Hongen

What Hongen does

Hongen (洪恩) is a Beijing-headquartered early childhood education solution provider that has operated in China's preschool market since 1996. The company delivers integrated curriculum content, teaching systems, indoor and outdoor activity programs, and after-school delayed services to kindergartens, training institutions, and families, with products deployed in tens of thousands of kindergartens nationwide and direct-operated kindergartens in Beijing, Jinan, Linyi, Kunming, Wuhan, and Handan. The portfolio spans more than 30 products and solutions organized into integrated curriculum (multi-dimensional thematic, happy growth, primary-school transition), domain courses (science, art, music, Chinese culture, math, thinking training, English language), STEAM offerings (robotics, AI programming, building blocks), and quality ability courses (speech, drama, calligraphy), supported by the Hongen Smart Teaching Platform, the Hongen Academy family-school app, and proprietary smart reading pen hardware. Underlying technology includes a self-developed 3D engine, AI/AR interactive capabilities, big data analytics on children's behavior and psychology, and the Focus Master Assessment System tracking ten ability dimensions.

Hongen monetizes through four revenue streams: B2B licensing of curriculum and teaching systems to kindergartens and training institutions on one-time and multi-year contracts; tuition and service fees from direct-operated kindergartens; consumer hardware and app sales through Tmall stores and direct downloads; and teacher training plus operational support services. The go-to-market combines direct B2B sales with a partner enablement and franchise model, supplemented by consumer marketing via WeChat official accounts, industry exhibitions such as the Beijing International Preschool Education Expo, and digital platforms. Hongen listed on the New York Stock Exchange on October 9, 2020 under ticker IH, and has navigated the 2021 double-reduction policy by launching the Xuehuile extended service solution in 2022, repositioning its curriculum offering for compliant after-school service delivery. Strategic partnerships include a co-development agreement with Macmillan Education for international English curriculum and a licensing arrangement with the Universal Rescue Team cartoon IP for classroom engagement.

Name

Hongen

Legal name

北京金洪恩教育科技有限公司

Website

https://hongen.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hongen is a Beijing-based early childhood education provider founded in 1996 and NYSE-listed (ticker IH) that delivers integrated curriculum content, teaching systems, after-school services, and STEAM products to kindergartens, training institutions, and families across China.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Preschool Education Solutions

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Child Care Services (62441), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital/Interactive Curriculum Content (Apps, Games, Multimedia Lessons) (EDACAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM & Coding Readiness for Early Learners (EDACANAF), Creativity, Art & Music Learning Apps (EDACANAE), Multilingual & ESL Early Learning Tools (EDACANAG), Early Childhood Educational Media (Songs, Stories, Interactive) (EDAGALAC)

Keywords

• Preschool education curriculum
• Early childhood education
• Kindergarten teaching solutions
• Educational technology platforms
• Children's English curriculum

Headquarters

HQ city

Haidian

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. B2B Curriculum and Teaching Solutions: Hongen licenses its curriculum content, teaching systems, and operational solutions to kindergartens and training institutions. Revenue is generated through product sales including physical materials, digital systems, and annual service fees for training and support.
2. Kindergarten Operations (Direct-run kindergartens): The company operates its own kindergartens under the Hongen brand in cities including Beijing, Jinan, Linyi, Kunming, and Wuhan, generating tuition and service fees.
3. Consumer Products (Smart Hardware & Apps): Sales of smart reading pens (点读笔), educational apps (洪恩识字, etc.), and family-use learning materials through retail channels including Tmall and direct downloads.
4. Training and Support Services: Revenue from teacher training, course implementation support, enrollment consulting, and operational services provided to partner kindergartens and institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hongen provides integrated early childhood education curriculum content, teaching systems, indoor/outdoor activities, and after-school (延时服务) solutions to kindergartens and training institutions across China, supported by proprietary technology platforms (智能教学平台 with 3D engine, AI/AR, and behavior analytics) and a portfolio of 30+ products covering all five developmental domains for children aged 3-12. The company also operates its own kindergartens in multiple Chinese cities and sells consumer-side hardware like smart reading pens and learning apps for family use.

Product overview

Hongen (洪恩) is a comprehensive early childhood education solution provider operating a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings include integrated curriculum products (洪恩多维互动主题方案, 洪恩快乐成长方案, 洪恩快乐进阶方案), domain-specific courses covering science, art, music, and Chinese culture, English language programs (Super Teddy, Hello Teddy, Phonics series), STEAM education including robotics and AI programming (洪恩智造万物, 洪恩AI编程创客), and quality ability courses (口才, 戏剧, 练字). These are supported by proprietary technology platforms including the 洪恩智能教学平台 with AI/AR and 3D engine capabilities, the 洪恩学堂 family-school collaboration app, and 洪恩点读笔 interactive reading pen. The延时服务 (extended service) offerings provide operational support for kindergartens including curriculum resources, teaching systems, and management platforms. The company serves kindergartens, training institutions, and families with a complete ecosystem of educational products spanning curriculum, technology, and support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 洪恩幼教: Public account focused on preschool education services and updates.
• 洪恩儿童素养平台
• 北京洪恩教育科技股份有限公司
• 洪恩学堂

Products and services

• 洪恩多维互动主题方案 (Hongen Multi-Dimensional Interactive Theme Program) A thematic integrated curriculum for children ages 3-6 based on China's Learning and Development Guide, combining online and offline learning with multi-dimensional interaction among family, children, teachers, and experts. Sold to kindergartens.
• 洪恩快乐成长方案 (Hongen Happy Growth Program) A comprehensive kindergarten curriculum covering English, reading, math, music, art, Chinese studies, and robotics, allowing kindergartens to freely build their course system. Sold to kindergartens.
• 洪恩快乐进阶方案 (Hongen Happy Progression Program) A school preparation program including Chinese phonetics, math thinking, literacy, and reading, designed to help children transition smoothly to primary school. Sold to kindergartens and training institutions.
• 洪恩探索科学 (Hongen Exploration Science) A science activity program for children ages 3-6 with 6 levels and 96 activities, covering physical, life, earth sciences, and engineering through hands-on experiments. Sold to kindergartens.
• Hello Teddy 洪恩幼儿英语 (Hello Teddy Hongen Young Children's English) A multimedia English textbook for kindergartens using TPR teaching method, multiple intelligences theory, and modern teaching concepts tailored for Chinese children. Sold to kindergartens.
• 洪恩国学角 (Hongen Chinese Culture Corner) A traditional Chinese culture corner activity solution featuring four areas: Chinese Character Museum, Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience Hall, Three Flavors Children's Book House, and Drama Stage. Sold to kindergartens.
• 洪恩幼儿体智能活动方案 (Hongen Children Physical Intelligence Activity Program) A comprehensive physical education solution for kindergartens including teacher guides, sports equipment packages, and gymnastics teaching videos to help kindergartens independently conduct physical activities. Sold to kindergartens.
• 洪恩口才与表达 (Hongen Speech and Expression) A speech and expression course for children ages 3-12 focusing on oral expression, language habits, and comprehensive quality through pronunciation, scenario simulation, language arts, and thinking expansion modules. Sold to kindergartens and training institutions.
• Super Teddy 洪恩国际幼儿英语 (Super Teddy Hongen International Young Children's English) An international English course for young children combining eight teaching modules including TPR movement, vocabulary, sentence patterns, stories, and songs to develop English thinking and speaking ability. Sold to kindergartens and training institutions.
• 洪恩科学创客 (Hongen Science Maker) A science maker program with 6 levels designed to cultivate and enhance children's science literacy through hands-on creation of technology projects and scientific experiments. Sold to kindergartens.
• 洪恩儿童美术馆 (Hongen Children's Art Museum) A creative art education program based on international aesthetic concepts with 6 levels (L1-L6) aiming to develop children's creative thinking and artistic expression through diverse art forms. Sold to kindergartens.
• 爱的小脚印·洪恩早期阅读 (Little Footprints Hongen Early Reading) An early reading course using picture books with 8 levels for children ages 3-6, focusing on developing imagination, creativity, and independent reading ability. Sold to kindergartens.
• 你好,小高斯·洪恩生活数学 (Hello Gauss Hongen Life Math) A life-based mathematics program for young children based on Freudenthal's realistic mathematics education theory, using stories, games, and manipulative materials (including a patented thinking operation board) to teach mathematical concepts. Sold to kindergartens.
• 洪恩幼儿奥尔夫音乐 (Hongen Orff Music) An Orff music course for children ages 3-6 combining language, movement, and music teaching through rhythm recitation, body percussion, music games, singing, and dancing. Sold to kindergartens.
• 爱唱爱跳·洪恩音乐舞蹈 (Love Sing Love Dance Hongen Music and Dance) A music and dance curriculum for kindergartens based on Orff, Dalcroze, and Kodaly teaching philosophies, combined with five major learning areas for comprehensive child development. Sold to kindergartens.
• Teddy and Me 洪恩成长英语 (Teddy and Me Hongen Growing English) An English program for kindergartens based on the Linkage Feedback Learning Method with dual-teacher teaching system combining foreign teacher videos and AI practice for a complete learning loop. Sold to kindergartens.
• 思维龙·洪恩思维训练 (Thinking Dragon Hongen Thinking Training) A thinking training course for children ages 2-7 using the Thinking Dragon game board (T4, T6 - patented) with 832 games across 8 types, designed to train and improve children's thinking abilities. Sold to kindergartens and training institutions.
• 洪恩有声国学馆 (Hongen Audio Chinese Culture Hall) A comprehensive Chinese culture curriculum covering classical texts, traditional arts, character education, and festival activities with both indoor and outdoor components for holistic traditional education. Sold to kindergartens.
• 洪恩积木建构与机器人活动方案 (Hongen Building Blocks and Robotics Activity Program) A building and robotics activity program using STEAM education with P1-P3 materials covering health, language, social, science, and art domains, teaching foundational, structural, and power-based building skills. Sold to kindergartens.
• 洪恩积木建构区角 (Hongen Building Block Corner) A building block corner activity using sandbox-style building with 24 life-based themes for children ages 3-6, designed under STEAM principles with a five-step building method. Sold to kindergartens.
• 洪恩幼儿篮球运动课程 (Hongen Basketball Course for Young Children) A basketball course for kindergartens based on the Learning and Development Guide with 96 lessons, 7 sets of routines, and specialized equipment to help female teachers easily conduct basketball activities. Sold to kindergartens.
• 洪恩快乐练字 (Hongen Happy Calligraphy) A calligraphy skill development program for children ages 5-8 based on education guidelines, covering strokes, components, and character structure with dual-teacher teaching and gamified learning. Sold to kindergartens and training institutions.
• 洪恩戏剧表演方案 (Hongen Drama Performance Program) A drama performance program for children ages 3-6 based on holistic education theory, using theatrical arts as a carrier to develop cross-cultural and multi-domain integrated quality education. Sold to kindergartens.
• 洪恩智造万物机器人活动方案 (Hongen Smart Creation Robotics Activity Program) A comprehensive robotics program from ages 2.5-12 covering robot initiation, growth, advancement, progression, and competition with 7 categories of 52 boxes of materials and LEGO Spike accessories. Sold to kindergartens.
• 洪恩智造万物科创活动方案 (Hongen Smart Creation Science Innovation Program) A science innovation program for children ages 3-12 including science maker, physics, and AI courses with Arduino hardware programming, designed to develop problem-solving abilities through project-based learning. Sold to kindergartens.
• Supper Teddy 洪恩国际少儿英语 (Supper Teddy Hongen International Children's English) An integrated English course for children ages 6-12 with 6 levels combining language learning, phonetics, reading, and writing skills to achieve comprehensive English proficiency. Sold to kindergartens and training institutions.
• Little Explorer 洪恩儿童生活美语 (Little Explorer Hongen Children's Life English) A life-based English program using Reggio Emilia approach in full English immersion environment for children to experience and explore the world through English. Sold to kindergartens and training institutions.
• Young Explorer 洪恩儿童探索美语 (Young Explorer Hongen Children's Exploration English) An exploration-based English course for older children following the Little Explorer series, continuing the immersive English learning approach for skill development. Sold to kindergartens and training institutions.
• New Bravo 洪恩国际少儿英语 (New Bravo Hongen International Children's English) A globally-oriented English textbook co-developed with Macmillan Education for non-native English speaking children, combining phonics, reading system, and cultural knowledge with China's new curriculum standards. Sold to kindergartens and training institutions.
• Phonics 洪恩自然拼读 (Phonics Hongen) A phonics learning system with 4 levels teaching 26 letters and 65 letter combinations through rhythmic learning, gamified practice, and visual association methods for solid phonetic foundation. Sold to kindergartens and training institutions.
• Magic Teddy 洪恩魔法绘本英语 (Magic Teddy Hongen Magic Picture Book English) A story-based English program using the Magic Teddy character with 600 vocabulary and 1500 sentence patterns integrated into engaging stories for children to develop English thinking habits. Sold to kindergartens and training institutions.
• 洪恩AI编程创客 (Hongen AI Programming Maker) A programming enlightenment product for children ages 3-6 with age-appropriate kits: construction for small class, mechanical principles for middle class, and sensors/programming for large class. Includes 3C certification and utility model patents. Sold to kindergartens.
• 专注大师·儿童专注力提升活动方案 (Focus Master Children Concentration Improvement Program) A concentration improvement program for children ages 5-7 developed with Beijing Normal University professors, combining cognitive training, operational activities, and behavior management based on brain science research. Sold to kindergartens and training institutions.
• 洪恩思维加·儿童思维力提升游戏 (Hongen Thinking Plus) A thinking ability development program co-developed with early math education expert He Qiuguang, combining systematic math content with gamified scenarios using innovative operation boards and diverse game cards. Sold to kindergartens and training institutions.
• 洪恩智能教学平台 (Hongen Intelligent Teaching Platform) An intelligent teaching platform supporting Windows, Android, and iOS with self-developed interactive apps, AI/AR technology, and 3D engine for interactive animated content delivery. Sold to kindergartens and training institutions.
• 洪恩学堂 (Hongen Academy) A family-school collaboration platform with family and teacher apps for real-time learning reports, parent education lectures, and seamless home-school communication. Used by kindergartens, teachers, and families.
• 洪恩点读笔 (Hongen Point Reading Pen) A proprietary point-and-read pen supporting multiple models (HT-100, TTP series) for interactive learning across various Hongen educational materials and textbooks. Sold to families and consumers through retail and Tmall.
• 学慧乐延时服务方案 (Xuehuile After-School Service Program) A comprehensive after-school service solution for kindergartens providing quality education services including curriculum resources, teaching systems, operations platform, and operational support services. Sold to kindergartens.
• Direct-operated Hongen Kindergartens Company-owned kindergarten operations under the Hongen brand in Beijing, Jinan, Linyi, Wuhan, Kunming, and Handan, serving as revenue-generating operations and brand showcases for the educational philosophy. Tuition and services charged to enrolled families.

Named customers2 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

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Macmillan Education (麦克米伦教育)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMacmillan Education, a world-renowned educational publishing group, co-developed the New Bravo 洪恩国际少儿英语 course with Hongen. This international course is designed for non-English speaking country children and integrates Macmillan's English language teaching methodology with Hongen's local market expertise.
• Tmall (天猫旗舰店)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHongen operates an official Tmall store (洪恩母婴天猫专营店) for selling consumer education products including smart reading pens, story machines, and home learning materials to families.
• 宇宙护卫队 (Universal Rescue Team) IPsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHongen has licensed the cartoon IP 'Universal Rescue Team' (宇宙护卫队) featuring characters including Storm, Lightning, Rainbow, and Meteor. These characters are integrated into the multi-dimensional interactive curriculum across the five development domains, with all dance routines performed by cartoon characters to add fun to classrooms.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Kai Shu Story (凯叔讲故事): Chinese children's content platform producing stories, audio, and educational IP for ages 3-12. Comparable to Hongen in building premium, IP-driven content aimed at Chinese parents of young children.
• Spark Thinker (火花思维): Online children's logic and math learning platform in China. Comparable to Hongen in delivering structured, age-targeted cognitive and thinking curriculum to Chinese families and schools.
• Vipkid / Lingoace (ChineseKids): Online English language platforms for Chinese children. Comparable to Hongen's English portfolio (Hello Teddy, Super Teddy, New Bravo, Phonics) in providing English curriculum to Chinese learners.
• CodeMao (编程猫): Chinese youth coding and STEAM education platform. Comparable to Hongen's AI Programming and 智造万物 robotics lines in delivering STEAM/STEM curriculum to Chinese children and institutions.

Direct peers

• BabyBus (宝宝巴士): Leading Chinese children's content and app developer targeting ages 0-6, with songs, stories, and games. Directly comparable to Hongen in delivering digital early-childhood educational content and consumer apps to Chinese families.
• RYB Education (红黄蓝教育): NYSE-listed Chinese early childhood education operator running kindergartens and offering preschool curriculum. Closely comparable to Hongen in serving Chinese kindergartens and parents with integrated preschool services.

Broad incumbents

• TAL Education (好未来): Large Chinese education company with K-12 and early childhood offerings. Comparable to Hongen in developing early-childhood digital learning products and curriculum for the Chinese market at scale.
• Bright Scholar (博实乐教育): Operates K-12 and international schools in China with curriculum and school services. Comparable to Hongen as a large multi-brand Chinese education group with both curriculum licensing and school operations.
• Age of Learning (ABCmouse): U.S. early-childhood digital learning platform used in schools and at home. Comparable to Hongen in offering a comprehensive digital curriculum (English, math, art, reading) for ages 3-8.
• New Oriental Education (新东方): One of China's largest private education companies, with early childhood and English language products. Comparable to Hongen in English curriculum and preschool content for Chinese families and institutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/hongen_001
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hongen-education

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 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 Hongen