Tanzanian edutainment startup Ubongo, who won the Next Billion Edtech Prize plan to invest the $25 000 prize money to help reach children in remote areas without electricity.
Ubongo produces localized, multi-platform educational content for children, it was founded in 2013 by Nisha Ligon, Rajab Semtawa, Arnold Minde, Cleophace Ng’atigwa and Tom Ng’atigwa. They emerged as the winner of the Next Billion Edtech Prize during the Global Education and Skills Forum (GESF) pitch contest in Dubai. An Egyptian startup PraxiLabs also won a $25 000 prize at the same event.
According to Ubongo’s marketing manager, Iman Lipumba– they plan to invest the money from the prize to grow their impact and channel it to products that reach kids in remote and non-electrified areas across the continent.
See also: Argentinian Edtech ‘Blended’ Wins Seedstars Global 2019
According to GeoPoll statistics, Ubongo covers over 11 million families across sub-Saharan Africa with “hundreds of thousands” more across francophone Africa.
Ubongo’s shows, currently air on free-to-air television in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. They also have content on Pay TV which broadcasts to 27 francophone countries on the continent. They also have YouTube channels that garners up to 1 million unique viewers a month. According to them, they get to over 32 million minutes of watch time monthly on YouTube, from around the world across four channels.
Ubongo, in 2018 reported a 35% increase in revenue, they gained a gross profit of $97 100, and total income of $1.3-million. According to the 2018 annual report, about 1.8% of its income were from advertising and sponsorship, with B2B sales and licensing accounting for 4.3% of total income, while B2B sales and royalties contributed 0.5%. Ubongo currently employs 39 full time employees and consultants in Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and the US.
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