Strawbees
Strawbees is a Swedish EdTech company that sells hands-on STEAM building kits and a free curriculum platform for K-8 classrooms, integrating BBC micro:bit robotics, and selling to US and UK school districts through direct sales and channel resellers under parent BirdBrain Technologies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersGothenburg, Sweden
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Strawbees does
Strawbees is a Swedish EdTech company, founded in 2012-2013 by Erik Thorstensson and Erik Bergelin following a Kickstarter campaign, that designs and sells hands-on STEM/STEAM building and coding solutions for K-8 classrooms. Its core products are physical building kits — the STEAM Starter Kit, STEAM Classroom Kit, and STEAM Robotics — built around a proprietary modular connector system that joins drinking straws and cardboard, with optional integration of BBC micro:bit for programmable robotics. The portfolio is paired with Strawbees Classroom, a free online platform offering 250+ curriculum-aligned lessons, professional development resources, and student-facing materials, plus Strawbees Admin for district-level user management.
The business model combines hardware sales (one-time/perpetual purchase of kits through direct enterprise sales, e-commerce storefronts at shop.strawbees.com and store.birdbraintechnologies.com, and authorized resellers including Mackin Educational, School Specialty, STEMfinity, and Teq) with a freemium content platform. Pricing is quote-based with bulk discounts for district purchases; no list pricing or subscription tier is publicly disclosed. Customer segments are heavily concentrated in US K-12 public school districts (Richmond County Schools, Topeka Public Schools, Pasco County, Copperas Cove ISD, UTICA Schools), with secondary segments in CTE programs, special education, ESL, libraries, makerspaces, and after-school programs. 400,000+ K-8 students have been engaged cumulatively, and 88% of educators reportedly observe moderate to very significant improvements in STEM skills.
Ownership has changed materially in recent years: acquired by the Albert Group (Nordic EdTech conglomerate) around 2022-2023, then joined BirdBrain Technologies in 2025 with BirdBrain now serving as the parent company and US operating entity. Anne-Louise Wirén has served as CEO since 2022. The company has raised approximately $3.85M in disclosed institutional funding across a 2018 Series A from Zenith Venture Capital ($2.91M) and a 2021 round from Almi Invest ($941K), and has accumulated multiple industry awards including Nordic EdTech (2018, 2022), Kids Judge BETT (2024), and Education Alliance Finland certification (2024).
Strawbees firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Strawbees
- Legal name
- Strawbees AB
- Website
- https://strawbees.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Strawbees is a Swedish EdTech company that sells hands-on STEAM building kits and a free curriculum platform for K-8 classrooms, integrating BBC micro:bit robotics, and selling to US and UK school districts through direct sales and channel resellers under parent BirdBrain Technologies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Strawbees industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational STEM/STEAM Kits
- NAICS
- Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (33993), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Math & STEM Learning Technology (incl. Coding/Robotics Platforms) (EDAJAMAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Robotics Kits, Parts & Lab Equipment Providers (Education-Focused) (EDAMADAN), K–12 Instructional Design & Curriculum Development Services (EDAGAKAA), Educational & Hobby Robotics Kits (Consumer) (CRACARAG)
Keywords
Where Strawbees is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gothenburg
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Strawbees business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Physical Product Sales (Building & Robotics Kits): Sale of Strawbees STEAM Starter Kit, STEAM Classroom Kit, and STEAM Robotics products to schools, districts, and individual educators. Products are available through direct sales quotes, e-commerce (shop.strawbees.com), and authorized resellers. Bulk pricing discounts available for larger purchases.
- Strawbees Classroom Platform: Core platform providing curriculum-aligned lessons, professional development, and student materials. The platform is free for all teachers, positioning Strawbees Classroom as a customer acquisition and engagement tool rather than a direct revenue driver.
- Professional Development & Training: Onboarding guides, webinars, articles, and training sessions for educators to implement Strawbees in classrooms. Training supports district-wide adoption and customer retention.
- Resource Downloads & Content: Free downloadable PDF activities and lesson plans driving platform engagement. Some resources require email registration. Serves as top-of-funnel content marketing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Strawbees Classroom - Free Platform Access |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | STEAM Starter Kit |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | STEAM Classroom Kit |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | STEAM Robotics Kit |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Strawbees product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Strawbees designs and sells modular STEAM/STEM building kits for K-8 classrooms combined with the free Strawbees Classroom online learning platform. Physical kits use proprietary connectors that join drinking straws and cardboard, with BBC micro:bit integration enabling programmable robotics and coding projects. The classroom platform provides 250+ standards-aligned lessons, professional development, and student materials used by educators worldwide.
Product overview
Strawbees is an award-winning Swedish EdTech company offering a portfolio of hands-on STEAM and STEM learning products. The core portfolio consists of physical building kits (STEAM Starter Kit, STEAM Classroom Kit, STEAM Robotics) combined with the Strawbees Classroom online platform. The building kits use connectors and straws that students assemble to create structures, which can be enhanced with BBC micro:bit programmable robotics for coding projects. Strawbees Classroom provides free curriculum-aligned lessons, professional development resources, and tools for educators. The platform supports various grade levels from kindergarten through middle school (K-8) and aligns with standards including NGSS, TEKS, Common Core, CSTA, ISTE, and UN SDGs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- STEAM Starter Kit A hands-on building kit for introducing students to STEAM learning through physical construction projects. Designed for beginners with no prior coding or robotics experience required, with pricing available via quote.
- STEAM Classroom Kit A larger kit designed for classroom settings, allowing multiple students to engage in collaborative STEAM building and coding projects simultaneously. Pricing is quote-based with bulk discounts for larger quantities.
- STEAM Robotics Combines the Strawbees building system with BBC micro:bit programmable robotics, enabling students to code and bring their physical constructions to life with motors and sensors for physical-computing projects.
- Strawbees Classroom A free online platform offering curriculum-aligned lessons, teacher resources, professional development webinars, and student-facing materials, providing access to over 250 free digital and offline resources for K-8 STEAM education.
- Strawbees Admin Platform for school administrators to manage connected Strawbees Classroom accounts, view user activity, and send connection invites to educators across a district.
- Pocketful of Ideas Cards Open-ended prompt cards that encourage students to think critically and explore new ways to build with Strawbees while nurturing creativity and design thinking.
Quantifiable outcome
- 88% of educators report moderate to very significant improvements in STEM skills of students using Strawbees
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Strawbees
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Strawbees technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature5 records
Strawbees partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- BirdBrain TechnologiesflagshipStrawbees was acquired by BirdBrain Technologies, becoming part of the BirdBrain STEAM family. BirdBrain Technologies (headquartered in Eau Claire, WI) now serves as the parent company and operating entity. The acquisition integrates Strawbees into BirdBrain's digital education offerings, combining Strawbees building systems with BirdBrain's Hummingbird Robotics Kit for expanded STEAM learning solutions. Joint webinars and co-marketing initiatives demonstrate active partnership collaboration.
- The Albert GroupcoreStrawbees was acquired by the Albert Group, a leading provider of education technology solutions in the Nordics. The acquisition integrated Strawbees into Albert's digital education offerings, expanding reach across Scandinavian markets before the subsequent BirdBrain acquisition.
- BBC micro:bitcoreStrategic partnership for technology products, integrating BBC micro:bit with Strawbees building systems. Students can code and control their Strawbees constructions using micro:bit's programmable sensors and motors. Joint product development enabling physical computing and robotics education. Strawbees micro:bit products are available through micro:bit's official channels.
- QuirkbotcoreAcquired sister coding and robotics company Quirkbot, bringing additional expertise in programmable robotics and coding education. The acquisition strengthened Strawbees' position in the educational robotics space before integration into the BirdBrain portfolio.
- United Nations (SDGs)minorSigned MOU with the United Nations adhering to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Strawbees Classroom resources are aligned to UN SDGs framework, supporting global education sustainability initiatives.
- Education Alliance FinlandminorCertification and validation program assessing educational quality, pedagogy, and student engagement. Strawbees achieved certification recognizing 'high educational quality' and 'proven to promote efficient learning' through rigorous third-party evaluation.
- MIT Lifelong KindergartenminorInspired by Mitch Resnick's work at MIT's Lifelong Kindergarten group. Strawbees' hands-on learning methodology aligns with MIT's creative learning approach, informing product development and educational philosophy.
- Mackin EducationalcoreAuthorized reseller of Strawbees products to K-12 schools and libraries. Distributes Strawbees kits and resources through educational library catalogs and school purchasing systems.
- School SpecialtycoreAuthorized educational distributor reselling Strawbees products. Provides distribution channel to schools and districts through School Specialty's established educational supply network.
- STEMfinitycoreAuthorized reseller specializing in STEM and robotics educational products. Markets Strawbees alongside other STEM education tools, recognizing Strawbees with a 2024 award.
- TeqcoreAuthorized reseller and educational technology distributor offering Strawbees products. Provides implementation support and training alongside product distribution.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Strawbees competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- LEGO Education: LEGO's K-12 STEAM division offers LEGO SPIKE, WeDo, and Duplo building kits with curriculum. Directly comparable to Strawbees' physical connector kits and STEM/STEAM classroom positioning, but with the scale, brand, and catalog depth of the LEGO parent.
- Pitsco Education: Long-standing K-12 STEM curriculum and equipment provider selling to US districts and CTE programs. Overlaps with Strawbees in robotics kits, makerspace supplies, and standards-aligned curriculum, but with a much broader catalog and direct catalog/distribution infrastructure.
- Tinkercad / Autodesk Education: Autodesk's free Tinkercad and broader education suite provides design, 3D modeling, and STEM content to K-12 classrooms. Competes for instructional time and budget with Strawbees in maker/STEAM programs but serves a different core function.
Direct peers
- VEX Robotics: Provider of educational robotics kits and competition platforms widely adopted in K-12 schools. Competes with Strawbees STEAM Robotics on programmable building experiences for middle and elementary grades, particularly in US districts.
- Wonder Workshop: Maker of Dash, Dot, and Cue educational robots with K-5 coding curriculum. Targets the same K-8 STEAM classroom segment as Strawbees with hardware-plus-curriculum bundles sold into US school districts.
- Sphero: Educational robotics company (acquired littleBits) selling programmable robots and STEAM kits for K-12. Competes with Strawbees on cross-curricular STEAM + coding offerings and shares the same school district sales motion.
- Makeblock: Maker of mBot, Codey Rocky, and STEAM building kits combining physical construction with programmable electronics. Closely comparable to Strawbees STEAM Robotics in combining low-threshold building with micro-controller-driven coding.
- BirdBrain Technologies: Strawbees' parent company and maker of the Hummingbird Robotics Kit and Finch robot. Now the operating entity for US Strawbees sales, distributing both product lines to schools through the same sales and reseller channels.
- K'NEX Education: Manufacturer of construction sets for K-12 STEM classrooms, including roller coaster, simple machines, and renewable energy sets. Competes with Strawbees Starter/Classroom kits in the physical building category for elementary and middle school.
Others
- micro:bit Educational Foundation: BBC micro:bit's educational arm and the standards body behind the platform Strawbees integrates with. An enabling technology partner rather than a competitor, but a direct comparable in K-8 coding-and-computing adoption at scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Strawbees social profiles
Digital presenceStrawbees compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Strawbees financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Strawbees leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Strawbees funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Strawbees M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Strawbees
What does Strawbees do?
Strawbees designs and sells modular STEAM/STEM building kits for K-8 classrooms combined with the free Strawbees Classroom online learning platform. Physical kits use proprietary connectors that join drinking straws and cardboard, with BBC micro:bit integration enabling programmable robotics and coding projects. The classroom platform provides 250+ standards-aligned lessons, professional development, and student materials used by educators worldwide.
Is Strawbees a public or private company?
Strawbees is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Strawbees founded?
Strawbees was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Strawbees based?
Strawbees is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does Strawbees make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Physical Product Sales (Building & Robotics Kits) is the primary driver. The others are strawbees Classroom Platform, professional Development & Training and resource Downloads & Content.
Who are Strawbees's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are LEGO Education, Pitsco Education and Tinkercad / Autodesk Education. Direct peers are VEX Robotics, Wonder Workshop, Sphero, Makeblock, BirdBrain Technologies and K'NEX Education. micro:bit Educational Foundation is listed as an others.
Does Strawbees have an API?
No public API is recorded for Strawbees.
What industry is Strawbees in?
Strawbees's product category is Educational STEM/STEAM Kits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAMAG, Math & STEM Learning Technology (incl. Coding/Robotics Platforms), with a secondary code of EDAMADAN, Robotics Kits, Parts & Lab Equipment Providers (Education-Focused). Its NAICS code is 33993 and its SIC code is 3944.