Vivlia

What Vivlia does

Vivlia Publishers is an independent, black-owned South African educational publishing house operating under Vivlia Group of Companies (Proprietary) Limited, founded in 1989 and headquartered at 1 Amanda Avenue, Lea Glen, Randburg, Johannesburg. The company produces CAPS (Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement)-aligned textbooks, graded readers, literature, phonics programs, mathematics kits, coding and robotics kits, supplementary learning materials, and Grade 12 exam preparation guides serving South African schools from Grade R through Grade 12. Its differentiated African Print Reading Programme features authentic indigenous South African stories available across multiple South African languages, a content corpus positioned against international publishers that lack equivalent local cultural content. The company employs between 101-250 staff and reports POPI Act (Protection of Personal Information Act No. 4 of 2013) compliance.

The product portfolio extends beyond printed textbooks into hands-on kits (CPA-based mathematics manipulatives and Coding/Robotics kits), digital content via the E-ya Rocka eLearning imprint and Vivlia CloudReader mobile application, and technical/vocational education equipment through its Vivlia Frosch subsidiary. Early childhood development products are delivered through wholly-owned subsidiary Clever Kidz, while interactive educational digital content is developed by subsidiary Viva Innovation. The portfolio targets four distinct customer segments: South African schools (primary), early childhood centres (ECD), technical schools and colleges, and individual consumers purchasing via the vivliacatchup.co.za e-commerce storefront.

Revenue is generated through a mix of one-time sales of physical publications and kits, recurring subscription revenue from the E-ya Rocka digital platform, and professional services revenue from teacher training workshops. Go-to-market is primarily enterprise B2B direct sales targeting South African schools, supplemented by the e-commerce storefront for smaller institutional and individual buyers and Google Play Store distribution for the mobile app. Marketing channels include the corporate website, newsletter, and direct phone/email contact. No external investment, funding rounds, or parent company structures have been disclosed; the company is independently held and self-funded through 35+ years of continuous operation.

Name

Vivlia

Legal name

Vivlia Group of Companies (Proprietary) Limited

Website

https://vivlia.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Vivlia Publishers is an independent South African educational publishing house producing CAPS-aligned textbooks, graded readers, phonics programs, mathematics and coding kits, and digital learning content for Grade R-12 schools, ECD centres, and technical colleges.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Publishing

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Blankbooks, Looseleaf Binders & Bookbindg & Relatd Work (2780)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual Test Prep & Online Supplemental Instruction (K–12) (EDAJADAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Digital Literacy & Media Literacy (Reading/Writing Online) (EDAMAJAN)

Keywords

• Educational publishing
• CAPS aligned textbooks
• Learning materials
• Graded readers
• Teacher training

Headquarters

HQ city

Randburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Educational Publications Sales: Sale of CAPS-approved textbooks, graded readers, literature materials, and supplementary learning materials to South African schools and educational institutions. Products span grades R-12 covering various subjects including Mathematics, Languages, and Sciences.
2. Educational Kits and Learning Materials: Sale of physical and digital educational kits including Mathematics manipulatives, Coding and Robotics kits, and supplementary learning tools. Diversified beyond printed materials to include hands-on learning products.
3. E-ya Rocka eLearning Platform: Digital eLearning content platform providing enriched educational content to school learners. Content covers various subjects and improves quality, relevance, and accessibility.
4. Teacher Training Services: Comprehensive training workshops provided to assist teachers and practitioners in effectively utilizing Vivlia materials in classrooms, aligning with curriculum and maximizing impact.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Vivlia is a South African educational publishing house that develops, publishes, and distributes CAPS-aligned textbooks, graded readers, phonics programmes, and supplementary learning materials for grades R-12. It sells physical educational kits (Mathematics CPA kits, Coding and Robotics kits, Build and Learn Puzzles) and provides digital learning content through its E-ya Rocka eLearning platform and Vivlia CloudReader mobile app, complemented by teacher training workshops.

Product overview

Vivlia Publishers is a South African educational publishing house offering a comprehensive portfolio of CAPS-aligned products across grades R-12. The offering includes printed textbooks and workbooks, CAPS Aligned Kits, supplementary learning materials, and specialized programmes such as the African Print Reading Programme (with graded readers in South African languages), Phonics Programmes, and Literature. The company also provides Mathematics and Coding & Robotics Kits using the CPA approach, Build and Learn Puzzles, and Catch Up! Exam Preparation Guides for Grade 12. Digital offerings include the E-ya Rocka eLearning platform and Vivlia Cloud Reader mobile app. The portfolio is rounded out by Vivlia Frosch (technical school equipment). Products are distributed through their online shop at vivliacatchup.co.za.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• E-ya Rocka: eLearning imprint publishing enriched eLearning content that improves quality, relevance, and accessibility to school learners. Covers a variety of subjects on their platform.
• Vivlia Frosch
• Viva Innovation

Products and services

• CAPS Approved Books (Grade R-12)

Quantifiable outcome

• CAPS curriculum compliance for grades R-12
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Clever KidzcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClever Kidz Educational Tools is a partner specialising in the supply of early childhood education learning kits to crèches, schools, and the general public. Their products create hands-on, play-based learning experiences for children. Clever Kidz is a subsidiary of the Vivlia Group of Companies.
• Viva InnovationcoreTechnology or IntegrationViva Innovation specialises in developing interactive educational digital content for the school market. They are a strategic partner for digital content development complementing Vivlia's print materials.
• Vivlia FroschcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVivlia Frosch supplies machinery, tools and equipment for technical schools and colleges. The company believes in the important role of artisans within the South African economy and provides quality equipment for learners. Vivlia Frosch is a subsidiary of the Vivlia Group of Companies.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NB Publishers: South African publisher with educational and general trade publishing divisions. Comparable to Vivlia as a domestic publishing house serving the South African school market with CAPS-aligned content.
• Via Afrika: South African educational publisher producing CAPS-aligned textbooks and learning materials for schools. Direct competitor in the same K-12 institutional print and digital publishing market as Vivlia.
• Shuter & Shooter: Established South African educational publisher supplying CAPS-aligned textbooks and learning resources to schools. Closely comparable in product mix, customer base (South African schools), and curriculum-alignment business model.

Broad incumbents

• Oxford University Press: Global educational publisher with established South African school list and CAPS-aligned titles. Comparable as a broad incumbent in K-12 textbook and digital learning publishing.
• Pearson: Global education publisher and assessment company with significant South African school market presence through Maskew Miller Longman. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering textbooks, digital platforms, and assessment across K-12.
• Macmillan Education: Global K-12 publisher with Africa-focused curriculum lists and digital offerings. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the international school publishing space where Vivlia competes for institutional share.
• McGraw-Hill Education: International educational publisher with K-12 textbooks and adaptive digital platforms. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose global distribution and digital infrastructure compete with regional publishers like Vivlia.
• Cengage: Global education and digital learning publisher serving K-12 and higher education. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose digital learning platforms increasingly target emerging-market school systems.
• Cambridge University Press: International educational publisher serving African school markets with curriculum-aligned materials and digital platforms. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for institutional textbook contracts.

Emerging players

• Snapplify: South African edtech company distributing digital learning content and ebooks to schools. Comparable as an emerging digital content player operating in Vivlia's school customer segment, particularly adjacent to the E-ya Rocka and Cloud Reader offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VivliaPublisher
• Facebookfacebook.com/Vivlia.PublishersSA

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 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 Vivlia