CuriousJr

CuriousJr, legally known as Curiosity Edtech Private Limited, is an educational technology company established in 2020 and headquartered in Gurugram, India. The company was founded by IIT-BHU alumni Amit Shekhar, Janishar Ali, and Mridul Ranjan Sahu, who have known each other for over a decade. Their shared vision to address the digital divide in education led to the platform's creation, specifically targeting the 88% of K-12 students in India without access to laptops.

The company provides a mobile-first platform designed to make coding and other subjects accessible to students from grades 1 through 10. Initially focused on teaching coding in vernacular languages, CuriousJr has since expanded its offerings, notably after being powered by Physics Wallah. The platform now offers online tuition for subjects including Math, Science, English, and Social Studies, aligning with CBSE, ICSE, and State Board curricula. Its core market consists of students aged 8 to 17. A key differentiator is the mobile-centric approach, which allows students to learn, code, and publish their own applications and games directly from a smartphone. The learning methodology incorporates bite-sized content, gamified lessons, a practice arena, doubt-clearing sessions, and the ability for students to showcase their creations on the CuriousJr app store.

CuriousJr operates on a B2C and B2B2C business model. While the initial coding platform was free to promote accessibility, the company has introduced premium services. These include "CuriousJr Pro," which offers personalized guidance, master classes on Python and Javascript, and a two-teacher model for small-group live classes to provide personalized attention. Revenue is generated through subscriptions for these premium offerings and curriculum packages. In September 2021, the company secured $1 million in a seed funding round led by WaterBridge Ventures and Enzia Ventures, with participation from several angel investors. This capital was allocated to product refinement, team expansion, and content development.

Keywords: EdTech, mobile learning, coding for kids, K-12 education, online tuition, vernacular education, Physics Wallah, app development for kids, programming education, mobile-first platform, CBSE curriculum, ICSE curriculum, State Board curriculum, personalized learning, gamified education, JavaScript for kids, Python for kids, STEM education, digital divide, Gurugram startup