Akili Network
Akili Network operates Akili TV, Kenya's first and only free-to-air children's television channel, delivering educational programming to children, teens, and families across TV, satellite, mobile, and internet platforms, monetized primarily through advertising and partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersNairobi, Kenya
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Akili Network does
Akili Network is a Nairobi-headquartered media company that operates Akili TV (formerly Akili Kids!), Kenya's first and only dedicated free-to-air children's television channel. Founded by Jeff Schon and Jesse Soleil in 2020, the company produces and distributes 24/7 educational and entertainment programming for children ages 2–17, teens, and families across Kenya, reaching an average of 7.6 million children and over 13 million total viewers weekly.
The core offering is a multi-platform broadcast stack: free-to-air terrestrial TV (digital/smart TV with aerial only), satellite distribution on DStv (Channel 311), GOtv (Channel 63 across all packages), StarTimes, and Zuku (Channel 602); mobile streaming on Safaricom's Baze at Ksh 10/day; and internet streaming via akilikids.co.ke and YouTube. Content combines original productions (Flash Squad teen cybersecurity series, Boom! Na Wabi early-childhood continuity, The Mysteries of Jabali and Sauti) with licensed partnerships (Ubongo Kids, N*GEN from Peripheral Vision International, Hummingbird Tales from Paukwa House, Akili and Me from Ubongo Learning) and the forthcoming Project Olii AI-literacy series. Programming follows a "whole-child" curriculum targeting cognitive, social-emotional, and identity development, with Kenya Sign Language interpretation via the "Our Time to Sign" initiative.
The business model is primarily advertising- and sponsorship-driven, monetizing audience reach through child-protective ad placements during programming windows, NGO and government behavior-change communications, and revenue sharing on mobile streaming via Safaricom. Consumer access is free; the company is structured as a for-profit double-bottom-line entity, has raised approximately $4 million in cumulative equity (per SEC Form D, 2021, plus a 2022 Rwanda Innovation Fund round), and operates from Nairobi and a New York office (Akili Network USA, LLC).
Akili Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Akili Network
- Legal name
- Akili Partners Limited
- Website
- https://akilinetwork.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Akili Network operates Akili TV, Kenya's first and only free-to-air children's television channel, delivering educational programming to children, teens, and families across TV, satellite, mobile, and internet platforms, monetized primarily through advertising and partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Akili Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Children's Television Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Children’s & Family Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Edutainment & Learning-Through-Play Channels (MPABAKAE), Preschool & Early Learning Channels (Ages 2–5) (MPABAKAA), Children’s & Youth Educational Entertainment (Edutainment) (EDAGALAK), Educational & Curriculum-Aligned Learning Channels (K–12) (MPABAKAD)
Keywords
Where Akili Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nairobi
- HQ country
- Kenya
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices2 records
Markets served
Akili Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advertising and Sponsorship: Revenue from advertisers and sponsors seeking to reach children, teens, parents and caregivers in Kenya. The channel implements a protective advertising policy limiting commercial advertising during weekday early childhood programming hours while offering child-appropriate behavior change communications for NGOs and government agencies.
- Equity Investment: SEC Form D filing indicates equity securities offering under Rule 506(b) with total proceeds of approximately $4 million, minimum investment of $25,000.
- Distribution Platform Revenue: Partnership with Safaricom's Baze platform offers mobile video streaming access at Ksh 10/day, providing revenue share from telco partnership.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free-to-air broadcast access |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Baze mobile streaming - daily pass |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels5 records
Akili Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Akili Network creates, curates, and distributes educational entertainment content for children and families through Akili TV (formerly Akili Kids!), Kenya's first and only dedicated free-to-air children's television channel. The 24/7 channel reaches over 13 million viewers weekly across free-to-air terrestrial TV, satellite platforms (DStv, GOtv, StarTimes, Zuku), mobile (Safaricom Baze), and internet streaming, combining original productions, licensed African content, and accessibility features like Kenya Sign Language interpretation.
Product overview
Akili Network operates a multi-platform children's and family media business centered on Akili TV (formerly Akili Kids!), Kenya's first and only dedicated free-to-air children's television channel. The core offering is the 24/7 TV channel available via free-to-air terrestrial TV, satellite (DStv, GOtv, StarTimes, Zuku), mobile (Safaricom Baze), and the Internet (YouTube, website streaming). The portfolio includes original productions (Flash Squad, Boom! Na Wabi), licensed content partnerships (N*GEN with Peripheral Vision International, Ubongo Kids, Hummingbird Tales), and new AI literacy series Project Olii. The company serves children, teens, and families with educational programming using a 'whole child' approach covering cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Akili Kids!: Kenya's first and only dedicated free-to-air children's educational television channel, renamed to Akili TV in November 2024 to expand to teens and families.
- Flash Squad
- Akili Kids Presents Spelling Bee
Products and services
- Akili TV Kenya's first and only dedicated free-to-air children's and family television channel, offering 24/7 educational and entertainment programming reaching 7.6 million children and over 13 million viewers weekly across free-to-air terrestrial TV, satellite platforms (DStv, GOtv, StarTimes, Zuku), mobile (Safaricom Baze), and internet streaming. Serves children, teens, parents, and caregivers with curated programming built around defined learning outcomes.
- Flash Squad Original teen cybersecurity sitcom TV series addressing online safety, privacy, security, cyberbullying, and mobile money fraud for teenagers aged 10-19. Structured as a school-based sitcom with young Kenyan actors in 7-minute episodes, teaching online safety through relatable storytelling.
- Project Olii World's first AI literacy children's animated series, premiering June 2026 on Akili TV in collaboration with KidsAI. Combines animated video storytelling with AI literacy education for children and families, introducing Artificial Intelligence concepts through storytelling, curiosity, and play via animated video content on Akili TV.
- Akili Kids Presents Spelling Bee Reality TV game show produced by Akili Network documenting the Kenya National Spelling Bee Championships. Four-part series featuring 100 contestants with learning moments for Kenyan children, produced in partnership with the Kenya National Spelling Bee organization.
Companies that use Akili Network
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Akili Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature3 records
Akili Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Kenya National Spelling BeeminorOfficial media partner for spelling bee championships, producing TV show content and increasing reach of educational competition.
- Safaricom (Baze Platform)coreSafaricom's Baze video streaming platform features Akili Kids! as branded children's content. Users access via dial *544*54# for Ksh 10/day, enabling access to 35.6 million Safaricom subscribers.
- Multichoice Africa (DStv)coreDStv carries Akili Kids! on Channel 311 for all DStv customers in Kenya, providing satellite distribution to pay-TV subscribers.
- Peripheral Vision InternationalcorePartnership to bring N*GEN children's science program to Akili Kids!. PVI is an award-winning media NGO that produces educational content for children across Africa.
- Multichoice Kenya (GOtv)coreGOtv carries Akili Kids! on Channel 63 across GOtv Lite, Value, Plus, Max and Supa packages.
- Wananchi Group (Zuku)coreZuku carries Akili Kids! on Channel 602 for all existing Zuku subscribers in Kenya.
- Ubongo LearningcorePartnership to bring locally relevant animation to children who use sign language through 'Our Time to Sign' initiative. Ubongo Learning provides content segments for accessibility programming.
- Paukwa HousecoreAkili Network acquired rights to broadcast 'HummingBird Tales' - animated series about notable Kenyans with positive values for children.
- Impact(Ed) InternationalminorPartnership to bring 'My Better World' educational program to Kenyan children.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Akili Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Kweli TV: US-based streaming service delivering African and African-diaspora content. Comparable in curating African-focused content for African audiences/families, but operates in a different geography and distribution model (subscription streaming vs. free-to-air).
- Da Vinci Media: Educational TV channel operator with presence across Europe, MENA, and Africa. Comparable in operating niche educational channels for kids/families, though Da Vinci's footprint is largely outside Kenya and focuses on documentary/learning formats.
Broad incumbents
- Discovery Kids: Global factual/entertainment children's channel previously run by executives on Akili's team (Dea Connick Perez). Comparable in mission to deliver educational content to children, but distributed internationally rather than free-to-air in Africa.
- PBS Kids: US public broadcaster's children's educational channel and a reference model cited by Akili. Comparable in educational, child-protective content philosophy, but operates as a nonprofit on a much larger scale in the US.
- Nickelodeon Africa: Viacom-owned global children's TV network distributed across DStv and GOtv in Kenya. Competes for children's viewing share in the same households Akili serves, but as a general global brand rather than a localized African educational offering.
- Cartoon Network Africa: Warner Bros. Discovery's children's animation channel available across African pay-TV and DStv platforms. Competes directly for children's daypart audiences in Kenya with a global content library but no African-specific educational positioning.
Others
- Showmax (MultiChoice): MultiChoice's African subscription streaming platform that shares distribution infrastructure (DStv/GOtv parent). Adjacent ecosystem player: potential competitor for kids' viewing time in Kenya and potential future distribution partner for Akili TV's content.
Direct peers
- Ubongo Media: Kenyan-rooted edutainment producer behind Ubongo Kids. Akili licenses and airs Ubongo content; both target Kenyan and East African children with locally produced educational animation, making Ubongo Media a content-level direct peer.
- Ubongo Learning: Tanzania-headquartered African children's edutainment producer (Ubongo Kids) that creates localized educational animated series. Direct peer: Akili licenses Ubongo content and competes for the same Kenyan/East African kids' audience with edutainment storytelling.
Emerging players
- Peripheral Vision International: African educational media NGO that produces children's science programs like N*GEN and partnered with Akili on Flash Squad. Comparable in mission and African children's edutainment production, but as a content producer/distributor rather than a free-to-air channel operator.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Akili Network social profiles
Digital presenceAkili Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Akili Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Akili Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Akili Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Akili Network
What does Akili Network do?
Akili Network creates, curates, and distributes educational entertainment content for children and families through Akili TV (formerly Akili Kids!), Kenya's first and only dedicated free-to-air children's television channel. The 24/7 channel reaches over 13 million viewers weekly across free-to-air terrestrial TV, satellite platforms (DStv, GOtv, StarTimes, Zuku), mobile (Safaricom Baze), and internet streaming, combining original productions, licensed African content, and accessibility features like Kenya Sign Language interpretation.
Is Akili Network a public or private company?
Akili Network is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Akili Network founded?
Akili Network was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Akili Network based?
Akili Network is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, in the Africa region.
How does Akili Network make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Advertising and Sponsorship is the primary driver. The others are equity Investment and distribution Platform Revenue.
Who are Akili Network's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Kweli TV and Da Vinci Media. Broad incumbents are Discovery Kids, PBS Kids, Nickelodeon Africa and Cartoon Network Africa. Showmax (MultiChoice) is listed as an others. Direct peers are Ubongo Media and Ubongo Learning. Peripheral Vision International is listed as an emerging player.
Does Akili Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Akili Network.
What industry is Akili Network in?
Akili Network's product category is Children's Television Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAAAD, Children’s & Family Broadcast Networks, with a secondary code of MPABAKAE, Edutainment & Learning-Through-Play Channels. Its NAICS code is 516120 and its SIC code is 4833.