Kano

What Kano does

Kano Computing Ltd. is a London-based private company founded in 2013 that builds learn-to-code products for children ages 6-14 and their families. The company combines physical DIY hardware kits (Kano PC Windows touchscreen laptop at $299.99, Kano Touch sensor at $279.99, themed kits featuring Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Disney Frozen IP, plus accessories) with a software platform (Kano Code for block-based visual programming that compiles to JavaScript, plus Make Art, Pixel Motion, Make Music, How Computers Work, and Artopia creative tools). Kano's distribution is direct-to-consumer through its e-commerce storefront, with embedded retail via Microsoft (Windows on Kano PC), Raspberry Pi (hardware integration), Disney, and Warner Bros (licensed themed kits).

Kano monetizes through one-time hardware sales priced between $20.99 and $299.99 and a Kano Club subscription offering 100+ step-by-step tutorials refreshed bi-weekly. The Kano World community platform, with 1.1 million daily users and 2.4 million coding projects completed, is the company's recurring-engagement asset and is currently undergoing a relaunch in partnership with AstroSafe (safe browser technology) and FINH (Cubetto creators). Kano's brand has been validated by TIME Best Inventions (2018, 2019), Fast Company World's Most Innovative Companies (2019), Webby, Cannes Lions Gold, and Red Dot awards, alongside endorsements from Steve Wozniak, Eben Upton (Raspberry Pi inventor), and other notable figures.

Kano was founded by CEO Alex Klein following a 2013 record-breaking Kickstarter campaign and has sold over 1 million computer units lifetime across its Kit, Screen Kit, Computer Kit Complete, Pixel Kit, Motion Sensor, Harry Potter Wand, Star Wars Kit, Frozen Kit, and Kano PC product lines. The company maintains 51-100 employees and remains privately held with no disclosed institutional venture funding beyond Kickstarter and a 2014 Alumni Ventures entry. As of the most recent data, all hardware products show 'Out of stock' status on the e-commerce storefront, while the Kano World software platform is being rebuilt through a 2024-2025 partnership.

Name

Kano

Legal name

Kano Computing Ltd.

Website

https://kano.me

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kano is a London-based ed-tech company that builds DIY coding kits and a block-based coding platform (Kano Code, Kano World) for children ages 6-14, combining hardware (Kano PC, themed IP kits) with a subscription service to teach programming through creative projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Coding Kits

NAICS

Electronic Computer Manufacturing (334111), Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (334118)

SIC

Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944), Computer Peripheral Equipment, Nec (3577)

akta.pro primary industry

Learning Device Ecosystems & 1:1 Program Solutions (Devices, MDM, Charging) (EDAJAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Curriculum, Lesson Planning & Instructional Content Platforms (EDAJAMAD)

Keywords

• DIY computer kits
• Children coding education
• Block-based programming
• Physical computing kits
• STEM learning toys

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Sale of physical DIY computer kits including Kano PC ($299.99), Kano Touch ($279.99), Kano Harry Potter Wand, Kano Pixel Kit, and accessories such as Webcam ($30.99), Headphones ($30.99), and Mouse ($20.99).
2. Kano Club Subscription: Subscription service offering ways for beginners of all ages to get creative with technology. Provides exclusive step-by-step tutorials, videos from expert instructors, access to new tools and features before anyone else, and over 100 step-by-step tutorials. New tutorials released every two weeks.
3. Platform Access (Kano World): A coding platform built for kids of all ages. Users can create games, animations and art, share them with the Kano community, remix other users' work, participate in challenges. Platform is being relaunched with partnership with AstroSafe and FINH.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kano designs and sells buildable DIY computer hardware kits (e.g., Kano PC, Kano Touch, Harry Potter Wand, Pixel Kit, themed sensor kits) paired with a block-based visual coding platform (Kano Code) that transforms into JavaScript, a community platform (Kano World), and a subscription learning service (Kano Club) for children ages 6–14 and their families.

Product overview

Kano is a learn-to-code platform and hardware product company focused on teaching children (ages 6-14) how to code and understand technology. The offering consists of a unified platform-plus-products architecture combining software (Kano Code, Kano World, Make Art, Pixel Motion, Make Music, How Computers Work, Artopia) with physical hardware kits (Kano PC, Kano Touch, Kano Harry Potter Wand, Kano Frozen Kit, Kano Star Wars Kit, Kano Pixel Kit) and accessories (Kano Webcam, Kano Headphones, Kano Mouse). The Kano Club subscription service provides step-by-step tutorials and video content. Kano World is the online community platform where users share creations and participate in challenges. The platform uses visual block-based coding that transforms into JavaScript, teaching programming fundamentals through creative projects like games, animations, and art. Kano was launched in 2013 via Kickstarter and has sold over 1 million computers worldwide, with recognition from Time Magazine, Fast Company, and inclusion in 'World's Most Innovative Companies 2019'.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kano Code: Education coding software that teaches programming through creating games, animations, and interactive art using drag-and-drop blocks and JavaScript.
• Kano World
• Kano Club
• Make Art
• Pixel Motion
• Artopia
• How Computers Work
• Kano PC
• Kano Touch
• Kano Harry Potter Wand
• Kano Pixel Kit
• Kano Mouse

Products and services

• Kano PC A buildable Windows 10/11 touchscreen laptop designed for learning and creativity, featuring open/transparent design with click-in/click-out parts and preloaded educational software, sold at $299.99 to parents and children.
• Kano Touch An interactive touch-sensitive sensor priced at $279.99 that enables users to create and control projects using simple touch gestures, designed for children and families.
• Kano Harry Potter Wand A programmable wand kit licensed with Warner Bros that teaches coding through magical challenges inspired by the Harry Potter series; users build the wand themselves and program it across mobile and desktop platforms.
• Kano Frozen Kit A Disney-licensed creative coding kit featuring Frozen characters that enables users to build interactive scenes and games, compatible with Kano, Windows, and Mac OS.
• Kano Star Wars Kit A coding kit that allows users to build and program their own Star Wars-themed adventures and characters, compatible with Kano, Windows, and Mac OS via Kano Code.
• Kano Pixel Kit A customizable 128-LED grid that teaches coding through colorful light displays and animations; works with Windows, Mac, and Kano OS.
• Kano Webcam Flexible 1080p webcam with 2.1 Megapixel camera, macro lens, front-facing flash and 180-degree image rotation, priced at $30.99.
• Kano Headphones DIY headphones that can be assembled and customized, providing an educational experience in electronics and sound, priced at $30.99.
• Kano Mouse A programmable computer mouse that introduces users to coding and hardware customization, priced at $20.99.
• Kano Code A web-based coding platform that uses simple blocks transforming into JavaScript apps, enabling beginners to create art, games, music, and animations without prior coding experience.
• Kano World A learn-to-code community platform built for kids of all ages where users create games, animations and art, share creations, remix other users' work, and participate in challenges; 1.1 million users globally.
• Kano Club A subscription service offering 100+ step-by-step tutorials, videos from expert instructors, exclusive challenges, and early access to new tools and features, with new content released every two weeks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.1 million users learning code with Kano every day
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

AI capability2 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• AstroSafecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2025AstroSafe is a pioneer in building safe browser and search engine technology for kids. This partnership is bringing Kano World back online bigger, better, and safer than ever. The partnership combines resources, minds, ideas and technologies to create new opportunities, tools and experiences for the Kano community. AstroSafe provides safe browsing environment technology for children.
• FINHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2025FINH is a product design studio creating a less boring future through interactions, products and ventures for learning and play. They are creators of Cubetto (wooden coding toy) and Pigzbe (cryptocurrency wallet for kids). The partnership will see Kano World relaunched with combined resources and technologies.
• MicrosoftflagshipTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft is a global tech leader known for Windows, Office, Azure cloud services, and Surface devices. Kano PC runs Windows 10 operating system and includes Microsoft software. Partnership provides the Windows platform foundation for Kano's buildable computer products.
• Raspberry PiflagshipTechnology or IntegrationRaspberry Pi offers affordable, compact computers ideal for learning programming and electronics, making technology accessible for all ages. Many Kano kits are built on Raspberry Pi technology. Eben Upton, inventor of Raspberry Pi, has publicly endorsed Kano.
• DisneycoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerDisney is a leading entertainment company creating beloved films, theme parks, and characters. Kano has licensed Disney IP to create the Kano Frozen Kit featuring Frozen characters for creative coding experiences with interactive scenes and games.
• Warner BroscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerWarner Bros is a major film and TV studio producing hit films, TV shows, and animations, renowned for franchises like Harry Potter and DC Comics. Kano has licensed Warner Bros IP to create the Kano Harry Potter Wand (programmable wand with magical challenges) and Kano Star Wars Kit.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Scratch (MIT Media Lab): Emerging player: Scratch is the dominant free block-based coding platform for kids and is integrated with Kano's advanced learning path. It's a free, nonprofit alternative that competes for Kano Code's mindshare and downstream user engagement.
• Code.org: Emerging player: Code.org is the largest nonprofit promoting K-12 computer science education, partnering with schools globally. It competes with Kano for school procurement budgets and the same 8-14 year old beginner coder demographic.

Direct peers

• Sphero: Direct peer: Sphero makes programmable robots and educational STEM kits for kids (acquired littleBits), directly competing with Kano's motion sensor kits and Harry Potter coding kit in the same retail and education channels.
• Tynker: Direct peer: Tynker is a leading block-to-text coding platform for kids with subscription plans, directly competing with Kano Code and Kano Club on the software platform side of Kano's offering.
• Raspberry Pi Foundation: Direct peer: Raspberry Pi powers many of Kano's hardware kits, and Kano sits on top of Pi with education-focused hardware and software. Both serve learners building DIY computing projects, though Raspberry Pi Foundation sells bare boards while Kano bundles education-grade kits.
• Micro:bit Educational Foundation: Direct peer: BBC micro:bit is a small programmable hardware device used in classrooms worldwide to teach coding and physical computing — directly comparable to Kano's motion sensor kits and Pixel Kit in the educational physical-computing category.
• Primo Toys (Cubetto): Direct peer: Cubetto is a screenless wooden coding toy for young children (ages 3+), overlapping Kano's learn-to-code-for-kids positioning. Notably, Primo's parent (FINH) is now partnered with Kano to relaunch Kano World, indicating deep category overlap.
• Osmo (by BYJU's): Direct peer: Osmo combines physical pieces with iPad-based software to teach coding, math, and creativity to children — directly overlapping Kano's blended hardware-plus-software learning model for the same parent-and-child customer segment.
• Piper: Direct peer: Piper builds DIY computer kits (Piper Make, Piper Computer Kit) that teach kids coding through hardware assembly — overlapping Kano's flagship Kano Kit and Kano PC value proposition almost identically.

Broad incumbents

• LEGO Education: Broad incumbent: LEGO Education spans a much wider STEAM and robotics portfolio (Mindstorms, SPIKE, WeDo) that competes with Kano's themed coding kits in schools and homes, but is a much larger incumbent with broader product breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/teamkano

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Kano