Light of Hope

What Light of Hope does

Light of Hope is a Bangladesh-based edu-tech company founded in 2017 that delivers moral and creative education to children aged 4-12 through an integrated three-brand ecosystem: Kids Time (after-school programs covering crafting, sciences, puppetry, magic, story making, and Singapore Math with 1,800+ learners), Goofi (a children's media franchise of puppet characters, books, ebooks, educational toys, and TV content reaching an estimated 2.5 million children), and Teachers Time (training courses for teachers and parents that have reportedly trained 20,000+ teachers and 100,000+ parents). Its underlying platform combines custom-scripted puppet shows for behavior-change campaigns with a school library program called Porua that has established 641+ libraries across 24 districts, distributing over 173,000 books and reaching 250,000+ underprivileged children.

The company monetizes through a mix of subscription-based after-school courses, one-time book and merchandise sales, professional-services teacher training (BDT 7,500-10,000 per course), and B2B campaign services where organizations commission Goofi puppet activations for brand campaigns, school programs, and CSR initiatives. Go-to-market spans direct-to-consumer e-commerce across three brand websites, telecom-scale distribution via a Grameenphone GP Star discount partnership, and institutional B2B channels through marquee relationships with Grameen Danone (5-year Shokti nutrition campaign), Sajida Foundation, UNHCR, WaterAid Bangladesh, and Apon Bazar. Pricing remains affordable, with course early-bird discounts and library sponsorship tiers ranging BDT 5,000-30,000.

Light of Hope is founder-led by CEO Waliullah Bhuiyan and four co-founders covering marketing, finance, technology, and operations. It has not disclosed institutional venture funding beyond a $30,000 round in 2017 and operates from a single Dhaka headquarters. Its distribution moat rests on the Goofi character IP, a multi-year partnership pipeline with Bangladesh's largest consumer-facing brands and NGOs, and a private school library footprint that is reportedly the largest in the country.

Name

Light of Hope

Legal name

Light of Hope Ltd.

Website

https://lightofhopebd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Light of Hope is a Bangladesh-based edu-tech company operating an integrated ecosystem of after-school programs (Kids Time), children's media and publishing (Goofi), and teacher and parent training (Teachers Time) serving children aged 4-12, alongside a school library program that has established 641+ libraries across 24 districts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Education Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Academic/School-Readiness Preschools (EDACABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s Activity & Practice Books (Workbooks, Puzzles, Handwriting) (EDAGAIAE), Early Childhood Educational Media (Songs, Stories, Interactive) (EDAGALAC), Digital/Interactive SEL Apps & Media for Early Childhood (EDACAOAL)

Keywords

• Children education programs
• After-school learning
• Teacher training courses
• Children book publishing
• School library programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Kids Time After-School Programs: Online and in-person after-school courses for children covering crafts, sciences, puppetry, magic, and story making. Courses include creativity, problem solving, English speaking, and Singapore Math.
2. Goofi Books and Educational Products: Publishing books and ebooks for children with 60+ book titles and 1200+ subscribers. Also includes educational toys and merchandise featuring Goofi characters.
3. Teachers Time Training Programs: Certificate courses for teachers and parents on effective communication, sales strategies, telesales, and customer care. 2-3 month programs with job placement support.
4. Goofi Puppet Activation Campaigns: B2B service offering puppet shows and creative engagement activities for corporate events, schools, and brand activation campaigns. Organizations can invite Goofi characters or commission custom campaigns.
5. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Partnerships with brands like Grameen Danone (Shokti), Grameenphone, WaterAid for co-branded campaigns, awareness initiatives, and product discounts for subscribers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Light of Hope operates an integrated three-wing children's education ecosystem: Kids Time delivers online and center-based after-school programs in creativity, problem-solving, crafting, sciences, puppetry, magic, and story-making for children aged 4-12; Goofi is a children's media franchise publishing books, ebooks, educational toys, and puppet-character content used for edutainment; Teachers Time provides professional development courses for teachers and parents on communication, sales, telesales, and customer care. The company also runs the Porua school library program establishing age-appropriate libraries across Bangladesh and offers Goofi Puppet Activation Campaigns as B2B services.

Product overview

Light of Hope is an edu-tech organization operating a multi-brand ecosystem for children's education and skill development in Bangladesh. The core offerings include Kids Time (after-school learning programs), Goofi (children's media franchise with books, TV content, and merchandise), Teachers Time (teacher/parent training), and Porua (school library project). The company also offers Goofi Puppet Activation Campaign services for brand activations and runs a Light of Hope Ventures Program for SME mentorship. Skills development courses in telesales, customer care, and communication are provided through Teachers Time brand. The three main wings—Kids Time, Goofi, and Teachers Time—operate as interconnected brands serving children ages 4-12, their parents, and educators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kids Time: After-school creative learning program for children offering courses in crafting, sciences, puppetry, magic, and story making
• Goofi
• Teachers Time
• Porua (পড়ুয়া)
• Shokti

Products and services

• Kids Time Online and center-based after-school program offering courses in creativity, problem solving, crafting, sciences, puppetry, magic, and story making for children ages 4-12 in Bangladesh.
• Goofi Books and Educational Products Children's media franchise publishing 60+ book titles, ebooks, and educational toys featuring popular puppet characters that teach empathy, creativity, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence.
• Teachers Time Training and professional development platform providing certificate courses for teachers and parents on communication skills, sales strategies, telesales, customer care, parenting, and early childhood development.
• Porua - The Reader School library project establishing age-appropriate libraries with curated books and shelving for underprivileged schools across Bangladesh, with tiered sponsorship options for individuals and organizations.
• Goofi Puppet Activation Campaign B2B event activation service featuring Goofi puppet characters for school campaigns, brand activations, corporate events, and awareness initiatives. Includes puppet shows, crafting sessions, and creative engagement activities.
• Light of Hope Ventures Program 6-month mentorship and financial matchmaking program supporting SMEs and startups with business growth guidance and access to capital, focused on manufacturing, agriculture, education, tech/SaaS, health, and e-commerce.
• Telesales and Customer Care Training Course 3-month certificate training program teaching customer psychology, communication skills, and sales skills with online sessions and internship placement assistance.
• Effective Communication and Sales Strategies Course 2-month certificate course covering communication skills, negotiation, and sales strategies with online training and offline internship components, including job placement support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 21.3% improvement in Bengali and Science scores in schools with Porua libraries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• Apon Bazar (আপন বাজার)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 September 2024Partnership to support education for garment workers' children. Apon Bazar's 175,000 garment worker members receive special discounts on Light of Hope educational materials. Additional support includes establishing learning corners in factory day-care centers and training for caregivers.
• GrameenphonecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2024GP Star subscribers receive 20-50% discounts on Goofi books, educational toys, Kids Time after-school courses, and Teachers Time online courses. Partnership enables wider reach through telecom distribution channel.
• WaterAid BangladeshcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2024MOU signed to develop educational materials for WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) awareness among children aged 5-12 years. Both organizations will create children's books and learning toys, and organize joint events to promote hygiene practices.
• Grameen Danone Food Ltd.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2024Extended 5-year partnership to enhance children's nutrition and early learning in Bangladesh. Goofi characters featured across Grameen Danone's Shokti marketing channels including consumer promotions, retail, and digital campaigns. Joint School Nutrition campaign to promote healthy eating habits among children.
• Sajida FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2023Partnership to set up 102 school libraries across 12 districts in Bangladesh. Each library receives 200 age-appropriate books and bookshelf. Project aims to develop reading skills, critical thinking, and moral values among underprivileged primary school children, impacting 20,000+ children.
• UNHCRcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Campaign for Empathy & Peace through publishing and distributing the book 'Amar Bondhu Amena' (My Friend Amena) about Rohingya refugee children. School campaigns organized in 20+ schools in Dhaka and Cox's Bazar reaching 10,000+ children with storytelling and puppet sessions.
• UNICEFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting Light of Hope's children's education initiatives
• BRACminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting Light of Hope's children's education and development programs
• Japan Earth Trading (JE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting Light of Hope's initiatives

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• LEAD School: India-focused integrated K-12 edtech platform combining curriculum, teacher training, and school transformation. Comparable to Light of Hope's school activation / library partnership model and Teachers Time teacher training focus, though India-focused.

Direct peers

• Shikho: Bangladesh edtech providing online courses, live classes, and test prep for school and college students. Comparable target market (Bangladeshi K-12 learners) and direct overlap on after-school learning, though Shikho is more curriculum/test-prep focused.
• 10 Minute School: Bangladesh-based online learning platform offering courses, live classes, and skill programs for K-12 and adults. Directly comparable as a domestic edtech competing for the same parent and student wallet, with a much larger digital footprint.
• Bohubrihi: Bangladesh online learning marketplace with courses across creative, technical, and professional skills. Comparable on the adult skill-development arm (Teachers Time) and on creative skills like crafting/story making via Kids Time.

Broad incumbents

• Cuemath: Global math and after-school learning platform with strong K-6 component and franchise model. Comparable on the after-school math learning (Singapore Math) within Kids Time, and on creative-problem-solving positioning.
• Sesame Workshop: Global nonprofit children's media and education organization producing character-driven educational content. Most direct parallel to the Goofi puppet/media franchise model that combines characters with social-emotional learning content.
• BYJU'S: India-headquartered K-12 edtech giant with after-school learning, content, and tutoring. Overlaps with Kids Time and Goofi in target audience (4–12 learners) and concept (engaging educational content), though at vastly larger scale and different geography.

Emerging players

• Room to Read: Global nonprofit establishing school libraries, publishing local-language children's books, and supporting literacy across low-income countries. Closest international analogue to Light of Hope's Porua library and Goofi publishing mission.
• Khan Academy Kids: Free educational platform targeting young children with structured learning content. Comparable to Goofi's edutainment intent (engaging children through characters and interactive content), though delivered digitally rather than via physical books/puppet shows.
• Butterfly EduFields: India-based edtech focused on experiential, activity-based learning kits for K-12 children. Comparable on the hands-on, activity-driven (crafting, sciences, puppetry) portion of Kids Time.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/light-of-hope

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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 Light of Hope