Funsepa

What Funsepa does

Funsepa (Fundación Sergio Paiz) is a Guatemalan non-profit foundation founded in 2004 by the Paiz Del Carmen family in honor of Sergio Paiz Andrade, with a US fundraising arm (Funsepa US, 501(c)(3), established 2008) based in Beverly Hills. The organization addresses Guatemala's education-technology gap — where approximately 90% of the country's 18,000+ public primary schools lack technology access — by collecting donated electronic equipment, refurbishing it into functional computers with licensed Microsoft software and curriculum-aligned content, and deploying it free of charge to public schools through its Tecnología para Educar (TPE) program and the Digital Municipality model. The 46-person team, headquartered in Mixco, Guatemala, has established 13 digital municipalities since 2012 and serves as a multi-sectoral convener across government, corporate, multilateral, and academic partners.

The technical product portfolio centers on three proprietary platforms: NA'AT, an offline teacher self-formation platform installed via USB delivering a 22-week structured learning journey without internet; S.O.S. Docente, a WhatsApp-based chatbot providing teachers with curated resources aligned to the National Base Curriculum (CNB); and the broader teacher training and digital municipality implementation programs. Funsepa integrates third-party educational platforms including Khan Academy (via KA Lite), Coursera, and Platzi, and supplements classroom interventions with youth employability programs such as #Emplea-T (Plan International / BMZ partnership) and the Tu Futuro+ scholarship initiative (50,000 scholarships with Platzi and Claro).

Funsepa's business model is donation and grant-funded with no commercial pricing. Revenue streams include individual donations via Donorbox, corporate social responsibility partnerships through the 'Dejando Huella' (Leave Your Mark) program, and institutional grants from entities including USAID, BMZ, IDB Lab, and the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (which awarded the 2016 National Educational Innovation Award). The organization's customer base is structurally diversified: end beneficiaries are public schools and their students/teachers, while paying funders are a mix of corporate sponsors, multilateral agencies, and individual donors — with no single funding source disclosed as dominant.

Name

Funsepa

Legal name

Fundación Sergio Paiz (Funsepa)

Website

https://funsepa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Funsepa is a Guatemalan non-profit foundation that refurbishes donated computers for public schools and runs digital education programs, serving 13 digital municipalities across Guatemala through partnerships with government, corporate, and multilateral funders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Technology Non-Profit Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Computer Training (61142)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms) (BPAGALAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

Keywords

• Education technology nonprofit
• Refurbished computer programs
• Teacher training platforms
• Digital municipality initiatives
• Corporate social responsibility

Headquarters

HQ city

Mixco

HQ country

Guatemala

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Funsepa operates as a nonprofit foundation that raises funds through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and international partnerships to support its technology and education programs in Guatemala. Funsepa US, a 501c3 organization created in 2008, is the primary fundraising arm.
2. Corporate Social Responsibility Partnerships: Companies engage with Funsepa through 'Dejando Huella' (Leave Your Mark) program, providing funding and support in exchange for social responsibility impact, including equipment donations, volunteering programs, and fundraising activities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Funsepa is a non-profit foundation that refurbishes donated electronic equipment into functional computers pre-loaded with Microsoft-licensed software and curriculum-aligned educational resources, then delivers and installs them at no cost in Guatemala's public schools. The foundation complements this hardware distribution with proprietary offline educational platforms (NA'AT, S.O.S. Docente) and teacher training programs, and executes end-to-end 'Digital Municipality' transformations that equip all educational centers within a municipality.

Product overview

Funsepa is a non-profit foundation focused on improving education in Guatemala through technology. Its product portfolio is organized around a core refurbished computer delivery program (Tecnología para Educar / TPE), complemented by a suite of digital platforms (NA'AT for teacher self-formation, S.O.S. Docente for WhatsApp-based teacher support) and programs (Teacher Training / Capacitación, #Emplea-T youth employment, Dejando Huella corporate partnerships). The flagship offering is TPE, which collects, refurbishes, and installs computers in public schools; this is supported by NA'AT (an offline teacher training platform), S.O.S. Docente (a WhatsApp chatbot), and the wider 'Municipios Digitales' initiative that equips entire municipalities. Supplementary programs include Coursera para Guatemala, Tu Futuro+ scholarships, and the #Emplea-T youth employability program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NA'AT: A continuous and permanent self-formation platform for teachers, enabling collaborative learning spaces through interactive activities without internet connection. Installed via USB, it provides a 18-22 week journey for teacher development.
• S.O.S. Docente
• #Emplea-T
• Municipios Digitales
• Tecnología para Educar (TPE)
• Dejando Huella
• Tu Futuro+

Products and services

• Tecnología para Educar (TPE) Funsepa's flagship program that refurbishes donated electronic equipment into functional computers and installs them with Microsoft-licensed software and curriculum-aligned educational tools in public schools across Guatemala at no cost. Includes a refurbishing center that classifies, repairs, and pre-loads equipment with educational resources by grade level.
• Municipios Digitales (Digital Municipalities) A connected municipality initiative in which all educational centers in a municipality are equipped with a digital environment featuring computers with first-world educational tools. As of the source date, 13 digital municipalities have been established across Guatemala, each implemented through alliances with municipal governments, the Ministry of Education, and corporate sponsors.
• NA'AT A continuous self-formation platform for teachers that installs on a computer via a portable USB device and provides an 18-22 week interactive learning journey with collaborative spaces between teachers and students, requiring no internet connection. Integrates all academic areas with gamified/ludic learning activities, available year-round.
• S.O.S. Docente A WhatsApp-based chatbot assistant that provides teachers with curated educational resources and a resource bank aligned with Guatemala's National Base Curriculum (CNB). Teachers can contact the robot via WhatsApp to resolve doubts and access teaching materials without significant internet costs or connectivity requirements.
• Dejando Huella (Leave Your Mark) A corporate social responsibility program that partners with private companies to achieve their social objectives through Funsepa's educational mission, offering equipment donations, volunteering opportunities, and fundraising activities to transform public school learning conditions in Guatemala.
• #Emplea-T A transnational youth employment project in partnership with Plan International and funded by German Cooperation (BMZ). The program trains youth aged 16-24 in employability and entrepreneurship in municipalities of Baja Verapaz (San Jerónimo, San Miguel Chicaj, Salamá, Cubulco), targeting transformation of over 760 families.
• Capacitación y Desarrollo (Teacher Training Program) A training and development program providing schools with an integral impact that strengthens the technological and pedagogical capabilities of teachers and students in public primary, basic, and diversified education levels, aligned with the Guatemalan National Curriculum.
• Coursera para Guatemala An emergency education initiative providing free access to the Coursera online education platform for Guatemalans affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, benefiting over 30,000 people through the alliance with Coursera and the Ministry of Education.
• Tu Futuro+ A scholarship program launched in partnership with the Platzi online education platform and Claro Guatemala, providing scholarships for entrepreneurship, technological innovation, and creativity to young Guatemalans, with a goal of 50,000 scholarships.

Quantifiable outcome

• Improvement in student mathematics performance: tablets with Khan Academy increase math grades by 10 points on average; computers with Khan Academy increase grades by 8 points
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered major, supporting and core.

• InterbancomajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner supporting the digital transformation of Zunil, Quetzaltenango as the 7th digital municipality, impacting 1,893 children.
• EducomajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in 'Tecnología en Quiché' initiative that conducted quasi-experimental impact study published in 2023, showing positive impact of technology interventions on student math performance.
• PlatzimajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022Partnership to launch 'Tu Futuro+' scholarship program providing 50,000 scholarships to young Guatemalans for entrepreneurship, technological innovation and creativity through online education platform.
• Claro GuatemalamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022Partner in 'Tu Futuro+' scholarship program providing scholarships and connectivity support for young Guatemalans.
• Magia BlancamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2021Corporate partner in 'Juntos por un regreso a clases seguro' project supporting safe return to school during pandemic.
• Rotary ClubsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Assists with internalizing equipment donations to the country, supporting logistics for international equipment transfers.
• CourseramajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2020Partnership during COVID-19 pandemic to provide free access to Coursera's online education platform for Guatemalans affected by the pandemic. Benefited more than 30,000 people.
• Ministry of Education of Guatemala (MINEDUC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2020Government partner for multiple programs including 'Coursera para Guatemala', digital municipality implementations, S.O.S. Docente platform, and 'Juntos por un regreso a clases seguro' initiative.
• Ingenio MagdalenamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020Corporate partner supporting digital municipality transformations in Escuintla including La Democracia, Sipacate, and La Gomera municipalities.
• Plan InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2020Joint implementation of '#Emplea-T' project - transnational employment program for youth in Baja Verapaz municipalities (San Jerónimo, San Miguel Chicaj, Salamá, Cubulco) targeting 760 families with employability and entrepreneurship training for young people aged 16-24.
• Khan AcademymajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2014Pilot implementation of Khan Academy in Sacatepéquez schools, evaluating benefits of incorporating tools on tablets and computers with and without internet. Study showed combining technology with Khan Academy produces positive effects on math performance.
• Heineman Medical Research FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Strategic partnership for collecting medical/hospital equipment from Atrium Health (formerly North Carolina Health System) network for refurbishment and use in Guatemalan public schools. Equipment is transported from Charlotte, NC to Guatemala.
• Atrium Health (formerly North Carolina Health System)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Donates hospital equipment through Heineman Foundation partnership for refurbishment and educational use in Guatemala.
• Chiquita BananacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Donates shipping container space and ships to transport refurbished equipment from the United States to Guatemala at no cost.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides original software licenses for computers delivered to public schools through Funsepa's refurbishing program.
• GooglesupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology and platform partner supporting educational technology initiatives.
• CEMACOsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuatemalan retail company partner supporting educational initiatives and programs.
• McKinsey & CompanysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting firm providing strategic support and expertise for educational transformation programs.
• The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research and evaluation support for educational technology programs.
• Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution that awarded Funsepa the National Educational Innovation Award in 2016.
• The Catholic University of AmericasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner that conducted impact evaluation of FUNSEPA's programs in 2014.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/141681649179179
• Instagraminstagram.com/fun_sepa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/funsepa-gt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Funsepa