SABAQ

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.

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

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

• K-12 digital learning
• Educational mobile apps
• Tablet-based learning
• Animated educational content
• Community learning centers

Headquarters

HQ city

Karachi

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Government and NGO Grants: Partnerships with government education foundations (PEF, SEF) and international development organizations provide funding and implementation contracts.
3. Community Contributions: Village Education Committees collect monthly tuition fees from students at SABAQ Centers to contribute towards facilitator salaries and center operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• The Citizens Foundation (TCF)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 March 2017One 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)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2017SABAQ 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)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUnder 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)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSABAQ 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 AcceleratorflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSABAQ 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.
• GlobalGivingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSABAQ 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 FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVarkey 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 StiftungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSABAQ 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) UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDFID UK recognized SABAQ's impact on digital content in public primary schools, with content reaching 75,000 children.
• archeo noVaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman 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

Broad 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

• Xx.com/sabaqpakistan
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCEVKfaT81jFq4HE1Yky99GA
• Facebookfacebook.com/SABAQPakistan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sabaqpakistan
• Instagraminstagram.com/sabaqpakistan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 SABAQ