Tilli

What Tilli does

Tilli (Tilli Kids Inc, Delaware-incorporated, founded 2020) is a social-emotional learning platform that combines behavioral science, machine learning, and game design to build 8 foundational SEL skills in children aged 5–10. The platform delivers learning through a mobile and web application built on the open-source Godot Engine, supported by physical Tilli Learning Kits (English at $13.30 per unit; Sinhala and Tamil for bulk institutional orders of 50+ units) and an Amazon-distributed Bodies and Boundaries interactive book. Core modules cover metacognition, empathy, critical thinking, self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making, with extension modules on trust, digital safety (Digi, co-developed with UNICEF, IDEO, Riot Games, and Sesame Workshop), and body safety/boundaries. The product features a Parent Dashboard for progress tracking, AI-driven adaptive personalization, and an open-source Tilli IDE that enables no-code content authoring.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market across three customer segments: consumer families (via freemium app downloads and direct e-commerce/Amazon hardware sales), schools and educational institutions (via a direct sales motion led by a Head of School Partnerships delivering 12-week structured programs with teacher training, toolkits, and outcome reporting), and child-welfare organizations/NGOs (via partnerships such as Save the Children Sri Lanka and the UNICEF Innovation Fund-backed open-source Safety Toolbox). Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the only quantified price point is the $13.30 unit kit price, with institutional school pricing on a quote basis.

Strategic positioning is anchored by Stanford School of Education incubation and UNICEF Innovation Fund portfolio status, with multi-school impact data from deployments at Hippocampus Learning Centers (India, 550 students across 4 schools) and Asian Grammar School (Sri Lanka, hundreds of first-graders) generating independently reported outcome metrics. The team is small (~10 core members) and the company has not publicly disclosed equity funding rounds beyond a UNICEF grant; reported funding is exclusively non-dilutive or in-kind to date. Operating geographies are concentrated in Sri Lanka and India with global consumer app distribution via app stores and a web app.

Name

Tilli

Legal name

Tilli Kids Inc

Website

https://tillikids.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tilli (Tilli Kids Inc) is a social-emotional learning platform that uses play-based games, AI-driven personalization, and behavioral science to build 8 core SEL skills in children aged 5–10. It serves parents, K-12 schools, and NGOs via mobile/web apps, physical learning kits, and 12-week institutional programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social-Emotional Learning Software

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital/Interactive SEL Apps & Media for Early Childhood (EDACAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Wellbeing Digital Curriculum (EDAFACAM), Play-Based SEL & Executive Function Skill-Building Programs (EDACAOAB), Family/Parent-Focused SEL & Home Practice Programs (EDACAOAG)

Keywords

• Social emotional learning
• Children education app
• SEL curriculum platform
• AI adaptive learning
• Edtech software

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Physical Learning Kits: Tilli sells physical Social-Emotional Learning Kits directly through its e-commerce shop and Amazon. Kits are priced at $13.30 per unit for English versions. Bulk orders (minimum 50 kits) are available in Sinhala and Tamil for school/government deployments.
2. Digital App (Freemium/Subscription): The core Tilli mobile app is available free for families. School implementations likely involve institutional licensing or program fees, evidenced by dedicated school partnership sales motion (Head of School Partnerships role, contact outreach to school administrators).
3. School/Institutional Programs: Tilli sells structured SEL programs to schools including teacher training, toolkit provisioning, and ongoing support. Programs span 12-week cohorts with measurable outcome reporting used as a sales differentiator (e.g., Asian Grammar School, Hippocampus Learning Centers case studies).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Tilli builds a play-based social-emotional learning (SEL) platform for children aged 5–10, delivered through a free mobile app (iOS/Android) and web app with AI-powered adaptive learning. The platform covers 8 core SEL skills (metacognition, empathy, critical thinking, self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision-making) via interactive modules on emotions, trust, digital safety, and body boundaries. Complementing the app, Tilli sells physical Learning Kits ($13.30 per unit, English/Sinhala/Tamil) and structured 12-week SEL programs for K-12 schools that include teacher training, intervention toolkits, and measurable outcome reporting.

Product overview

Tilli is a social-emotional learning platform combining mobile/web applications, physical learning kits, and open source tools. The core Tilli Kids App serves children aged 5-10 with adaptive, AI-powered SEL content across modules including Feelings and Emotions, Trust, Digital Safety (Digi), and Bodies and Boundaries. Physical Tilli Learning Kits complement digital learning with hands-on activities available in English, Sinhala, and Tamil. The open source Safety Toolbox (built with UNICEF Innovation Fund) provides web-based modules including Tilli IDE for content creation and Godot-powered interactive experiences. School programs offer teacher training and intervention frameworks. Parent Dashboard and Ask Tilli AI feature provide family-facing tools for monitoring progress and receiving parenting guidance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tilli Kids App Mobile and web-based social-emotional learning tool for children aged 5-10, using play, games, and stories to build 8 foundational SEL skills (metacognition, empathy, critical thinking, self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision-making). Features adaptive learning powered by machine learning, AI-personalized content recommendations, computer-vision-based play personalization, a Parent Dashboard for progress tracking, and Ask Tilli for personalized parenting guidance. Available free for families on iOS App Store, Google Play, and as a browser-based web app.
• Tilli Learning Kit Physical game-based learning kit covering feelings and emotions, available in English, Sinhala, and Tamil versions. Provides hands-on activities that complement the digital Tilli app experience for home and classroom use. Sold via the Tilli e-commerce shop and Amazon.
• Tilli for Schools School-focused structured 12-week SEL program for K-12 institutions including teacher training, intervention toolkits, research-based play activities, teacher guidebooks, semester refresher training, and ongoing weekly support. Provides measurable outcome reporting on emotional awareness, discipline, and engagement. Sold through a direct enterprise sales motion led by the Head of School Partnerships.
• Tilli Open Source Safety Toolbox Open-source, browser-based three-module SEL experience on child online safety developed in partnership with the UNICEF Innovation Fund. Modules cover Feelings and Emotions, Trust, and Digital Safety. Includes the open-source Tilli IDE for non-technical module authoring and Godot Engine integration. Targeted at parents, teachers, social workers, designers, and developers globally, including low-resource and emerging market settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 73% of students demonstrated enhanced emotional awareness after 12 weeks of Tilli at Asian Grammar School
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UNICEF Innovation FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTilli is actively working with the UNICEF Innovation Fund to create Tilli's Safety Toolbox — a three-module, play-based SEL experience for child online safety. The project focuses on helping parents/caregivers have meaningful conversations and enabling teachers/educators/social workers to deliver learning. The content is open source, with trademark and IP owned by Tilli Kids Inc.
• DataGood @ UC BerkeleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn spring 2025, DataGood at UC Berkeley collaborated with Tilli on a research project to develop AI-powered grading for handwritten K-5 math in low-bandwidth environments (e.g., WhatsApp). The team built a model evaluation pipeline testing OCR and LLM approaches, delivering a hybrid inference pipeline design and preprocessing framework to guide Tilli's AI development.
• IDEOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDEO partnered with Tilli through the Riot Games/IDEO Digital Thriving Challenge to design playful learning tools for child digital safety. IDEO's human-centered design methodology influenced Tilli's Digital Safety module ('Digi').
• Riot GamesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiot Games co-sponsored the Digital Thriving Challenge with IDEO and Sesame Workshop. Tilli won the challenge, leading to the development of the Digital Safety module with support from the prize.
• Sesame Workshop (Digital Thriving Project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSesame Workshop's Digital Thriving Project supported the development of Tilli's Digital Safety module ('Digi'), bringing expertise in early childhood media and digital wellbeing.
• Stanford School of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTilli was incubated at Stanford's School of Education and is guided by Dr. Karin Forssell, Director of the Learning, Design, and Technology program at Stanford Graduate School of Education. Stanford's research methodology underpins Tilli's behavioral science approach.
• Asian Grammar SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsian Grammar School implemented Tilli's SEL curriculum across its first-grade student body in a 12-week program. Tilli provided teacher training, weekly activities, and WhatsApp support. The school served as a case study demonstrating measurable outcomes (73% emotional awareness improvement).
• Hippocampus Learning Centers (India)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTilli partnered with Hippocampus Learning Centers in India to deliver a 12-week SEL program across 4 schools reaching 550 students (grades 1-3). The partnership generated rigorous impact data (64% emotional improvement, 92% interpersonal skill improvement) used in Tilli's marketing and credibility.
• Save The Children Sri LankaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn independent study by Save The Children Sri Lanka evaluated Tilli's impact, finding that 9 out of 10 children developed positive coping mechanisms for anger management and empathy with consistent use, and 4 out of 5 caregivers gained better understanding of their own emotions. This independently validates Tilli's efficacy claims.
• Riverside School (Ahmedabad, India)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiverside School in Ahmedabad was a co-creation partner for Tilli's Digital Safety/Internet Safety module. Over 5 months (January–May 2023), 10 children and their parents participated in play-test sessions alongside the teacher, informing the design of the 3-module Internet Safety curriculum (Net Set Go, Feelz Online, Share with Care).
• Takshilah Global School (Ambur)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTakshilah Global School in Ambur hosted an intensive SEL workshop for primary school teachers (Pre-K to Grade 6). Post-workshop assessments showed 98% teacher confidence in integrating SEL strategies. The workshop served as a proof-of-concept for Tilli's educator professional development offering.
• Dr. Karin Forssell (Stanford GSB)minorOthersDr. Karin Forssell, Director of the Learning, Design, and Technology program at Stanford Graduate School of Education, serves as an external advisor to Tilli, providing research and pedagogical guidance.
• Dr. Tara De Mel (Former Secretary, Sri Lanka Ministry of Education)minorOthersDr. Tara De Mel, former Secretary to the Ministry of Education in Sri Lanka, serves as an external supporting advisor to Tilli, providing government education system expertise.
• Aritha Wickramasinghe (Human Rights Advocate)minorOthersAritha Wickramasinghe, attorney at law and award-winning human rights advocate, serves as an external supporting advisor to Tilli, contributing expertise on child rights and protection.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rethink Ed: Rethink Ed offers SEL, mental health, and behavioral intervention resources for K-12 schools. Comparable in targeting district SEL purchasing with bundled curriculum, training, and tracking.
• Committee for Children (Second Step): Second Step is a research-backed SEL curriculum for PreK-8 students with strong classroom implementation and teacher-training programs. It is the closest research-grounded classroom SEL curriculum peer to Tilli's school program.
• Move This World: Move This World provides PreK-12 SEL curricula with video-based lessons, teacher professional development, and outcome measurement. It overlaps with Tilli's school partnerships in offering structured, time-bound SEL programs.
• GoNoodle: GoNoodle delivers movement, mindfulness, and SEL videos to millions of elementary students in schools and homes. It shares Tilli's school-to-home engagement model and free-tier consumer strategy.
• Conscious Discipline: Conscious Discipline delivers brain-state-based SEL and classroom management programs for early childhood and elementary educators. It directly competes for early-childhood SEL curriculum budgets that Tilli targets.
• ClassDojo: ClassDojo is a widely adopted classroom communication and SEL platform connecting teachers, students, and parents. It competes with Tilli for school SEL mindshare and home-school engagement loops, with a substantially larger installed base.
• Panorama Education: Panorama offers a K-12 SEL measurement, intervention, and college/career readiness platform used by US school districts. Like Tilli, it pairs SEL outcomes reporting with instructional content, but at a larger institutional scale.

Broad incumbents

• Kahoot!: Kahoot! is a broad edtech and learning engagement platform with growing SEL and life-skills content. It competes at the platform level for school engagement and could expand downmarket into Tilli's age range.

Others

• Sesame Workshop: Sesame Workshop is a Tilli partner that co-developed the Digi digital safety module and brings deep early-childhood media expertise. As a peer, it represents the well-resourced nonprofit and media ecosystem Tilli competes against for grant and content attention.

Emerging players

• Nearpod: Nearpod provides interactive K-12 lessons that include SEL content alongside core subjects. While broader than Tilli, it competes for the same teacher time and SEL minutes within lesson plans.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kidstilli
• GitHubgithub.com/tillioss
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmLhsI6wbyZ2yb-gqguzjmA
• Facebookfacebook.com/TilliKids
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tillikids
• Instagraminstagram.com/tilliforkids/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Tilli