KidzByte

KidzByte MediaTech Pvt. Ltd. operates as an educational news and knowledge platform specifically designed for children. Founded in Mumbai, India, in March 2018 by marketing and communication professionals Chetan D'Souza and Swagat Salunke, the company aims to bridge the gap between textbook learning and real-world events. Chetan D'Souza, with over 15 years in brand management and digital marketing for firms like Bank of America Merrill Lynch and CRISIL, brings extensive marketing experience to the venture. His co-founder, Swagat Salunke, provides expertise in design and user interface.

The core of KidzByte's offering is its mobile application, available on the Google Play Store, which delivers curated, bite-sized news content for children and teens, primarily in the 9 to 17 age group. The platform organizes content across various categories, including national and global news, science and discovery, technology, education, and sports. To make consumption engaging, KidzByte incorporates features like quizzes, a built-in dictionary, read-to-me audio functionality, and gamification. A key feature is KidzByte TV, a digital channel that not only presents news in a kid-friendly format but also provides opportunities for children to become content creators by acting as junior journalists and TV anchors, even interviewing business leaders and celebrities.

KidzByte's business model targets both individual consumers (B2C) and institutions (B2B). Revenue is generated through a freemium model, with income from subscriptions for premium content, advertising from kid-focused brands, and partnerships with schools and other educational institutions for bulk subscriptions. The company raised approximately $471,000 over two funding rounds, including a seed round in April 2019 and an angel round in February 2021. In a significant milestone, KidzByte was acquired by JetSynthesys, a digital entertainment and technology company, in July 2023. This acquisition aims to expand KidzByte's reach and further its mission of transforming children from passive content consumers into informed and creative individuals.

Keywords: educational news, kids media, children's content, edtech, news aggregator, student journalism, current affairs for kids, gamified learning, digital literacy, Mumbai startup, content for teens, KidzByte TV, educational app, parent resources, school news program, digital citizenship, kid-friendly content, mobile learning, B2C edtech, B2B education, JetSynthesys, Chetan D'Souza, Swagat Salunke