Taamkru

Taamkru, which translates to "ask the teacher" in Thai, was an e-learning venture established in late 2012 and officially launched in 2013 by co-founders Wicharn Manawanitjarern, Keerati Inochanon, Norasedth 'Premy' Thienprasiddhi, and Tuta Shompoo Kaotoo Mootae. The company's inception was driven by the founders' response to Thailand's low ranking in regional education assessments. The founding team possessed a blend of relevant expertise; Wicharn Manawanitjarern and Keerati Inochanon had previously co-founded a successful healthcare website, demonstrating their ability to scale a digital platform, while other founders included textbook authors and kindergarten owners, providing deep domain knowledge in preschool education.

The firm operated in the educational technology market, specifically targeting preschool children aged three to seven and their parents. Its core offering consisted of web and mobile applications for iOS and Android that provided a gamified learning experience to prepare children for elementary school entrance exams. The platform's content, which included nearly 1 million exercises in subjects like math, science, and IQ, was developed by child development experts and aligned with Ministry of Education standards. A key feature was the ability for parents to monitor their child's performance, track progress, and benchmark it against peers based on age and location.

Taamkru's business model was primarily freemium. It generated initial revenue through banner advertising and product placements. The strategy evolved to focus on in-app purchases, where parents could buy supplementary learning materials and personalized exercise lists based on their child's performance analysis. The company also explored B2B offerings for schools and a marketplace for educational publishers. The startup gained significant traction, achieving the number one position in both the Kids and Education categories on the iOS App Store in Thailand and Singapore. A notable milestone was securing US$620,000 in a seed funding round in July 2014, led by 500 Durians and including investors like Ookbee and Red Dot Ventures. Despite its early successes, including winning the 'Most Promising Startup Award' at Echelon 2014, the company is now reported as being out of business.

Keywords: Taamkru, edtech, e-learning, preschool education, gamified learning, kindergarten readiness, parent-teacher tools, mobile learning app, child development, academic assessment, digital workbooks, education in Thailand, Wicharn Manawanitjarern, Keerati Inochanon, 500 Durians, Ookbee, education analytics, primary school preparation, Asian education market, student performance tracking