What 8billionideas does

8billionideas is a UK-based EdTech and services company that delivers future-skills education programmes to schools serving students aged 4-18. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Surbiton, the company sells to over 350 schools across 25 countries, with a customer base concentrated in premium international schools in the UK, Middle East, and Asia. The company states it has impacted more than 500,000 students globally, providing programmes that complement academic curricula with real-world skills including entrepreneurship, careers, financial literacy, wellbeing, and sustainability. A Series A funding round was announced in 2022 to accelerate growth, though the amount was not disclosed.

The company's product architecture is built around the Critical Curriculum, a proprietary framework of eight future-focused learning pillars (Entrepreneurship, Careers, Financial Literacy, Wellbeing, Health & Performance, Leadership, Sustainability, and Technology) supported by a content library of 250+ reusable 45-minute Experiences. Delivery occurs through multiple formats: a Broadcast platform for live virtual sessions, in-person facilitation, self-paced on-demand video courses, and a forthcoming International GCSE Global Skills Projects qualification co-developed with OxfordAQA for first teaching from August 2026. The technology layer is a standard cloud-based education platform with live-streaming and on-demand video capabilities; no proprietary AI, ML, or API infrastructure is disclosed. Programmes are aligned to external benchmarks including Gatsby (UK careers education), KHDA (UAE), and the Association for Character Education.

8billionideas generates revenue primarily through per-student programme fees and school platform subscriptions, with pricing ranging from £49 per student for on-demand video modules to £295 per child for a 4-day summer programme, plus quote-based pricing for in-person and hybrid live sessions at larger cohort sizes. The go-to-market is sales-led, with a direct team reaching school principals, headteachers, and curriculum coordinators, supplemented by strategic distribution partnerships - notably CityFibre for UK primary schools (targeting 1M pupils by 2030), Apex2100 for global performance education, and OxfordAQA for accredited qualifications. Freemium content such as the Grow24 sustainability programme and Future Jobs Kit 2.0 functions as a top-of-funnel acquisition channel. The company is privately held, with CEO and co-founder David Harkin leading operations alongside co-founder Jenny Harkin, and a board strengthened in late 2024 by the addition of Ed Woodward and Gavin Petken.

Name

8billionideas

Legal name

8billionideas

Website

https://8billionideas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

8billionideas is a UK-based EdTech company that delivers future-skills education programmes - covering entrepreneurship, careers, wellbeing, and sustainability - to over 350 schools across 25 countries, serving students aged 4-18 through live virtual sessions, on-demand content, and accredited qualifications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Electives & Enrichment Curriculum (Arts, Music, PE, CTE Exploratories) (EDAGAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional & Career Skills Tutoring Platforms (Coding, Data, Business) (EDANAGAI), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), Health & Wellbeing Curriculum (EDAGAAAF), Advanced Project-Based Learning & Portfolio Mentoring (STEM/arts portfolios, maker projects) (EDANAKAI)

Keywords

• K-12 education services
• Future skills curriculum
• EdTech platform schools
• Entrepreneurship education programmes
• Live virtual classroom sessions

Headquarters

HQ city

Surbiton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Per-Student Programme Fees: Schools pay per student for programmes such as The Internship on-demand video option at £49 per student. In-person live sessions are priced per student with minimum cohort requirements.
2. Summer Programme Fees: Perform Better summer programme offered at £295 per child for 4-day residential online programme targeting students aged 14-18.
3. School Platform Subscriptions: Schools subscribe to access the Critical Curriculum platform with Experiences, Courses, and Broadcast programmes integrated into their curriculum.
4. Free Educational Resources: Grow24 sustainability programme offered free to schools, with prize sponsorship from Chatsworth Schools - represents customer acquisition and brand building investment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

8billionideas partners with schools globally to deliver future-focused learning through an award-winning Critical Curriculum framework of eight learning pillars (Entrepreneurship, Careers, Financial Literacy, Wellbeing, Health & Performance, Leadership, Sustainability, Technology). The company offers a portfolio of named programmes such as Broadcast (live virtual sessions), The Internship, Perform Better, Startup School, Work Smart, The Accelerator, The Incubator, World-Changers, Going Viral, Save The Design Company, Thrive, and Holiday Camps, delivered live, virtually, in-person, or on-demand to students aged 4–18. Revenue is generated via school subscriptions, per-student programme fees, and multi-year contracts, with 300+ schools across 25 countries and over 500,000 students impacted.

Product overview

8billionideas is a multi award-winning EdTech and services company operating a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering is the Critical Curriculum, an award-winning framework of eight future-focused learning pillars (Entrepreneurship, Careers, Financial Literacy, Wellbeing, Health & Performance, Leadership, Sustainability, and Technology) that complements academic excellence. This core is delivered through multiple programme formats: Challenges (years 1-6), Curriculum (years 7-9), Courses (years 7-13), and CPD for teachers. Key programmes include Broadcast (live virtual sessions), The Internship (work experience simulation), Startup School (entrepreneurship), Perform Better (health and performance, in partnership with Apex2100), Work Smart (productivity), Grow24 (sustainability education), The Accelerator, The Incubator, World-Changers, Going Viral, Save The Design Company, and Thrive (wellbeing). The company also offers the Future Jobs Kit 2.0 (career guidance resource), Holiday Camps, and recently launched the International GCSE Global Skills Projects qualification with OxfordAQA. Content is delivered via live facilitators, self-paced courses, bite-sized videos, and instant mentorship. The company has partnered with 350+ schools across 25 countries and impacted over 1 million students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Critical Curriculum Core proprietary framework of eight future-focused learning pillars delivered to schools globally to sit alongside academic excellence and prepare students for the real world. For school buyers (headteachers, curriculum leads) seeking award-winning future-skills content.
• Broadcast Live facilitated online sessions streamed into classrooms, providing access to over 100 engaging Experiences with real-time facilitators. Supports hybrid or fully virtual delivery. For schools seeking live expert-led content delivered to students.
• The Internship Award-winning 3–5 day work experience simulation where students aged 14–18 work at a fictional agency across Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Product departments. Helps schools achieve Gatsby benchmarks. Won the Sixth Form Colleges Association's Enterprise and Employability Award in 2022. For secondary schools and sixth-form colleges.
• Perform Better Comprehensive health and performance programme for students aged 4–18 covering five pillars: Live Better, Move Better, Think Better, Eat Better, and Sleep Better. Created in partnership with Apex2100 International Ski Academy and Sir Clive Woodward. Delivered across modules that progress by year group. Achieves a 4.8/5 customer satisfaction score.
• Startup School Entrepreneurship programme of up to 3 days where students explore, refine, and test business ideas, identify customers, plan investment, and pitch in a Dragon's Den-style finale. Designed for drop-down days. Used by schools such as International Schools Group Saudi Arabia for nearly 1,000 students.
• Work Smart 1-day programme teaching science-backed tools to improve productivity, maintain motivation, and beat procrastination. Includes personal productivity system creation covering time management, task management, and prioritisation. For students needing practical life and study skills.
• The Accelerator 2-day holistic personal development programme that enables students to grow through challenges, building confidence, improving communication skills, and developing personal branding and social media presence. Part of the Level Up theme.
• The Incubator 1-day entrepreneurship programme taking students from idea to pitching. Provides an end-to-end entrepreneurship experience where students develop and present their business concept.
• World-Changers 2-day narrative-driven programme where students develop sustainable business ideas that improve people's lives with socially conscious values, culminating in a pitch.
• Going Viral: Brand an Influencer 1-day crash course empowering students to rebrand an influencer and plan a social media marketing campaign. Focuses on design thinking, customer profiling, and digital marketing skills.
• Save The Design Company 1-day team-based programme where students work to save a failing design company. Engages students in narrative, project-based learning with creative problem-solving tasks.
• Thrive Collaborative virtual wellbeing programme of up to 3 days that equips students with science-backed tools for happiness and mental health. Addresses anxiety, depression, and stress through proven mental tools.
• Holiday Camps Future-focused holiday camps delivering hands-on experiences that unlock children's creativity, leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit. Distributed through partnerships including the British Mums community in the UAE and Delta Skills Academy summer camp rollouts in Dubai.
• International GCSE Global Skills Projects New coursework-based International GCSE qualification developed with OxfordAQA, designed to complement traditional GCSEs by focusing on real-world problem-solving, critical thinking, and global citizenship. First teaching worldwide from August 2026. Built on 8billionideas' award-winning Critical Curriculum covering eight pillars.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trusted by 300+ schools in 25 countries with 500,000+ students impacted
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• CityFibreflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026National digital literacy programme 'Future Ready Learners' to reach one million primary school pupils across the UK by 2030. Uses Tech Toolkit with classroom-ready activities based on real-world applications. CityFibre provides broadband infrastructure and educational outreach through its network.
• OxfordAQAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Worldwide partnership to launch International GCSE Global Skills Projects - a new coursework-based qualification focusing on real-world problem-solving, critical thinking, and global citizenship. First teaching from August 2026. Combines OxfordAQA's academic rigour and global assessment expertise with 8billionideas' award-winning Critical Curriculum covering eight pillars including entrepreneurship, leadership, and sustainability.
• British MumsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 April 2025Partnership with UAE's most vibrant trusted community (35,000+ families) to bring future-ready learning to families through dynamic events, panel discussions, and exclusive podcast appearances. British Mums families receive exclusive access to 8billionideas Holiday Camps.
• Apex2100 International Ski AcademyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2024Extended 5-year strategic collaboration to expand educational and performance training opportunities for students worldwide. Perform Better programme covers nutrition, sleep, digital wellness, and brain fitness. Sir Clive Woodward serves as Director of Sport at Apex2100 and brings high-performance coaching expertise.
• Farms for City ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration on Grow24 - a free project-based sustainability competition for primary students. Students develop skills across six video modules learning about agriculture, nature, and food. Prize includes trip to Farms for City Children farm worth £20,000+. Charity founded by Sir Michael Morpurgo and his wife Clare.
• Sir Clive WoodwardcoreOthers · 7 April 2022Advisory board member serving as Director of Sport at Apex2100. Former England Rugby World Cup winning coach and Team GB Director of Sport at London 2012 Olympics. Brings high-performance coaching methodology to Perform Better programme.
• Harrow Family of SchoolsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2022Sustainability450 competition to mark 450th anniversary of Harrow School UK and 25th anniversary of AISL education group. Students from all Harrow-branded schools create solutions to sustainability problems. Partnership with Imperial College London, University of Southampton, University of Bath, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology, and Asia Institute of Technology.
• The ICA (Institute of Directors)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to revolutionise education through entrepreneurship and future-ready learning programmes.
• Delta Skills AcademyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership to roll out 6 weeks of summer holiday camps across Dubai, bringing future-focused learning to families in the region.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/8billionideas
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBsKeJdYtWy5aHDToETzBiw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/8billionideas
• Instagram8billionideas.com/instagram

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 8billionideas