The Akita Kids application by FEL Innovations offers a blend of e-books, animated content, and games intricately linked to educational curricula, providing children with the best of both realms. With the goal of revolutionizing children’s learning experiences through integrated education and gamification, Akita Kids has successfully secured £1.2 million from Gulfsea Capital, an investor based in the UAE, to further their plans for international growth within households and educational institutions while operating from their headquarters in London and a branch in Warsaw.
The edutainment sector is expanding rapidly on a global scale, with the appetite for engaging and interactive educational experiences experiencing a notable increase. Both schools and homes utilize edutainment applications, games, and videos, demonstrating their effectiveness and extensive use across various educational frameworks. The market is currently valued at $144 billion, with projections anticipating it will reach $518.9 billion by 2034, highlighting the vast potential for technology-powered personalized learning methods.
As the middle-class demographic continues to grow, families with dual incomes often find less time available for parental teaching during school breaks, alongside a young generation that is increasingly adept with technology. On average, children now spend about 6 hours daily in front of screens, frequently without supervision, leading to 93% of parents indicating a preference for educational content integrated into entertainment. Interactive learning activities not only maintain children’s engagement but also aid educators and parents in their roles.
Historically, the industry has shown a divide between entertainment and education technologies. Organizations concentrating purely on entertainment, such as streaming platforms and publishers, exist in contrast to those primarily focused on educational tools, creating a significant gap ripe for innovation. Akita Kids has entered this lucrative arena to supply comprehensive learning experiences embedded within engaging entertainment.
Their carefully curated learning program adheres to the British national curriculum for children aged 3 to 13, integrating subjects such as Languages, Maths, History, Science, and Geography into an engaging exploration of a child’s innate curiosity and enjoyment. “Success in education hinges on the ability to reinforce challenging concepts. Children require prolonged focus and high engagement for effective learning. We tap into a child’s natural curiosity and immersive learning capabilities by interweaving education with their preferences,” shares Alexander Bellon, co-founder and CEO of Akita Kids.
FEL Innovations was established in 2022 by Alexander Bellon (CEO) and Aleksandra Brożynska (COO) after recognizing that learning-focused mobile applications often lack longevity in effectiveness – as children are not solely interested in learning. The firm has undergone various transformations to refine its model, conducting extensive market research to craft a compelling and entertaining holistic edutainment solution.
The app allows a one-month complimentary trial for users to explore its offerings, with several subscription options available. Its launch is slated for the first quarter of 2025, and it aims to continually enrich content with new releases every month, ensuring children remain engaged. The app offers educational games that enable users to earn points and achievements, creating clear visibility of their progress and enjoyment. In preliminary trials, 88% of surveyed parents indicated that their children enjoy and gain educational value from the app, with one pleased mother stating, “I adore Akita Kids; it has inspired my children to embrace reading while learning essential school material. It’s also highly cost-effective and reduces our need for physical books. They are entertained for hours!”
To attract users, Akita Kids utilizes a direct-to-consumer on-ground digital marketing strategy, enhanced by partner-affiliated success-based marketing with entities like private funds, media organizations, educational institutions, and governmental bodies. This multi-tiered approach will position the firm to target a vast market of 500 million children.
The company anticipates achieving around £8 million in its second year, scaling to approximately £40 million by its fourth year, in line with a projected user increase of ~200,000 annually. Backed by a team of graphic designers and writers ready to expand the app’s resources, the company intends to allocate its newly acquired funds toward content creation, marketing efforts, personnel, tools, and operational maintenance.
Akita Kids is keen on collaborating with organizations to facilitate access to educational resources beyond traditional school settings for children globally, whether through individual downloads or integrations within academic programs. “When kids won’t consume vegetables, they get blended into soup,” explains CEO Alexander Bellon. “Akita Kids channels their inherent curiosity and transforms them into focused learners through the enjoyment our content provides. We’ve developed a solution that transcends conventional education, allowing children to absorb knowledge while having fun.”
