SOROBAN-UKRAINE

What SOROBAN-UKRAINE does

SOROBAN-UKRAINE (operating as Школа Соробан / Soroban® Mental Arithmetic School) is a Ukrainian education technology company founded in 2013 in Dnipro by Iurii Novosolov. The company delivers mental arithmetic instruction using the Japanese soroban abacus, primarily targeting children aged 5-11, with an extension program (Program 55+) targeted at adults aged 55+ for cognitive training. As of 2023, the network comprises 282 schools across 8 countries — Ukraine, Estonia, Czech Republic, Poland, Canada, Moldova, Ireland, and USA — with cumulative enrollment of 200,000+ students and 45,000 graduates documented over 13 years.

The company's technology stack centers on an AI-powered adaptive online training platform (in use since 2020) that personalizes homework task difficulty by analyzing each student's achievement level, plus the founder-invented E-Soroban electronic abacus device (patented in USA, Ukraine, and Japan). Supporting products include four consumer mobile applications distributed across iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Huawei AppGallery: Soroboom AR (augmented reality), Soroboom Lite, Worlds of Soroban (gamified), and Soroban Dance (movement-based). An AI chatbot assistant ("Ded Soroban") is deployed on Telegram and Viber for parent support, and a psychological diagnostics tool measures intellectual potential in approximately 2 minutes for children 5-11. Proprietary methodology assets include the "Multiplication Without Table" curriculum and the "Program 55+" adult program, both stated to have no analogues. The Soroban® trademark is registered.

The business operates a multi-channel model combining monthly subscription tuition for in-person classes, monthly subscription for online classes, franchise/license fees paid by partner-operated schools, and mobile app distribution. Pricing is not publicly disclosed but franchise economics are quoted in USD. GTM combines direct-to-consumer enrollment via the website with a franchise model in which local partners receive design assistance, business roadmaps, training, and access to the AI-powered platform; 70% of new students are acquired via word-of-mouth referrals. The company is founder-owned (Iurii Novosolov) with no institutional investment disclosed and maintains operations with 600+ school network employees preserved through the full-scale war in Ukraine.

Name

SOROBAN-UKRAINE

Legal name

Iurii Novosolov

Website

https://soroban.ua

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SOROBAN-UKRAINE is a Ukrainian education technology company operating 282 mental arithmetic schools across 8 countries under a franchise model, serving 200,000+ students aged 5-11 via an AI-powered adaptive training platform and a patented electronic abacus (E-Soroban).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Arithmetic Education

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Math & STEM Learning Technology (incl. Coding/Robotics Platforms) (EDAJAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Math Homework Support (Problem-Solving & Practice) (EDANADAE), Math Enrichment Curriculum, Workbooks & Question Banks (EDAMAEAG)

Keywords

• Mental arithmetic training
• Abacus education
• Children's cognitive development
• Online learning platform
• Educational franchise

Headquarters

HQ city

Dnipro

HQ country

Ukraine

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Monthly Subscription (Class Training): Monthly subscription tickets for physical class training with professional mental arithmetic trainer. Classes held twice per week with 2 lessons per day. Includes group sessions of 10-12 participants and daily home exercises via online trainer.
2. Online Learning Platform: Online subscription for remote learning. Children need only a gadget and internet access. Trainer monitors each student's progress in real-time during online lessons.
3. Franchise Fees: Franchise partnerships where partners pay for the right to open and operate Soroban schools under the brand. Includes startup package, training, and ongoing support.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SOROBAN-UKRAINE operates the Soroban Mental Arithmetic School, providing mental arithmetic training to children aged 5-11 using the Japanese abacus (soroban) methodology. The company delivers training through in-person classes at 282 schools worldwide and through its proprietary AI-adaptive online learning platform. It also runs an education franchise program, four mobile applications, and the Program 55+ for adult cognitive development.

Product overview

SOROBAN-UKRAINE operates Soroban (Соробан), a Ukrainian mental arithmetic school founded in 2013 that has expanded to 282 schools worldwide. The company offers a unified training system combining classroom and online learning with AI-powered personalized practice. Core products include the Soroban Mental Arithmetic Methodology (ages 5-11+, including adults 55+), the Online Training Platform with AI-adaptive homework, and four mobile applications: Soroboom AR (augmented reality), Soroboom Lite (lightweight), Worlds of Soroban (gamified), and Soroban Dance (movement-based). Supporting products include the patented E-Soroban electronic abacus (patented in USA, Japan, Ukraine), the AI chatbot assistant 'Дід Соробан' (Ded Soroban), and the Intellectual Diagnostics Test for assessing children's cognitive abilities. The company also offers a franchise program for opening Soroban schools globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Soroboom AR: Augmented reality application for Soroban training
• Soroboom Lite
• Worlds of Soroban
• Soroban Dance
• E-Soroban

Products and services

• In-Class Mental Arithmetic Training In-person mental arithmetic training in classrooms with certified Soroban trainers. Groups of up to 10 students. Younger group (5-6 years): 30-35 minute lessons; older group (7-11 years): 40-45 minute lessons. Two lessons per day with a 10-minute break. Includes at-home reinforcement via the AI-powered online trainer for 20-25 minutes daily.
• Online Mental Arithmetic Training Online subscription for remote mental arithmetic learning with guaranteed results comparable to classroom learning. Requires only a gadget and internet access. Trainer monitors each student's progress in real time during online lessons. Includes 8 group sessions per month plus daily AI-adaptive homework exercises. Accessible globally from any country.
• Program 55+ Specialized Soroban-based cognitive development program designed for adults aged 55 and older, focusing on memory, concentration, and attention enhancement through visual counting methodology.
• Soroban Franchise Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Memory improvement by 62% for adults 55+
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature9 records

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• IXL Learning: Large online K-12 math practice platform with AI-driven personalization used by millions of students globally. Adjacent competitor for parent math-enrichment spend and a benchmark for what AI-personalized math learning at scale looks like.
• Eye Level: Global supplemental learning franchise (math and English) operating in 20+ countries with a diagnostic-based personalized curriculum. Competes for the same parent-discretionary spending on K-12 enrichment, though it does not teach mental arithmetic.
• Kumon: World's largest math and reading supplemental learning franchise with 26,000+ centers globally. Broader incumbent that overlaps with Soroban on K-12 math skill-building via a workbook-based, self-learning model but does not specialize in mental arithmetic.
• Mathnasium: Major math-only tutoring franchise with 1,000+ centers worldwide, serving K-12 students with a structured curriculum. Overlaps with Soroban on math learning for children but focuses on conventional math instruction rather than mental arithmetic.

Regional players

• Be Brain (BeBrain): Ukrainian mental arithmetic and intellectual development school network using soroban methodology, operating through local centers. Direct local competitor in Ukraine for the same preschool and primary-school parent segment.
• Supermath: Ukrainian mental arithmetic school with a similar soroban-based methodology and franchise-style model, primarily serving the Ukrainian domestic market. Head-to-head competitor in Soroban's home market.

Direct peers

• ALOHA Mental Arithmetic: International mental arithmetic franchise for children aged 5-13, operating in 30+ countries with a similar soroban-based methodology and franchise model. Competes directly with Soroban in the same target segment.
• SmartyKids: Russian-originated soroban-based mental arithmetic franchise for children with presence across CIS and Eastern Europe. Direct competitor in the same methodology, with overlap in target geographies and customer profile.
• UCMAS Mental Arithmetic: Global mental arithmetic franchise using abacus-based methodology for children, with thousands of centers across 80+ countries. Closest direct competitor to SOROBAN-UKRAINE in the mental arithmetic franchise category.

Emerging players

• Thinking Caps: Mental arithmetic franchise emerging in South/Southeast Asia and the Middle East using abacus-based training. Comparable in offering but smaller and earlier-stage than Soroban, with potential overlap in international expansion plans.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/%D0%A8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B0%20%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%BD
• Facebookfacebook.com/soroban.ua
• Instagraminstagram.com/soroban.ukraine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ua-soroban

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 SOROBAN-UKRAINE