Complexly
Complexly is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational media organization producing free video content across 20+ sub-brands (SciShow, Crash Course, PBS Eons, etc.) for 32 million YouTube subscribers, funded primarily by donations, merchandise sales, and content monetization.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersMissoula, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Complexly does
Complexly is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational media organization that produces and distributes free, multi-subject video content to a global audience of 32 million YouTube subscribers across more than 20 sub-brands. Its portfolio spans flagship science series (SciShow and its Space, Psych, Kids, and Tangents variants), academic curriculum series (Crash Course, Crash Course Kids, Crash Course en Español), natural history (PBS Eons, Journey to the Microcosmos), humanities (The Art Assignment, Ours Poetica, Origin of Everything), practical life skills (How to Adult, How to Vote in Every State), and creator-led podcasts (Dear Hank & John, The Anthropocene Reviewed, Ask Hank Anything, Study Hall, Bizarre Beasts, 100 Days, Life's Little Lies).
The underlying technology stack is conventional digital video production and content marketing infrastructure — YouTube as the primary distribution surface, supported by TikTok short-form channels for select shows (PBS Eons, SciShow), an email newsletter for direct audience engagement, and a central website (complexly.org) functioning as a content hub, donation portal, merchandise storefront, and partnership intake point. No proprietary platform, app, API, SDK, or AI/ML capability is disclosed; the asset base is content, brand, and audience attention.
Commercially, Complexly's revenue mechanics rest on three streams: (1) charitable donations enabled by 501(c)(3) status, which the company frames as the primary funding source for free content production; (2) merchandise sales via an online web shop; and (3) implicit YouTube advertising and creator-side monetization. All educational content is free at the point of consumption with no pricing tier. Following the February 2026 conversion from for-profit to nonprofit, the founders donated their equity and the company set aside $8.5 million for new content initiatives, structurally repositioning the organization around mission-driven funding rather than shareholder returns.
Complexly firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Complexly
- Legal name
- Complexly, Inc.
- Website
- https://complexly.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Complexly is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational media organization producing free video content across 20+ sub-brands (SciShow, Crash Course, PBS Eons, etc.) for 32 million YouTube subscribers, funded primarily by donations, merchandise sales, and content monetization.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Complexly industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational Media
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interactive Multimedia Learning Content (Video, Audio, Interactive Lessons) (EDAFACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- K–12 Instructional Video & Multimedia (EDAGALAA), Children’s & Youth Educational Entertainment (Edutainment) (EDAGALAK), Short-Form Video for Education & Microlearning Platforms (MPACAHAK)
Keywords
Where Complexly is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Missoula
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Complexly business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Complexly relies on donations from supporters to fund the creation and distribution of free educational content. Donations go directly to content production.
- Merchandise Sales: The company operates a web shop selling merchandise related to its various shows.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Complexly product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Complexly produces and distributes free educational video and audio content through a portfolio of 20+ specialized shows including SciShow, Crash Course, PBS Eons, Journey to the Microcosmos, Dear Hank & John, and Study Hall. Content is published primarily on YouTube, with additional distribution on TikTok and podcast platforms, and is freely accessible to an audience of 32 million subscribers. The organization is funded through charitable donations and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Product overview
Complexly is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational media organization producing free video content across YouTube and other platforms. The portfolio spans a multi-show platform architecture with over 20 distinct sub-brands including SciShow and its variants (SciShow Kids, SciShow Space, SciShow Psych, SciShow Tangents), Crash Course and its variants (Crash Course Kids, Crash Course en Español), PBS Eons, Journey to the Microcosmos, Dear Hank & John, The Anthropocene Reviewed, Bizarre Beasts, Study Hall, and numerous other educational series covering subjects ranging from science and humanities to practical life skills. The content is distributed primarily through YouTube to an audience of 32 million subscribers, with dedicated TikTok channels for select shows.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Crash Course: Free, high-quality educational videos used by teachers, students, and learners of all kinds.
- SciShow
- PBS Eons
- SciShow Kids
- Crash Course Kids
- Study Hall
- Journey to the Microcosmos
- Bizarre Beasts
- The Anthropocene Reviewed
- Ask Hank Anything
- Dear Hank & John
- SciShow Space
- SciShow Psych
- SciShow Tangents
- Crash Course en Español
- The Art Assignment
- How to Vote in Every State
- How to Adult
- Life's Little Lies
- Ours Poetica
- Origin of Everything
- 100 Days
Products and services
- SciShow Educational science video channel exploring scientific subjects that defy expectations and inspire curiosity; aimed at general learners and students.
- SciShow Kids Science video content designed for young, curious minds explaining fun, complex science concepts.
- SciShow Space Space science video content exploring astronomy, astrophysics, and space exploration topics.
- SciShow Psych Psychology-focused educational video content exploring the human mind, behavior, and mental processes.
- SciShow Tangents Podcast-style show where hosts discuss tangential topics related to science.
- Crash Course Free, high-quality educational video series covering academic subjects for teachers, students, and lifelong learners.
- Crash Course Kids Free educational video content designed for children covering various academic subjects.
- Crash Course en Español Spanish-language version of the Crash Course educational video series.
- PBS Eons Documentary-style video series exploring the history of life on Earth from the dawn of life to the most recent Ice Age.
- PBS Eons TikTok Short-form educational video content on TikTok extending the PBS Eons series to a short-form video audience.
- SciShow TikTok Short-form science content on TikTok extending SciShow's educational brand to a short-form video audience.
- Journey to the Microcosmos Microscopic-world educational video series revealing unseen life surrounding us.
- Dear Hank & John Advice podcast in which hosts Hank and John Green provide dubious advice to listeners' questions.
- The Anthropocene Reviewed Podcast reviewing facets of the human-focused world, blending humor with thoughtful commentary.
- Bizarre Beasts Monthly video series introducing new and unusual animal species, hosted by Hank Green and Sarah Suta.
- Ask Hank Anything Q&A-format video show where Hank Green answers questions from celebrity guests.
- Study Hall Educational content helping learners prepare for, apply to, succeed at, and graduate from college.
- The Art Assignment Video series exploring art concepts, techniques, and assignments for aspiring artists.
- How to Vote in Every State Nonpartisan voter education video content explaining voting procedures and requirements across all US states.
- How to Adult Educational video content helping viewers navigate practical life skills and adult responsibilities.
- Life's Little Lies Educational video content exploring self-deception, biases, and human psychology.
- Ours Poetica Poetry-focused educational video series exploring various poetic forms and styles.
- Origin of Everything Educational video content tracing the cultural and historical origins of various topics.
- 100 Days Educational video series following a 100-day journey or challenge format.
- Complexly Web Shop Merchandise Branded merchandise sold through the Complexly web shop to support the nonprofit's content creation mission.
Quantifiable outcome
- 32 million subscribers and 5 billion views across YouTube channels
Companies that use Complexly
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Complexly technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Complexly partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Complexly competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Veritasium: Science education YouTube channel run by Derek Muller, covering physics, science misconceptions, and experiments. Comparable in audience profile, creator-led production model, and reliance on YouTube as primary distribution.
- Khan Academy: Nonprofit educational content provider offering free video lessons across K-12 and college subjects. Highly comparable to Complexly in mission, free-access model, and reliance on philanthropic funding, with a much larger structured courseware footprint.
- TED-Ed: TED's educational initiative producing short animated lessons and YouTube content for learners and educators. Closely comparable in format (free educational video, lesson-style), target audience, and nonprofit-style support model.
- Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell: High-production educational YouTube channel producing animated explainers on science and philosophy. Comparable as a top-tier educational YouTube creator with multi-million subscribers, crowdfunding monetization, and similar content style to SciShow and PBS Eons.
- PBS Digital Studios: YouTube-native educational media network operated by PBS, including collaboration with Complexly on PBS Eons. Directly comparable as a public-media nonprofit producing educational video for YouTube and adjacent platforms.
Others
- Wistia: Video hosting and analytics platform for professional video content. Not a direct competitor but an infrastructure provider in the same online video ecosystem Complexly operates in for production and distribution tooling.
- Amgen Foundation / BioCurious educational initiatives: Nonprofit and foundation-funded science education programs that commission educational video content. Relevant as potential foundation partners or funders analogous to Outrider rather than direct content competitors.
Broad incumbents
- BBC Bitesize: BBC's educational platform providing curriculum-aligned video and interactive lessons for UK students. Comparable in educational video and curriculum focus but regionally anchored to the UK and tied to a much larger public broadcaster.
- National Geographic (Digital): Major media brand producing science, history, and nature educational content including YouTube and streaming. Overlaps with Complexly's PBS Eons, Journey to the Microcosmos, and Bizarre Beasts in subject matter, but operates at vastly greater scale as part of a diversified media portfolio.
Emerging players
- Aperture Education Media: Educational documentary and video studio producing non-fiction content for classrooms and online audiences. Comparable in mission-driven educational media production, though smaller and more production-services oriented than Complexly's creator-led model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Complexly financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Complexly leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Complexly funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Complexly 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 Complexly
What does Complexly do?
Complexly produces and distributes free educational video and audio content through a portfolio of 20+ specialized shows including SciShow, Crash Course, PBS Eons, Journey to the Microcosmos, Dear Hank & John, and Study Hall. Content is published primarily on YouTube, with additional distribution on TikTok and podcast platforms, and is freely accessible to an audience of 32 million subscribers. The organization is funded through charitable donations and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Is Complexly a public or private company?
Complexly is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Complexly founded?
Complexly was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Complexly based?
Complexly is headquartered in Missoula, United States, in the North America region.
How does Complexly make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales.
Who are Complexly's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Veritasium, Khan Academy, TED-Ed, Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell and PBS Digital Studios. Others are Wistia and Amgen Foundation / BioCurious educational initiatives. Broad incumbents are BBC Bitesize and National Geographic (Digital). Aperture Education Media is listed as an emerging player.
Does Complexly have an API?
No public API is recorded for Complexly.
What industry is Complexly in?
Complexly's product category is Educational Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFACAG, Interactive Multimedia Learning Content (Video, Audio, Interactive Lessons), with a secondary code of EDAGALAA, K–12 Instructional Video & Multimedia. Its NAICS code is 512 and its SIC code is 7812.