaptive learning, incorporating a learner's strengths, weaknesses, system usage behavior, and teacher input to create wholesome recommendations for improvement. Our system also offloads a bulk of work from the teacher as auto marking assessments makes sure they have more time to focus on teaching.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes, I participate in capacity building for women entrepreneurs often. Our startup is also deliberate in providing learning opportunities to female employees to attend workshops on entrepreneurship and leadership. As a community leader, I mentor young girls in primary school to prepare them for a future where they can succeed as female entrepreneurs or career women.