Eneza Education
Founded
Eneza Education was founded in 2011 as a mobile‑first education technology venture aimed at expanding access to affordable learning in Africa.
Founders & Leadership
Toni Maraviglia – Co‑founder (early leadership and education design).
Kago Kagichiri – Co‑founder and long‑time CEO before later executive transition.
Wambura Kimunyu – CEO (joined in 2019, later became Chief Growth Officer following a major merger).
Location
Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya; the platform has been active in multiple African countries and, following a merger, now forms part of a broader entity headquartered in Singapore serving Africa and Asia.
Industry
EdTech / Mobile Learning / Educational Technology — focused on delivering affordable, accessible learning content via SMS, USSD, mobile web, and apps.
Overview
Eneza Education offers a mobile technology learning platform that enables users — especially in rural and underserved regions — to access curriculum‑aligned lessons, practice assessments, and interactive support via basic mobile phones, smartphones, or web interfaces. The company’s flagship product, Shupavu291, delivers bite‑sized lessons, quizzes, and real‑time progress tracking, often through simple technologies such as SMS and USSD.
Since its launch, the platform has reached millions of learners across Africa, expanding into countries such as Kenya, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Rwanda, and others.
In late 2024, Eneza merged with Pakistan’s Knowledge Platform to form one of the first African‑Asian ed‑tech ventures, combining strengths in B2C and B2B learning solutions and broadening its geographic and product reach. The merged entity is headquartered in Singapore and leverages a combined team of over 100 professionals.
Core Features & Capabilities
Mobile & SMS/USSD Learning: Interactive lessons and assessments delivered via low‑cost mobile technologies, accessible even on basic phones.
Shupavu291 Platform: Personalized learning with curriculum‑aligned content, real‑time progress tracking, and teacher chat options.
Multi‑Device Access: Available through SMS/USSD, mobile web, desktop web, Android app, and chat interfaces (e.g., messaging platforms).
Localized Curriculum: Content aligned to local school curricula for primary and secondary learners.
Global Expansion Post‑Merger: Integrates AI, gamified learning, and expanded digital content to serve Africa and Asia via Knowledge Platform.
Target Market
Primary and Secondary Learners in Africa (especially in rural and low‑income regions) needing accessible, affordable educational resources.
Learners beyond formal schooling, including out‑of‑school youth seeking continued education opportunities.
Education stakeholders and partners (schools, nonprofits, governments, telcos, and foundations) that integrate ed‑tech solutions for broader reach.
Value Proposition
Universal Access: Enables learners to study using any mobile phone — even without internet — breaking barriers of connectivity and device cost.
Affordable Learning: Low‑cost access via SMS/USSD and mobile data minimizes financial barriers to quality educational content.
Localized & Relevant Content: Tailors curriculum to national education systems to support learning outcomes.
Impact at Scale: Demonstrated improvements in learning performance (e.g., documented gains in academic scores) and widespread uptake across multiple African markets.
Expanded Global Reach: The merger with Knowledge Platform positions Eneza to serve Africa and Asia with a broader suite of B2C and B2B learning solutions.
Funding & Funding Stage
Early funding included investment from Safaricom’s Spark Venture Fund (circa 2016) which supported development and expansion of the Shupavu291 platform, alongside backing from global partners such as Global Partnerships and the Eleos Foundation.
Eneza also participated in various incubators and accelerator programs, gaining both funding and strategic support early in its growth.