SABAQ
SABAQ Learning Foundation is a Karachi-based non-profit that develops animated, curriculum-aligned K-5 digital learning content delivered via pre-loaded tablets and apps, serving out-of-school children and government/non-profit school networks across Pakistan through partnerships with provincial education foundations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersKarachi, Pakistan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What SABAQ does
SABAQ Learning Foundation is a Karachi-headquartered non-profit, established in 2015 by Hassan Bin Rizwan, that addresses Pakistan's roughly 22 million out-of-school children through tablet- and app-based digital learning content for K-5 students. The organization produces animated, story-based educational content in Mathematics, Science, Urdu, and English — delivered in Urdu and Sindhi languages and aligned with Pakistan's national curriculum. SABAQ's core technology stack centers on pre-loaded tablet devices (meraSABAQ Tablets), interactive apps such as Desert Adventure (available on Google Play Store), and a comprehensive K-5 learning platform branded as Muse by SABAQ. The proprietary content library comprises 1,505 learning units featuring locally relevant characters designed to improve engagement and conceptual retention.
SABAQ's go-to-market is exclusively partner-driven: it does not sell directly to schools or parents but channels content through three anchor institutional partners — Punjab Education Foundation (394 schools, 39,758 students), The Citizens Foundation (349 schools, 45,000+ learners), and Sindh Education Foundation under the INSTAL Project (700 schools, 140,000+ students). Beyond school deployments, SABAQ operates 540 community-based SABAQ Centers in rural Sindh, each managed by a trained facilitator and sustained locally through Village Education Committees (319 established) that collect monthly tuition to fund operations and facilitator salaries (110 female center managers). SABAQ's reported cumulative footprint is 252,233+ students impacted across 1,818 schools.
The revenue model is non-profit and diversified across three streams: (1) donations from individuals, corporations, and international donors (including tiered giving via GlobalGiving and Islamic philanthropy channels — Zakat, Sadaqah, and a Shariah Compliance certification); (2) grants and partnership contracts with government education foundations (PEF, SEF) and international development partners (DFID UK, IsDB, Siemens Stiftung, SPRING Accelerator); and (3) community contributions via tuition collected at SABAQ Centers. The organization has 11-50 employees, is led by co-founders Hassan Bin Rizwan (CEO), Adnan Asdar, and Adnan Habib, and has accumulated eight industry recognitions between 2017 and 2020, including the GESS Best Educational App award 2020 and the IsDB Transformer Prize 2019.
SABAQ firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SABAQ
- Legal name
- SABAQ Learning Foundation
- Website
- https://sabaq.edu.pk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SABAQ Learning Foundation is a Karachi-based non-profit that develops animated, curriculum-aligned K-5 digital learning content delivered via pre-loaded tablets and apps, serving out-of-school children and government/non-profit school networks across Pakistan through partnerships with provincial education foundations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SABAQ industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Educational Technology
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Software Publishers (513210), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- K–12 Digital Curriculum & Interactive Lessons (EDAGAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- K–12 Instructional Video & Multimedia (EDAGALAA), Assessment & Test Prep Media (Video Lessons, Drills, Simulations) (EDAGALAD)
Keywords
Where SABAQ is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Karachi
- HQ country
- Pakistan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
SABAQ business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: As a non-profit organization (SABAQ Learning Foundation), the primary revenue model is through donations from individuals, corporations, and international donors. The organization conducts fundraising campaigns through GlobalGiving and other platforms.
- Government and NGO Grants: Partnerships with government education foundations (PEF, SEF) and international development organizations provide funding and implementation contracts.
- Community Contributions: Village Education Committees collect monthly tuition fees from students at SABAQ Centers to contribute towards facilitator salaries and center operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Donation/ grant-funded | One-time | Educate a Child donation tier |
| Donation/ grant-funded | One-time | Basic Health Care donation tier |
| Donation/ grant-funded | One-time | Clean Drinking Water Facility donation tier |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
SABAQ product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SABAQ develops animated, story-based digital educational content aligned with Pakistan's national curriculum for Kindergarten through Grade 5 students, covering Science, Math, English, and Urdu in Urdu and Sindhi languages. The content is delivered through pre-loaded tablets, LED displays, and mobile apps, deployed via partnerships with government education foundations (PEF, SEF), NGOs (TCF), and community-based SABAQ Centers in rural Pakistan. SABAQ also trains facilitators and operates non-formal education centers for out-of-school children.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Muse by SABAQ Comprehensive digital learning platform for K-5 students featuring animated educational content in Science, Math, and Urdu, deployed via tablets and partner schools.
- meraSABAQ Tablets Tablet devices pre-loaded with Math, Science, and Urdu content for Kindergarten to Grade 3, used for supplementary classroom instruction two times per week with 3-4 students sharing one tablet.
- KG-5 INSTAL Digital Learning System Proprietary customized KG-5 digital learning system for Science, Math and English subjects in Urdu and Sindhi languages, aligned with national curriculum, deployed across 700 Sindh Education Foundation schools serving 140,000+ students.
- Desert Adventure Interactive Flipbook Interactive gamebook-style flipbook featuring Rudy the camel that teaches desert science concepts to grades 3-4 students, available on the Google Play Store.
- SABAQ Learning Centers Community-based learning centers established in donated spaces in rural villages, each housing up to 40 children, managed by a trained facilitator and a Village Education Committee, delivering non-formal education in Urdu and mathematics to out-of-school children.
Quantifiable outcome
- 252,233 students impacted across Pakistan
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use SABAQ
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SABAQ technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
SABAQ partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- The Citizens Foundation (TCF)coreOne of Pakistan's largest education non-profits, TCF has been using SABAQ's digital learning content in its schools since March 2017. Scaled from 30 schools in 2017 to 349 schools in 2018 across Punjab and Sindh provinces.
- National Rural Support Program (NRSP)coreSABAQ partners with NRSP for implementation of digital content in schools. NRSP helps train facilitators and integrates SABAQ content across Punjab Education Foundation schools. The partnership began in January 2017 with a pilot in 10 schools.
- Sindh Education Foundation (SEF)coreUnder the INSTAL Project, SABAQ created a customized KG-5 digital learning system for SEF schools. Implemented in 700 SEF schools as the first EdTech solution launched by any provincial government in Pakistan.
- Punjab Education Foundation (PEF)coreSABAQ implemented its content in 394 PEF schools in districts including Rahim Yar Khan, Bhawalnagar, Vehari, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur and Khushab. Serves 39,758 students in KG to Grade 3.
- SPRING AcceleratorflagshipSABAQ was chosen as part of SPRING Accelerator's 4th cohort along with 19 other South Asian organizations. Working with fuseproject and SPRING consortium to develop solutions for adolescent girls aged 10-19.
- GlobalGivingcoreSABAQ became a permanent member of GlobalGiving, an online crowdfunding platform for not-for-profits. Successfully raised over $7,500 for educational kits through rigorous online campaigning.
- Varkey FoundationminorVarkey Foundation launched the first 'Next Billion' Ed-Tech prize at Global Education & Skills Forum 2018. SABAQ was nominated as Top 40 EdTech startup and competed among 800 startups globally.
- Siemens StiftungminorSABAQ was the first and only Pakistani startup to become finalist for Siemens Foundation empowering people Award (epAward) 2019 from a pool of 800 enterprises from 86 countries.
- Department for International Development (DFID) UKminorDFID UK recognized SABAQ's impact on digital content in public primary schools, with content reaching 75,000 children.
- archeo noVaminorGerman non-profit working in development cooperation and education. Safe points constructed by arche noVa are being used as SABAQ Centers, consisting of two rooms and bathrooms.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SABAQ competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- BYJU'S: Largest K-12 EdTech platform globally (India-headquartered) with digital curriculum, tests, and tutoring at scale. Comparable on K-12 digital learning product, but vastly larger, commercial, and broader geographic reach than SABAQ's Pakistan non-profit focus.
- Khan Academy: Global non-profit providing free K-12 digital learning content and practice in multiple languages, including regional translations. Comparable in mission (free, curriculum-aligned K-12 digital learning) and K-12 audience, though Khan Academy is vastly larger, multilingual, and English-centric.
Direct peers
- Knowledge Platform: Pakistan-based educational nonprofit creating digital content and teacher training, including tablet-delivered materials for government schools. Closely comparable mission, channel (government school integrations), and product (curriculum-aligned digital content for primary grades).
- Enuma (KitKit School): Designer of KitKit School, an offline-first tablet-based learning app for early-grade literacy and numeracy in low-resource contexts. Closely comparable on product architecture (self-contained tablet app, K-2 focus, low-resource settings) and pedagogical model of independent game-based learning.
- Quizizz: K-12 platform delivering gamified lessons, practice, and formative assessments for teachers and students. Comparable on K-12 digital learning engagement model and product, though Quizizz is a teacher-tool-first SaaS rather than a curriculum-deploying non-profit.
- Taleemabad: Pakistan-based EdTech platform providing K-12 digital learning content via mobile and web. Comparable on geography, target demographic, and digital curriculum product, though typically accessed via consumer app rather than SABAQ's school/center channel.
- Abwaab: Pakistan- and MENA-focused K-12 EdTech platform delivering video lessons, practice, and tutoring. Directly comparable to SABAQ in target market (Pakistan K-12 students), digital-first delivery, and use of short-form educational video content, though Abwaab operates as a commercial venture.
- Orenda Education: Pakistan-based nonprofit delivering digital education to out-of-school and underserved children, often through community-based models. Directly comparable on mission (out-of-school crisis), target segment (rural/marginalized Pakistani children), and nonprofit distribution approach.
Emerging players
- Ubongo: Tanzania-headquartered edutainment company producing animated, character-driven educational content for African children delivered via TV, radio, and digital. Comparable on use of localized animation and storytelling to teach core subjects to young learners in emerging markets.
- Eneza Education: Africa-based mobile learning platform providing exam prep and K-12 content via SMS/USSD and basic phones. Comparable on low-cost digital learning for primary students in low-resource emerging markets, though the delivery channel (mobile vs. tablet) and region differ.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SABAQ social profiles
Digital presenceSABAQ financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SABAQ leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
SABAQ funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SABAQ 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 SABAQ
What does SABAQ do?
SABAQ develops animated, story-based digital educational content aligned with Pakistan's national curriculum for Kindergarten through Grade 5 students, covering Science, Math, English, and Urdu in Urdu and Sindhi languages. The content is delivered through pre-loaded tablets, LED displays, and mobile apps, deployed via partnerships with government education foundations (PEF, SEF), NGOs (TCF), and community-based SABAQ Centers in rural Pakistan. SABAQ also trains facilitators and operates non-formal education centers for out-of-school children.
Is SABAQ a public or private company?
SABAQ is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SABAQ founded?
SABAQ was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SABAQ based?
SABAQ is headquartered in Karachi, Pakistan, in the Asia region.
How does SABAQ make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are government and NGO Grants and community Contributions.
Who are SABAQ's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are BYJU'S and Khan Academy. Direct peers are Knowledge Platform, Enuma (KitKit School), Quizizz, Taleemabad, Abwaab and Orenda Education. Emerging players are Ubongo and Eneza Education.
Does SABAQ have an API?
No public API is recorded for SABAQ.
What industry is SABAQ in?
SABAQ's product category is K-12 Educational Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAEAA, K–12 Digital Curriculum & Interactive Lessons, with a secondary code of EDAGALAA, K–12 Instructional Video & Multimedia. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.