Codemao

What Codemao does

Codemao (点猫科技, legal entity Shenzhen Dianmao Technology Co., Ltd.) is a Shenzhen-based private education technology company founded in 2015 that operates a comprehensive K-12 coding and AI education platform serving children and teenagers in China. The company is best known as the operator of the 编程猫 (Coding Cat / Codemao) brand and runs an integrated ecosystem of proprietary domestic programming tools — including the multi-platform graphical editor Kitten N, a Python tool, a C++ tool, and an APP creation tool — plus the online 学习平台 (Codemao Online), the NCT ISTE-certified proficiency testing system, 140+ offline experience centers across major Chinese provinces, and a Tanyue Programming sub-brand for younger learners. Underlying the tools are built-in AI features (AI painting, face and gesture recognition, an AI tutor) and a deep integration with DeepSeek for generative AI functionality, formalized in a dedicated AI Education Platform launched on March 9, 2025.

The business generates revenue through four streams: subscription-based online courses and 1v1 tutoring on Codemao Online, offline experience center fees across the 140+ nationwide franchise-style sites, B2B professional services (the 点猫科技校园服务 / Campus Services segment providing AI programming education solutions to school districts, AI demonstration schools, and regional government education departments), and one-time licensing fees for the NCT coding proficiency test. Go-to-market is multi-channel: a D2C self-serve channel through web and mobile/desktop apps, direct enterprise field sales for the school services segment, and a partnership-led community model for international expansion via UNESCO. The company markets primarily through WeChat official accounts, customer service hotlines, industry events (China Education Equipment Show, World Digital Education Conference), and earned media.

Codemao has accumulated a strong institutional position despite operating in a regulated K-12 environment: it was the main drafting unit for all five Chinese Youth Programming Ability Level national standards, holds ministerial-level quality course designation, is a CCF Gold-tier partner, and became a Chinese unicorn in 2025. Strategic partnerships span UNESCO (renewed for a record 10 years in March 2026), Peking University (AI Education Joint Laboratory), the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), Unitree Technology, Huawei Cloud, DeepSeek, the Ministry of Education Resource Center, and China Education Television. Headcount is in the 1,001-5,000 range and the company is headquartered in Shenzhen's Nanshan District, with branch offices in Guangzhou, Beijing, Wuhan, Changsha, Guiyang, Nanchang, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Xi'an.

Name

Codemao

Legal name

深圳点猫科技有限公司 (Shenzhen Dianmao Technology Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://codemao.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Codemao (点猫科技) is a Shenzhen-based private EdTech company that runs a comprehensive K-12 coding and AI education platform for Chinese children and teenagers, combining proprietary programming tools, 140+ offline centers, and B2B school services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Coding Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Computer Training (61142), Computer Training (611420), Educational Support Services (61171), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Coding & Programming Learning Platforms (EDAFANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Introductory Coding (Block-Based & Beginner) (EDAMACAA), Text-Based Programming (Python, Java, C/C++) (EDAMACAB), AI & Machine Learning (Foundations & Applied) (EDAMACAG), AI Tutoring Systems (Conversational Tutors, Homework Helpers) (EDAFAFAC), STEM & Coding Readiness for Early Learners (EDACANAF)

Keywords

• Children's coding education
• K-12 STEM education
• Visual programming software
• AI education platform
• Offline learning centers

Headquarters

HQ city

Shenzhen

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Online Courses and Tutoring: Revenue from online coding courses for children and teenagers, including 1v1 tutoring services, covering visual programming, Python, C++ and AI courses through the Coding Cat Online platform.
2. School Services: AI programming education solutions provided to educational institutions, school districts, and government education departments including customized service plans for science education quality improvement.
3. Offline Experience Centers: Revenue from 140+ offline franchise-style experience centers across China providing in-person coding education services.
4. NCT编程等级测试: Coding proficiency testing services with certification recognized internationally through ISTE.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Codemao (点猫科技) operates a comprehensive children's coding and AI education platform combining proprietary programming software (Kitten N, Python, C++, APP creation tools) with online courses, offline experience centers across China, and school services for K-12 institutions. The platform delivers a full learning pathway from beginner visual block-based programming through algorithm training to AI application practice, targeting children and teenagers ages 4-16.

Product overview

Codemao (深圳点猫科技有限公司, operating as 编程猫) is a comprehensive children's coding and AI education platform offering a unified ecosystem of interconnected products. The core of the platform is the Kitten N graphical programming software, supplemented by Python and C++ programming tools and an APP creation tool — all integrated with AI features. These tools feed into the 编程猫在线 online platform, which provides courses and AI creation capabilities accessible across mobile and desktop. Codemao extends its reach through 校园服务 (campus services) for schools, 线下科创中心 (140+ offline campuses nationwide), a 赛事中心 (contest center), and 探月编程 (Tanyue Programming) for younger learners. The product portfolio also includes NemoBox3 and Turtle as additional programming tools. Together, these products form a complete youth STEM and AI cultivation pathway from introductory visual coding through algorithm training to AI application practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kitten N: Multi-platform graphical programming software with AI features (AI painting, face/gesture recognition, AI tutor), available on PC and mobile.
• 编程猫在线 (Codemao Online)
• 点猫科技校园服务 (Codemao Campus Services)
• 探月编程 (Tanyue Programming)
• KittenNemoBox3
• NCT编程等级测试 (NCT Programming Level Test)
• 校园服务

Products and services

• Kitten N (Graphical Programming Software) Multi-platform graphical block-based visual programming software for children with built-in AI features including AI painting, face/gesture recognition, and AI tutor. Accessible via PC, mobile, and tablet with synchronized usage across devices.
• Python Programming Software Python programming education software for intermediate learners transitioning from visual block-based coding to text-based Python programming.
• C++ Programming Software C++ programming software for competitive programming and algorithmic advancement, supporting progression toward authoritative programming competitions such as NOIP and IOI.
• APP Creation Software Application creation tool enabling students to build mobile applications as part of their creative coding journey.
• Codemao Online (编程猫在线) Online learning platform covering graphical programming and Python courses, bundled with AI-powered creation tools for AI programming learning and creation. Available on Android, iOS, macOS, and desktop.
• Campus Services (校园服务) AI programming education solution for regional education authorities and K-12 schools, providing professional products, content, and services for science education quality improvement and AI model school creation.
• Tanyue Programming (探月编程) Specialized coding education platform targeting younger learners, providing age-appropriate AI-integrated programming curriculum for children.
• Offline Innovation Centers (线下科创中心) Physical offline campuses providing in-person AI and coding education services for teenagers, with 140+ franchise-style experience centers across China.
• Contest Center (赛事中心) Competition center hosting and facilitating programming contests and competitions for students, including IOI partnerships and competitive programming training.
• NCT Programming Level Test (NCT编程等级测试) Codemao's proprietary coding proficiency assessment and certification test, ISTE internationally certified, recognized internationally for evaluating coding competency.
• Codemao AI Education Platform (点猫人工智能教育平台) AI-integrated education platform integrating AI tools to assist teachers and improve learning outcomes for AI programming education.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked #1 in TIME/Statista World's Top EdTech Companies 2025 among 350 companies reviewed globally
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• UNESCO (联合国教科文组织)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 March 2026Strategic partnership with UNESCO renewed for 10 years - longest cooperation period on record. Codemao works with UNESCO on AI education initiatives, teacher training for Africa and Asia, and promoting global digital equity through programming education.
• 北京大学 (Peking University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2026Joint establishment of AI Education Joint Laboratory with Peking University for research and development in AI education.
• OPPOcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 December 2025Collaboration with OPPO and UNESCO to donate 1,000 tablets across Asia and Africa to promote educational equity and digital inclusion, with tablet donations to pilot schools in Thailand.
• 宇树科技 (Unitree)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2025Strategic partnership with Unitree Technology to focus on youth AI programming education practice, emphasizing youth technology literacy cultivation.
• DeepSeekcoreTechnology or Integration · 14 February 2025Integration with DeepSeek domestic AI tool enabling bidirectional use of AI tools and programming software.
• IOI (国际信息学奥赛)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2025Strategic partnership as IOI domestic programming education industry partner; establishment of world's first IOI Gold Medal Club at Codemao.
• 中国计算机学会 (CCF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 October 2024Gold-tier partner of China Computer Federation, collaborating on promoting programming education with 'good tools'.
• 中国教育电视台coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2024Strategic cooperation with China Education Television to jointly promote high-quality development of national science education.
• 教育部资源中心coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2023Strategic cooperation with Ministry of Education Resource Center to jointly promote science education popularization.
• 华为云 (Huawei Cloud)coreTechnology or Integration · 19 August 2022Comprehensive cooperation with Huawei Cloud to jointly promote programming education reform and innovation.
• UNESCO亚非编程教师培训coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 December 2021Partnership with UNESCO to train 1,000+ programming teachers across Africa and Asia.
• Intel (英特尔)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2021Partnership with Intel to bring technology to rural areas through cloud learning initiatives, promoting urban-rural education resource sharing.
• UNESCO高等教育创新中心coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2019Strategic cooperation with UNESCO Higher Education Innovation Center for STEM education cooperation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Scratch (MIT Media Lab): Scratch is the world's most widely used block-based visual programming platform for children, developed by MIT. Its block programming paradigm and creator community are the conceptual standard against which Codemao's Kitten N visual programming software and user-generated game community are positioned.
• iHuman Inc. iHuman is a NYSE-listed Chinese children's digital education company offering apps and content for kids aged 3-8+. It overlaps with Codemao's Tanyue early-childhood coding readiness product and shares the China K-12 consumer edtech distribution playbook.
• Code.org: Code.org is a US non-profit that promotes K-12 computer science education through free curricula and the Hour of Code movement. It is comparable to Codemao in the school-district / B2B education channel, in international standards-setting influence, and in teacher-training missions.
• Tongcheng Shijiao (Tongcheng Sifang): Tongcheng Shijiao (童程童美) is the closest direct competitor to Codemao in China, offering K-12 coding and robotics education through both online courses and a large network of offline learning centers. Both companies target the same 4-16 demographic with a similar beginner-to-competition curriculum stack and school-district services motion.
• Tynker: Tynker is a US-based children's coding education platform with block-based, Python, and JavaScript pathways plus AI-assisted learning features and a creator community. It is directly comparable to Codemao's Kitten N + Python + C++ toolchain and online creator ecosystem serving a similar age group.

Broad incumbents

• Zuoyebang (Yuanfudao subsidiary): Zuoyebang is one of China's largest K-12 EdTech platforms covering tutoring, homework help, and increasingly STEM content. It is comparable to Codemao as a broad incumbent that has expanded into the same coding and AI curriculum space with greater scale and capital.
• TAL Education (Xueersi): TAL Education / Xueersi is a leading Chinese K-12 tutoring and enrichment company with extensive offline centers and an AI-powered learning stack. Comparable to Codemao on offline scale, AI tutoring investments, and competition for the same parent-paid enrichment budget.
• New Oriental Education: New Oriental is one of China's largest private education conglomerates with significant K-12 and STEM enrichment offerings. It competes with Codemao for school-district contracts, teacher-training programs, and parent-paid enrichment, particularly as it has expanded into STEAM and robotics.

Emerging players

• Khan Academy (Khanmigo): Khan Academy is a globally recognized free educational platform that has layered on an AI tutor (Khanmigo) for personalized learning. Comparable to Codemao's AI Education Platform and AI tutor in Kitten N, though positioned for general academics rather than coding-specific curriculum.

Regional players

• VIPKid: VIPKid is a major Chinese online education company that scaled K-12 English tutoring before pivoting toward broader enrichment including STEM. It is comparable to Codemao as a Chinese direct-to-consumer edtech platform that has had to navigate the post-Double-Reduction regulatory environment and shift toward AI-augmented offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights1 record

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CodeGameforKids
• Facebookfacebook.com/Codemaoteam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/codemao

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds11 records

Investors27 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Codemao