Rising Academy Network

What Rising Academy Network does

Rising Academy Network is a Sierra Leone-headquartered, B Corp-certified education organization founded in 2014 that partners with African ministries of education to improve public school systems through structured curriculum, ongoing teacher coaching, and AI-enabled digital tools. Operating under the legal entity Rising International Education and Learning Limited, the organization supports more than 400,000 students across roughly 1,400 public schools in at least six country partnerships (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Rwanda, The Gambia, and Kenya), with anchor MoU relationships at both national and municipal levels (e.g., Rwanda MINEDUC, City of Kigali, Ghana GEOP, Liberia LEAP). It also operates a small private school network in Ghana and licenses its tools to other organizations globally. The company is led by CEO Stephanie Dobrowolski (appointed September 2024) alongside Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Paul Skidmore, with CTO Shabnam Aggarwal overseeing technology and country managing directors running in-country operations.

The product portfolio spans AI-powered and structured-pedagogy offerings. Rori is a generative-AI math tutor delivered via WhatsApp and powered by Anthropic's Claude, proven in RCT evaluation to double math outcomes when used regularly. Tari is an NLP-based AI teacher's assistant that provides on-demand lesson preparation and resources through WhatsApp. LearnLens combines computer vision and OCR to auto-grade handwritten student assessments, cutting teacher marking time by up to 70%. RisingFaster (FasterReading and FasterMath) is a remedial literacy/numeracy program designed for government-scale delivery at costs as low as $5 per student per year, with a 36% improvement in foundational reading (0.28 SD) shown in a Liberia RCT. Rising SIS is a mobile, offline-capable student information system, Rising On Air distributes audio lessons via IVR and radio across 25+ countries, and Bambai is a mobile app for accessing these services. The WhatsApp-first, offline-capable architecture is purpose-built for low-connectivity African school environments and has produced one of the strongest published evidence bases in global education — seven RCTs showing students in Rising-supported schools learn 2.4x faster than peers.

The business model rests on three revenue legs. The primary leg is multi-year government partnership contracts (managed services) where ministries of education pay per-capita or outcomes-based fees for Rising to operate and improve public schools; examples include Sierra Leone SLEIC, Liberia LEAP (now with direct government budget line funding), Ghana GEOP (170 schools), and Rwanda Elimu-Soko and LIFT. The second leg is private school tuition from Rising's Ghana schools (Kasoa, Kokrobite, Ayigbe Town, Oblogo locations), structured as recurring subscription revenue. The third leg is tool and curriculum licensing of the branded product suite to other schools, governments, and NGOs globally. The company's funding base includes a $4.25M Series A (October 2022) led by Klett Kita & Schule (part of Klett Group) alongside UBS Optimus Foundation, King Philanthropies, Dovetail Impact, and Solon Capital, with additional grant support from a broader base of impact foundations. Pricing is not publicly disclosed beyond the per-capita floor for the RisingFaster program, and contracts are negotiated bilaterally per partnership.

Name

Rising Academy Network

Legal name

Rising International Education and Learning Limited

Website

https://risingacademies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Rising Academy Network is a B Corp-certified education organization headquartered in Sierra Leone that partners with African governments to improve public schools through structured curriculum, teacher coaching, and AI-powered tools (Rori, Tari, LearnLens), serving 400,000+ students across 1,400 schools in six countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Learning Management Systems (LMS) & Digital Classrooms (EDAJAMAA), Accelerated Learning & Grade Advancement Programs (EDAJAGAE), Teacher Training, Professional Development & Education Leadership (BPADAKAC)

Keywords

• K-12 education services
• AI tutoring software
• Teacher coaching programs
• Foundational literacy interventions
• School information systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Kenema

HQ country

Sierra Leone

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Partnership Contracts: Rising partners with governments (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Rwanda) to improve public school systems. The organization receives per capita grants or contract payments to manage and improve schools, with accountability for learning outcomes. This is the primary revenue stream supporting over 400,000 students across 1,400 public schools.
2. Private School Operations: Rising operates its own network of private schools (primarily in Sierra Leone and Ghana) that charge tuition fees. These schools use advanced teaching methods, excellent curriculum, rigorous teacher training, and technology including tablets and AI chatbots.
3. Tool Licensing: Rising licenses its proven tools and programs (RisingFaster, Rori, Tari, LearnLens, Rising SIS, curriculum materials) to other schools, governments, and organizations. Contact: [email protected]

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rising Academy Network improves teaching and learning at scale in African public school systems through MoU-based partnerships with ministries of education, delivering structured curriculum, ongoing teacher coaching, AI-powered digital tools (Rori, Tari, LearnLens, Rising SIS), and foundational literacy and numeracy programs (RisingFaster). It also operates private schools in Ghana and licenses its tools and curriculum materials to other schools, governments, and NGOs.

Product overview

Rising Academy Network operates as a multi-product education technology platform offering AI-powered tools, remedial learning programs, and school management systems. The core offerings include: Rori AI Math Tutor (generative AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot proven to double math outcomes), Tari AI Teacher's Assistant (NLP-based teacher support tool), and LearnLens (computer vision-powered auto-grading solution). Supporting programs include RisingFaster (foundational literacy and numeracy remedial curriculum with FasterReading and FasterMath components), Rising SIS (student information system), and Rising On Air (distance learning via IVR/radio reaching 25+ countries). The platform serves 400,000+ students across 1,400+ schools in West and East Africa through government partnerships and direct school operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RisingFaster: Foundational literacy and numeracy remedial program consisting of FasterReading and FasterMath components.
• Rori
• Tari
• LearnLens
• Rising SIS
• Bambai

Products and services

• Rori AI Math Tutor AI-powered generative virtual math tutor for upper primary and JHS students, powered by Anthropic Claude. Delivers bite-sized lessons, practical exercises, and personalized feedback through WhatsApp. Proven in research to double math outcomes for regular users.
• Tari AI Teacher's Assistant AI-powered teacher's assistant delivered via WhatsApp that helps educators meet their potential by providing on-demand assistance, resources, and knowledge to prepare for lessons more effectively.
• LearnLens Auto-Grading AI-powered auto-grading solution using computer vision and OCR technologies. Teachers snap a photo of completed tests via WhatsApp and LearnLens grades, levels, and analyzes results, cutting grading time by up to 70%.
• Rising SIS Mobile-friendly, offline-capable Student Information System for school leaders, teachers, and administrators. Digitizes attendance, fee tracking, lesson records, marks, and report cards with actionable insights on student attendance and performance.
• RisingFaster (Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Program) Foundational literacy and numeracy remedial program using structured pedagogy. Includes FasterReading and FasterMath components that have delivered significant cost-effective learning gains in randomized controlled trials. Designed for delivery at government scale.
• Rising On Air (Distance Learning Platform) Free distance learning platform providing educational content via Interactive Voice Response (IVR), radio, and podcasts. Delivers content to over 25 countries and is designed for areas with limited internet connectivity.
• Grade-Level Curriculum Materials High-quality, licenseable curriculum materials for ECE 1-2 and Primary G1-6 in English and Math, built using Science of Learning principles and aligned with country-specific standards. Available to schools, governments, and organizations.
• Rising Academy Ghana Private Schools Private K-12 schools operated by Rising in Ghana that use structured curriculum, advanced teaching methods, technology integration (tablets and AI chatbots), and FasterReading/FasterMath programs; tuition-based enrollment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students learn 2.4x faster each year than peers in comparable schools (7 RCTs)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability9 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of KigalicoreOthers · 29 October 2025Landmark MoU signed with City of Kigali in October 2025 for partnership to boost literacy, numeracy, and inclusion in primary education.
• The Gambia Ministry of EducationminorOthers · 1 October 2025Rori pilot begins in The Gambia as part of expansion into new markets.
• Rwanda LIFT ProgramcoreOthers · 25 September 2025Rising secures lead role in Rwanda's LIFT program to boost literacy, numeracy, and inclusion in primary education.
• Kenya Education PartnersminorOthers · 4 September 2025Rori Math Tutor pilot launched in Kenya in July 2025.
• AnthropiccoreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2025Rising partners with Anthropic, whose advanced AI model Claude powers Rori and Tari - two of Rising's most exciting AI-powered education tools. This partnership enables WhatsApp-based AI tutoring and teacher assistance.
• Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) Sierra LeonecoreOthersGovernment partner through multi-year MoU to improve public school system quality. New multi-year partnership agreement signed January 2025.
• Ministry of Education LiberiacoreOthersGovernment partner for Partnership Schools for Liberia (PSL/LEAP) program. Ministry committed direct financial support in 2024 Education Budget signed by President Boakai.
• Ministry of Education GhanacoreOthersGovernment partner selected Rising as provider for GEOP partnership supporting 170 public schools for out-of-school children.
• Ministry of Education Rwanda (MINEDUC)coreOthersGovernment partner for Elimu-Soko partnership (RisingFaster program). New MoU signed November 2024 to extend to 120 schools and 60,000 students.
• Freetown City Council (FCC) Sierra LeonecoreOthersLong-standing partnership with Freetown City Council for school leadership and FasterMath program, evaluated through RCT demonstrating 0.22 SD improvement in math outcomes.
• University of OxfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxford researchers conducted evaluations of Rising's schools, Liberia LEAP program, and early evaluation of Rori AI tutor showing markedly higher scores (effect size 0.36 SD).
• J-PAL (Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJ-PAL researchers participated in early evaluation of Rori AI tutor alongside Oxford University, finding promising results for math outcomes.
• IDinsightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted impact evaluation of FasterReading program in Liberia (36% improvement in reading skills, 0.28 SD) and remote learning during COVID study.
• Education Outcomes Fund (EOF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship outcomes-funded program SLEIC in Sierra Leone evaluated by Oxford Policy Management, with Rising's schools showing best-in-class results (0.38 SD math, 0.29 SD English).
• Elimu-Soko PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDalberg/Hempel Foundation partnership in Rwanda where Rising was selected to strengthen teacher professional development and student learning outcomes in foundational literacy and numeracy.
• Keeping Children SafeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRising joined the Keeping Children Safe global network, reinforcing commitment to safeguarding children in its network of over 900 schools.
• Global Schools ForumminorOthersMember of Global Schools Forum network of education organizations.
• Oxford Policy ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal evaluator for SLEIC program in Sierra Leone, finding Rising students significantly outperformed comparison schools.
• Centre for Global DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Rising on Liberia LEAP RCT evaluation and COVID-19 phone-based learning study in Sierra Leone.
• EdTech HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in EdTech evidence base.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bridge International Academies: Operates affordable private schools across Africa in partnership with governments and parents. Closely comparable to Rising's model of working with low-income families and government systems to deliver improved learning outcomes at scale.
• Eneza Education: Mobile/SMS-based learning platform serving millions of students across Sub-Saharan Africa. Directly comparable to Rising in target customer (low-income African learners), delivery modality (mobile-first), and subject focus (math, literacy).
• EIDU: Berlin-based social enterprise working with the Kenyan government to digitize curriculum and lesson delivery in public primary schools. Directly comparable to Rising in government-partnered EdTech delivery at scale in Africa.
• M-Shule: AI-powered adaptive learning platform operating in Kenya and Tanzania via SMS/WhatsApp. Directly comparable to Rising in AI tutoring, mobile-first delivery, and African public-school partnerships.
• Omega Schools (now part of Rising): Ghana-based private low-cost school network acquired by Rising in 2020. Historically a comparable low-cost private school operator serving Ghanaian families.

Emerging players

• Kukua: African EdTech social enterprise focused on literacy and numeracy via mobile games and digital content. Comparable to Rising in subject focus and African low-resource context, though narrower in school-system integration.
• uLesson: Nigerian EdTech delivering video lessons, quizzes, and curriculum-aligned content across West Africa. Comparable to Rising in African geography and K-12 subject coverage, though primarily consumer-facing rather than government-integrated.

Broad incumbents

• Khan Academy: Global free online learning platform already partnered with Rising and offering free master content for primary/secondary subjects. Comparable in subject focus and free-access delivery, though operates at much larger global scale without Rising's government integration.
• NewGlobe: Large-scale education provider operating government school improvement programs across Africa and India (e.g., Bridge Schools in Nigeria). Comparable in government partnerships at scale and structured pedagogy approach, though much larger and broader in scope.

Others

• Edmodo (now part of NetDragon): Education platform offering LMS and classroom collaboration tools, now part of NetDragon's global EdTech portfolio. Comparable to Rising SIS and digital classroom features, though focused on higher-income markets and teacher collaboration rather than African public school delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/risingacademies

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Rising Academy Network