In a landmark development for educational technology, Kenya’s Eneza Education has merged with Pakistan’s Knowledge Platform to establish the first cross-continental edtech venture spanning Africa and Asia. The combined entity, headquartered in Singapore under the Knowledge Platform name, will aim to address the pressing need for accessible, high-quality education for youth in emerging markets, where digital learning has seen growing demand in recent years.
This merger, facilitated by GSMA’s Innovation Fund, will combine the distinct strengths of both companies to reach over a million learners in Africa and Asia. Through its B2C model, Eneza Education has become a key player in African edtech, offering SMS-based learning tools that connect rural and underserved communities with educational resources. Meanwhile, Knowledge Platform has built a strong presence in Asia through B2B and B2B2C solutions, focusing on gamified learning technologies and curriculum-based content for formal and informal education.
Bridging Markets and Education Gaps
Wambura Kimunyu, CEO of Eneza Education, who now serves as Chief Growth Officer for Knowledge Platform, described the merger as a vital step toward creating inclusive learning experiences across underserved regions. “This merger allows us to harness Eneza’s expertise in B2C education models within Africa while leveraging Knowledge Platform’s robust B2B approach,” Kimunyu said. “With over three billion young people across emerging markets, we believe this collaboration will fuel education equity and access for a prosperous and sustainable future.”
For Mahboob Mahmood, founder and CEO of Knowledge Platform, the merger offers an opportunity to blend Eneza’s high-penetration, low-cost model with Knowledge Platform’s adaptive, gamified learning strategies. “Eneza has proven its strength in reaching large, sustainable audiences at low costs, which makes it the perfect partner for our approach to gamified learning,” Mahmood stated. “Together, we will not only offer curricular content in math, sciences, and languages but also emphasize critical skills in digital, climate, and financial literacy, as well as data science and problem-solving.”
GSMA, the telecom association responsible for introducing Eneza Education and Knowledge Platform, played an instrumental role in supporting the merger. Max Cuvellier Giacomelli, Head of GSMA Mobile for Development, expressed confidence that the new venture would provide sustainable educational solutions across diverse demographics and regions. “This partnership reflects GSMA’s commitment to fostering digital inclusion,” Giacomelli said. “As alumni of our Innovation Fund, both companies exemplify our goal of leveraging mobile technology to broaden access to quality learning.”
The merger has already sparked interest from major telecom partners. Safaricom, Eneza’s long-standing partner in Kenya, supported the launch of Eneza’s SMS-based revision platform, “Shupavu 291,” which has become a popular tool for primary and secondary school students. Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi, Chief Consumer Business Officer of Safaricom, highlighted the potential for the merged entity to expand its reach further across East Africa. “Eneza has proven its value in reaching learners even in remote areas,” Ali-Kimanthi said. “We look forward to seeing this partnership bring more innovative mobile learning tools to the region.”
Expanding Educational Access Through Technology
The new entity will work closely with partners across Africa and Asia to further develop digital educational tools, including games, interactive learning sessions, and AI-powered adaptive technologies. Sajid Anjum, Chief Technology Officer of Knowledge Platform, noted that the focus on gamified learning would help bridge traditional education gaps, particularly in skills like climate literacy and problem-solving. “Our approach to education is highly interactive, catering to the unique needs of young learners with competitions and learning games,” Anjum explained. “We’re aiming to provide 21st-century education that equips learners with skills for an evolving global landscape.”
Both companies bring substantial support from partners, including government agencies, international foundations, and educational publishers. Organizations like UNICEF, Aga Khan Education Services, Oxford University Press, and various national governments have partnered with Eneza and Knowledge Platform, enabling them to scale and deliver relevant content tailored to local needs.
The Role of Eneza’s Mobile-First Approach
Since its founding in 2012 by Kago Kagichiri and Toni Maraviglia, Eneza Education has been a pioneer in leveraging Kenya’s mobile infrastructure to reach underserved learners. Through partnerships with local telecom providers, Eneza’s SMS-based tools have delivered educational resources to students with limited internet access, demonstrating a scalable model that Knowledge Platform aims to expand upon.
In 2016, Safaricom recognized Eneza’s potential, investing in the company through its $1 million Spark Venture Fund to help accelerate growth. With this investment, Eneza rapidly expanded its reach within Kenya, targeting students preparing for primary and secondary school exams through easily accessible SMS content.
Knowledge Platform has raised more than $5 million to date, from investors including OWW Capital Partners, Lakson Investments, Ignite among others.
The merged venture has the ambitious goal of shaping educational experiences for the emerging markets of East Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, regions that face similar challenges in terms of education access, infrastructure, and affordability. In response to these challenges, Knowledge Platform plans to expand beyond traditional curricular content by developing resources in critical areas such as digital literacy, environmental studies, and financial knowledge, all geared toward preparing students for the demands of the 21st century.
“Our combined team is deeply committed to innovating at low price points,” said Kimunyu. “We see tremendous potential in reaching the millions of learners in East Africa and South Asia who are currently underserved. This is a new chapter for digital education, one that we believe can bring global impact, beginning with those who need it most.”
By leveraging the strengths of Africa and Asia’s leading edtech innovators, this newly formed African-Asian venture aims to drive scalable, inclusive educational technology across the two continents and, potentially, beyond.