STEMUP Educational Foundation

What STEMUP Educational Foundation does

STEMUP Educational Foundation is a Sri Lankan non-profit founded in 2016 that operates a multi-program STEM education portfolio targeting school students and university undergraduates across all 25 districts of Sri Lanka. The organization delivers free programming through a volunteer network of over 2,000 individuals, supported by corporate sponsorships, international grants, and partnerships with global technology organizations including the Micro:bit Educational Foundation (UK), Microsoft, Raspberry Pi Foundation, CoderDojo Foundation, and Colombo AI Academy. Its programmatic portfolio spans coding education (Micro:bit SLUG, CoderDojo Sri Lanka), AI/ML education (Machine Learning for Kids, Experience AI, Hack:AI), national hackathons (Hack:Bit, Hack:AI), and supplementary programs (STEM Ambassadors, Electronics for Kids, GameDev Kids), all delivered at no cost to participants.

The foundation maintains STEMUP Academy (stemup.academy), a community e-learning platform where experts contribute freely accessible content. Its technology stack is built around physical computing tools (Micro:bit, Arduino, Raspberry Pi) and introductory AI/ML educational platforms. A notable 2019 policy outcome was STEMUp's influence on the Sri Lankan government to incorporate Physical Computing with Micro:bit and Arduino into the National Curriculum for Grades 8 and 9, establishing it as a recognized counterpart to the Ministry of Education on STEM curricular matters.

The business model is donation- and grant-driven rather than revenue-generating. Funding sources include international intermediaries (Give2Asia, GlobalGiving, Fastforward), corporate CSR arms (Commercial Bank of Ceylon, SLT-MOBITEL, MillenniumIT ESP), and technology partnerships. With 1-10 paid staff and 2,000+ unpaid volunteers, all programs are offered free of charge to participants; 'revenue' is effectively measured as program reach (20,000+ students, 500+ Micro:bit sessions, 100+ schools equipped) rather than top-line financial inflows.

Name

STEMUP Educational Foundation

Legal name

STEMUp Educational Foundation

Website

https://stemup.lk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

STEMUP Educational Foundation is a Sri Lankan non-profit founded in 2016 that delivers free STEM education—including coding, AI/ML, and physical computing—to over 20,000 school students and university undergraduates across all 25 districts through 2,000+ volunteers and corporate and international partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Computer Training (61142)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Math & Science Interactive Learning Platforms (STEM Core) (EDAFANAH), STEM Competitions & Olympiads (Science Bowls, STEM Challenges) (EDAMABAL), STEM & Maker Education (Makerspaces, Coding Clubs, Robotics) (EDAAAFAL)

Keywords

• STEM education programs
• Coding education youth
• Volunteer-driven training
• Nonprofit STEM learning
• School technology training

Headquarters

HQ city

Kelaniya

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: STEMUp operates as a not-for-profit organization relying on donations and grants from international organizations like Give2Asia, GlobalGiving, and Fastforward.
2. Corporate Sponsorships and CSR: Corporate sponsors such as Commercial Bank of Ceylon, SLT-MOBITEL, and MillenniumIT ESP provide funding, prizes, and in-kind support for programs and hackathons.
3. Volunteer-Based Operations: All programs and resources are offered free of charge, powered by a network of over 2,000 volunteers across Sri Lanka.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

STEMUP Educational Foundation is a Sri Lankan non-profit that delivers free STEM education programs to school students and university undergraduates. Core offerings include volunteer-led coding clubs (Micro:bit SLUG, CoderDojo Sri Lanka), AI/ML workshops (Machine Learning for Kids, Experience AI), national hackathons (Hack:Bit, Hack:AI), and the STEMUP Academy community e-learning platform, all delivered through a network of over 2,000 volunteers across all 25 districts of Sri Lanka.

Product overview

STEMUP Educational Foundation is a Sri Lankan non-profit organization established in 2016 that operates a multi-program STEM education portfolio rather than a single software product. The core offerings include Micro:bit SLUG (programming with Micro:bit devices), CoderDojo Sri Lanka (coding clubs), Machine Learning for Kids (AI/ML education), Hack:AI (data science hackathons), Hack:Bit (national hackathons), Day of Code, Experience AI, STEM Ambassadors, Electronics for Kids, and GameDev Kids — all targeted at school students and university undergraduates across Sri Lanka's 25 districts. The foundation also maintains STEMUP Academy, a community e-learning platform where experts can contribute freely accessible content. These programs are delivered through a volunteer network of over 2,000 individuals, with support from partners including the Micro:bit Foundation, Sri Lanka Telecom, Commercial Bank of Ceylon, MillenniumIT ESP, and Microsoft.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Micro:bit SLUG: Micro:bit Sri Lanka User Group - focuses on teaching kids programming using Micro:bit devices. Founded in 2016, has conducted over 500 sessions introducing over 20,000 students to STEM.
• CoderDojo Sri Lanka
• Machine Learning for Kids
• Hack:Bit
• Hack:AI
• Day of Code
• Experience AI
• STEMUP Academy
• STEM Ambassadors
• Electronics for Kids
• GameDev Kids

Products and services

• STEMUP Academy Community e-learning platform where community experts can contribute content and all content is freely accessible, covering IoT, Machine Learning, Computer Programming and other STEM topics for Sri Lankan learners.
• Micro:bit SLUG Community initiative that empowers Sri Lankan youth by teaching programming using Micro:bit pocket-sized codeable computers, supported by the Micro:bit Educational Foundation in the UK. Has conducted over 500 sessions and introduced over 20,000 students to STEM.
• CoderDojo Sri Lanka Sri Lankan network of the international CoderDojo movement, running free coding clubs for young people conducted by industry experts, university professionals, and community centers.
• Machine Learning for Kids Knowledge sharing program aimed at providing hands-on knowledge on real-world usage of AI to university students and school children through workshops and labs.
• Hack:AI Inter-school and university hackathon providing opportunities for young innovators to build solutions using data science and machine learning technologies, targeting selected Sustainable Development Goals.
• Hack:Bit Annual national-level hackathon for school students and university undergraduates to unleash creativity and innovations through disruptive product development, organized with partners including Commercial Bank and SLT-MOBITEL.
• Day of Code Full-day interactive event that inspires Sri Lankan youth to learn computer science, advocates for equity, and celebrates contributions of students, teachers, parents and partners to the field.
• Experience AI Initiative focused on bringing the power of Artificial Intelligence directly to schools across Sri Lanka, bridging the digital divide and preparing educators and students for an AI-driven future.
• STEM Ambassadors Program featuring people from a range of disciplines and backgrounds who help bring a new and inspiring perspective to STEM lessons and career opportunities for students.
• Hundred Days, Hundred Schools Project launched in 100 selected rural schools in Sri Lanka to bridge the knowledge gap; well-trained volunteers cover course contents through 1:M sessions and distribute one IoT kit per school for further studies.
• Micro:bit in Libraries Library lending programme where Micro:bit devices can be borrowed from local libraries, currently running in Colombo and Gampaha libraries with positive community feedback.
• Volunteer Program Network of over 2,000 volunteers across Sri Lanka including young professionals from organizations and universities who conduct training sessions, run coding clubs, and support programs including Micro:bit SLUG, CoderDojo Sri Lanka, Raspberry Jam, and STEM Ambassadors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20,000 students introduced to STEM-based educational programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• SLT-MOBITELflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 May 2021National ICT and Mobile Services Provider partnered with STEMUP for Hack:bit 2020 virtual hackathon and conducted webinars on STEM education.
• Micro:bit Educational FoundationcoreTechnology or IntegrationSTEMUp partnered with Micro:bit Foundation UK from its initiation, securing support for devices and learning materials for the Micro:bit Sri Lanka program that has conducted over 500 sessions across the island.
• Sarvodaya FusioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized Hack:Bit 2018 with Micro:bit SLUG and Microsoft at Trace Expert City, bringing together 25 teams from schools and universities.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnered with Micro:bit SLUG and Sarvodaya Fusion for Hack:Bit 2018, supporting the hackathon event with technical expertise and platform resources.
• Commercial Bank of CeylonflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCSR Trust of Commercial Bank sponsored Hack:bit 2020 with prizes worth Rs. 1.5 million. Also supports Coding Clubs in schools and Smart Classrooms project.
• MillenniumIT ESPflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered as Industry Advisor for Machine Learning for Kids (Poddanta Machine Learning) program, providing workshops for university students and schools, hackathons, and internship opportunities.
• IRIM Croatian MakersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with STEMUp for the Coding Clubs project targeting 100 schools.
• Rotary Club Zagreb CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with STEMUp for the Coding Clubs project targeting 100 schools.
• Raspberry PI FoundationcoreTechnology or IntegrationListed as an international partner supporting STEMUp's programs for bringing computing education to Sri Lankan students.
• CoderDojo FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoderDojo Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan network of the international CoderDojo movement, an open source social education movement.
• Colombo AI AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting STEMUp's AI and Machine Learning initiatives.
• hSenidminorOthersCEO Sampath Jayasundara serves on STEMUp Advisory Board, bringing IT industry expertise.
• ESOFT Metro CampusminorOthersHead of Corporate and Vocational Training/General Manager Corporate Planning Madhu Fernando serves on STEMUp Advisory Board.
• AI AcademycoreTechnology or IntegrationCo-Founder and General Partner Lin Gong-Deutschmann serves on STEMUp Advisory Board, bringing AI expertise.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• STEM NOLA: US non-profit delivering hands-on STEM programming to under-resourced communities through volunteer-driven events. Operates a similar community-led, volunteer-based STEM outreach model to STEMUp, particularly for engaging K–12 students in underserved geographies.
• IRIM Croatian Makers: Croatian non-profit partnered with STEMUp on the Coding Clubs / 100 Schools project. Operates a near-identical volunteer-led, school-based STEM and Micro:bit-coding model across Croatia and is a tightly relevant international peer.
• AI4ALL: US non-profit focused on AI literacy and education for underrepresented students. Highly comparable to STEMUp's Experience AI and ML for Kids programs targeting school and university learners, with similar volunteer/university partnerships for AI capacity building.
• Micro:bit Educational Foundation: UK-based non-profit behind the Micro:bit device and STEM education resources. STEMUp is a national partner running Micro:bit SLUG, and the foundation's mission — bringing computing education to young learners — is closely aligned with STEMUp's Micro:bit and IoT curriculum work.
• Girls Who Code: US non-profit running coding clubs, summer programs, and college-loops for school-age girls. Comparable mission and delivery model to STEMUp's school-based coding clubs and Hack:bit hackathons, though with a narrower demographic focus.
• Code.org: US-based non-profit driving computer science education in K–12 schools globally. Comparable to STEMUp in advocating CS into national curricula, offering free teacher resources, and running volunteer-driven Hour of Code and similar large-scale awareness events.
• Raspberry Pi Foundation: UK charity focused on affordable computing and digital literacy education. Listed as a core international partner of STEMUp; shares the same mission of putting pocket-sized programmable hardware into the hands of young learners through schools and community programs.
• CoderDojo Foundation: International non-profit running free, volunteer-led coding clubs for youth — the global network of which STEMUp's 'CoderDojo Sri Lanka' is a national chapter. Operates with the same volunteer-based, free-program delivery model targeting school-aged children.
• Technovation: Global non-profit running AI and app-development programs for girls and young women. Closely comparable to STEMUp's 'Machine Learning for Kids' and Hack:AI programs — both combine STEM learning with hackathons targeting SDG-aligned challenges for school and university students.

Broad incumbents

• Khan Academy: Large US-based non-profit offering free online education across STEM subjects. Comparable to STEMUp Academy's free, expert-contributed e-learning model, though at vastly larger scale and broader subject coverage; offers both an established digital platform and curriculum partnerships with schools.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/stemupfoundation
• Xx.com/stemuplk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/28183108

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about STEMUP Educational Foundation