What Akoako does

Akoako is a New Zealand-based private company operating the Makeshapes digital platform, which enables large organizations to deliver group learning experiences at scale across in-person, virtual, and hybrid environments. The platform's core technical differentiator is its auto-facilitation capability, which combines structured guidance with interactive engagement tools (polls, quizzes, slideshows) so that any employee can host a group learning experience without requiring a trained facilitator. Supporting features include one-click access for learners, automated attendance and real-time analytics, post-session email reinforcement sequences, and multi-language support across 9+ languages. Akoako positions the platform explicitly as neither an LMS nor an LXP, instead targeting use cases where traditional facilitator-led workshops are too expensive to scale and conventional e-learning lacks engagement.

Name

Akoako

Legal name

Makeshapes

Website

https://akoako.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Akoako operates the Makeshapes platform, a New Zealand-based enterprise SaaS that delivers scalable, auto-facilitated group learning experiences for large organizations across in-person, virtual, and hybrid environments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Learning Platforms

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Enterprise Work Management & Collaborative Workflow Platforms (HDAEAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Performance Management & OKRs (BPACAPAF)

Keywords

• Group learning platform
• Virtual training software
• Corporate learning
• Auto-facilitated learning
• Peer-to-peer learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Enterprise Platform Subscription: Subscription-based access to the Makeshapes platform for large organisations. Pricing is custom/enterprise with flexible options based on organisation size and requirements. The platform enables scalable group learning delivery without requiring army of facilitators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Akoako delivers the Makeshapes Platform, a digital group learning platform that enables large organizations to deliver active, discussion-based group learning experiences at scale across in-person, online, and hybrid environments. The platform features auto-facilitation capabilities that allow anyone to host group learning without requiring facilitation expertise, alongside interactive engagement tools, automated attendance tracking, real-time analytics, and multi-language support. The offering targets enterprise L&D, HR, and leadership development needs for induction programs, organizational changes, new product launches, rebrandings, and leadership programs.

Product overview

Makeshapes is a single unified digital platform for scalable virtual group learning. The core Makeshapes Platform enables organisations to deliver active engagement and rich discussion-based group learning experiences with the scale, flexibility, and consistency of digital solutions. The platform features four key capability areas: Active Learning (for rich discussion in dynamic group experiences), Auto-Facilitated Experiences (structure and guidance enabling anyone to host), Hybrid Friendly delivery (accessible in-person, remote, or hybrid), and Insight Generating (real-time actionable feedback). The platform positions itself as neither an LMS nor an LXP, but as a new format for peer-to-peer social group learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shapeshifters Podcast: Company podcast focused on topics related to group learning and professional development.

Products and services

• Makeshapes Platform A digital platform that enables large organisations to deliver group learning experiences at scale in flexible formats including synchronous, on-demand, virtual, in-person, remote, and hybrid environments. The platform features active learning for rich discussion, auto-facilitated experiences, hybrid-friendly delivery, and real-time insight generation. Intended for enterprise L&D, HR, and leadership development teams.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9/10 consistent engagement rating

Named customers17 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• 360Learning: Collaborative learning platform enabling teams to create and run group training together. Directly competes in the enterprise L&D space with peer-to-peer learning, in-session engagement tools, and analytics — overlapping heavily with Makeshapes' group learning delivery model.
• Mentimeter: Audience engagement platform for meetings, training, and workshops with polls, quizzes, and interactive slides. Targets a similar enterprise use case (engaging groups during synchronous sessions) and competes for the same L&D and corporate training budgets as Makeshapes.
• Slido: Audience interaction tool owned by Cisco for Q&A, polls, and quizzes in meetings and training. Overlaps with Makeshapes on the interactive engagement and 1-click-access dimensions for group learning sessions, serving a similar enterprise audience.
• Kahoot!: Game-based learning and engagement platform used in corporate training. Comparable on the interactive polls, quizzes, and synchronous group engagement axis, targeting similar L&D and corporate training buyers globally.
• Howspace: Finland-based collaborative learning and dialogue platform for organisations. Highly comparable: enables group learning, structured facilitation, and analytics at enterprise scale — same target buyer (L&D/HR) and same auto-structured group-experience value proposition as Makeshapes.

Broad incumbents

• Mural: Enterprise collaborative whiteboard platform used for workshops and group sessions. Overlaps with Makeshapes on the group facilitation and hybrid workshop use case, though Mural is a broader visual collaboration tool rather than a learning-focused platform.
• Cornerstone OnDemand: Large enterprise talent and learning management suite. Serves the same L&D buyer and could bundle group learning features into its broader talent platform, threatening Makeshapes' standalone positioning.
• Docebo: AI-powered learning platform and established LMS/LXP serving large enterprises. Competes for the same enterprise L&D wallet and could add collaborative group-learning features that overlap with Makeshapes' core proposition.

Emerging players

• EdApp: Mobile-first microlearning platform by SafetyCulture targeting frontline workforce training. Adjacent competitor in the modern enterprise L&D space, though more focused on individual asynchronous delivery than Makeshapes' group learning model.
• Thought Industries: External enterprise learning platform with strong cohort-based and group learning capabilities. Comparable on the group learning / cohort experience axis for enterprise customers, though with a stronger external-customer LMS angle.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akoakoltd
• Facebookfacebook.com/Akoako-107558421661099

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Akoako