Akshar Foundation
Akshar Foundation is a non-profit that transforms Indian government schools into sustainable communities using its NEP 2020-aligned Akshar Education Model, serving underprivileged children across multiple Indian states through holistic academics, vocational training, and plastic-waste-based "school fees."
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersGuwahati, India
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Akshar Foundation does
Akshar Foundation is a non-profit education organization founded in 2016 and headquartered in Guwahati, Assam, India, that develops and deploys the Akshar Education Model — a holistic, NEP 2020-aligned curriculum combining student-centered academics with vocational training, project-based learning, and community service-learning. The organization operates the Akshar Forum model school (100 free students, Assam) and partners with Indian government bodies (notably Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan in Assam and the Government of India's PM SHRI Schools initiative) to transform underperforming government schools into sustainable communities across Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and planned states including Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra.
The organization's core product portfolio is built on the Kolibri platform from US-based Learning Equality and includes the Akshar-Kolibri App (individual student profiles, mother-tongue content in Assamese, Hindi, English), the Akshar Learn to Read App (Android and PC versions covering literacy Levels 1-4 and numeracy from counting through multiplication/division), and supporting free resources (FLN worksheets, training videos, forms and policies) distributed through a self-serve "Replication Station." Complementary in-school programs include Meta-Teaching (older students tutoring younger), a Precious Plastic recycling workshop producing Eco-bricks and consumer goods, an Akshar Landscaping Enterprise, and an animal shelter — programs designed to enable students to "earn while learning" and offset the financial burden of education for underprivileged families.
Akshar's business model is a hybrid of philanthropy and government partnership rather than commercial revenue: students pay weekly "Plastic School Fees" of waste plastic from their homes instead of monetary tuition; institutional funding flows through individual donations, corporate CSR (OIL India, ONGC, Swiggy, Decathlon, United Way), grants, and government implementation contracts for school transformation. GTM is two-track: channel-partner sales to government education departments (systemic adoption via policy), and community-led grassroots engagement (students and parents as agents of change). The organization has achieved high-visibility global recognition (BBC, CNN, Time, Forbes, Reuters, Al Jazeera, The Guardian) and institutional endorsements from Niti Aayog, the World Economic Forum, the University of Oxford, and the United Nations (ECOSOC Special Consultative Status).
Akshar Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Akshar Foundation
- Legal name
- Akshar Foundation
- Website
- https://aksharfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Akshar Foundation is a non-profit that transforms Indian government schools into sustainable communities using its NEP 2020-aligned Akshar Education Model, serving underprivileged children across multiple Indian states through holistic academics, vocational training, and plastic-waste-based "school fees."
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Akshar Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Education Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Curriculum Design & Scope/Sequence (School-Led) (EDAJAFAA), Literacy & ELA Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAF)
Keywords
Where Akshar Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Guwahati
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices4 records
Markets served
Akshar Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations and Philanthropic Support: Primary funding through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Accepts donations via bank transfer (ICICI Bank for Indian donors, State Bank of India for international), Google Pay, and Amazon Wishlist for school supplies.
- Government Grants and Partnerships: Partnership with Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan in Assam for implementing education projects in government schools. Government support for PM SHRI Schools initiative providing resources to transformed schools.
- Plastic Waste as School Fees: Students pay school fees with plastic waste from their homes, replacing monetary tuition. This innovative model reduces financial barriers for underprivileged families while addressing environmental issues.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free education at Akshar Forum model school |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Akshar Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Akshar Foundation runs the Akshar Education Model, an NEP 2020-aligned holistic education system that transforms Indian government schools into sustainable communities. It combines student-centered academics with hands-on vocational training, project-based learning, and community service. The foundation also develops and distributes free open-source educational software (Kolibri-based apps, literacy/numeracy games, worksheets) and operates Akshar Forum, a free 100-student model school in Assam that serves as a testing ground and proof-of-concept for replication.
Product overview
Akshar Foundation offers the Akshar Education Model, an innovative education system aligned with India's National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020). The core product portfolio includes the Akshar-Kolibri App and Akshar Learn to Read App (available on Android tablets and PC), which are built on the Kolibri platform from Learning Equality. Supporting products include Akshar Worksheets for foundational literacy and numeracy, Forms & Policies for student tracking and assessment, and Training Videos for teacher development. The organization also operates Akshar Forum, a model school that serves as a testing ground for these methods. Key vocational programs include Meta-Teaching (peer tutoring system), Precious Plastic Workshop (recycling entrepreneurship), Akshar Landscaping Enterprise, and Akshar Animal Shelter. The model is being scaled through the Akshar Fellowship program for government school transformation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Akshar Forum: A free 100-student model school in Assam, India serving as a testing facility for innovative teaching methods under the Indian Education Model.
- Akshar Kolibri App
- Akshar Learn to Read App
Products and services
- Akshar-Kolibri App Educational software enabling individual student profiles with content for all subjects in Assamese-medium based on SCERT Textbooks. Students sign in with unique profiles that track learning levels and deliver custom-tailored exercises in their mother tongue.
- Akshar Learn to Read App (Android Tablet) Suite of games for teaching literacy on Android tablets, currently available in Assamese. Levels cover alphabet recognition through consonant compounds (juktakkhor); numeracy games span counting to multiplication and division.
- Akshar Learn to Read App (PC) Desktop suite of literacy and numeracy games for Assamese language learners, mirroring the Android tablet version's content.
- Akshar Worksheets (FLN) Downloadable foundational literacy and numeracy worksheets aligned with SCERT Textbooks, covering Assamese literacy (Levels 1–4), numeracy (counting through long division and measurement), and chapter worksheets for all subjects.
- Akshar Training Videos Training video series for replicating the Akshar NEP 2020 Model, covering introduction, meta-teaching, FLN worksheets, peer learning, tablet instruction, Nai Talim in practice, and becoming a Green School.
- Akshar Forum (Model School) A free 100-student model school in Assam established in 2016, serving as a testing ground for the Akshar Education Model and a proof-of-concept site for government and institutional partners.
- Akshar Fellowship A two-year fellowship program that trains and places fellows to reform underperforming government schools, in partnership with The Education Alliance.
- Meta-Teaching Program A peer-tutoring system in which older students are trained and employed as teaching assistants under adult teacher guidance, providing daily one-on-one mentoring to younger students while developing leadership and employability skills in teens.
- Precious Plastic Workshop A vocational workshop that processes non-recyclable, dry plastic packaging into Eco-bricks and new products (flower pots, dog bowls, jewellery), teaching students machine operation, recycling, and entrepreneurship.
- Akshar Landscaping Enterprise Vocational training program teaching students gardening, carpentry, solar tech, irrigation, electronics, and lighting, culminating in the development of a landscaping enterprise that beautifies public and private spaces.
- Akshar Animal Shelter Campus animal shelter where teens are employed to care for puppies, administer daily medicines, and look after dogs after sterilization procedures before they are sent home.
Quantifiable outcome
- Model school established in 2016 serving 100 students
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Akshar Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Akshar Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Akshar Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan AssamcoreGovernment partnership with Samagra Shiksha in Assam to implement Akshar's NEP 2020 education model in 100 government schools in Guwahati. Provides training, equipment, and ongoing support for educational transformation.
- United Nations ECOSOCflagshipUnited Nations Economic and Social Council special consultative status, providing international recognition and access to UN networks and forums.
- University of OxfordcoreOfficial partner for internship programs. Oxford University students serve as interns at Akshar, producing training videos and documentation that validate the education model academically.
- Motivation for ExcellencecorePartnership for the Nalanda Project providing educational technology access. Motivation for Excellence supports Akshar's technology initiatives.
- The Education AlliancecorePartnership for the Akshar Fellowship program that trains and deploys fellows to reform underperforming government schools.
- ERDF (Educational Resources Development Foundation)minorERDF sponsors the campus Recycling Center for processing plastic waste into Eco-bricks.
- Learning EqualitycoreKolibri platform provider - US-based charity providing the core technology platform for Akshar's educational software.
- Earth Day NetworkminorRecognition as Earth Day Network Star for environmental education initiatives.
- TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences)minorAcademic partner providing social sciences expertise and research support.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Akshar Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pratham: One of India's largest education NGOs, operating government-school readiness and literacy programs across states with government partnerships—directly comparable to Akshar's government-school transformation focus and Assam footprint.
- Mantra4Change: Indian education non-profit that partners with state governments to improve government-school outcomes—directly analogous as a fellow K-12 government-school reform non-profit working at state scale.
- Avanti Education Institutions: Indian non-profit working with government schools on academic and vocational outcomes for underserved students—overlaps directly with Akshar's school-transformation methodology.
- Akanksha Foundation: Indian non-profit running low-income schools and government-school programs combining academics with holistic skill development—closely comparable mission and operating model to Akshar Forum and the Akshar Education Model.
- Teach For India: Indian education non-profit that places fellows in low-income government schools for multi-year teaching and leadership stints—matches Akshar's Fellowship model and government-school leverage strategy.
Emerging players
- LEAD School: Indian K-12 EdTech player providing curriculum, training, and integrated solutions to affordable private and government schools—overlaps with Akshar's curriculum-and-pedagogy delivery to government schools.
Others
- Learning Equality: US-based charity that builds Kolibri, the offline-first learning platform on which Akshar's apps run—technological ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Educational Initiatives: Established Indian education research and curriculum company serving schools with assessment and learning solutions—comparable as a curriculum-design and pedagogy provider in Indian K-12.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Akshar Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceAkshar Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Akshar Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Akshar Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Akshar Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Akshar Foundation
What does Akshar Foundation do?
Akshar Foundation runs the Akshar Education Model, an NEP 2020-aligned holistic education system that transforms Indian government schools into sustainable communities. It combines student-centered academics with hands-on vocational training, project-based learning, and community service. The foundation also develops and distributes free open-source educational software (Kolibri-based apps, literacy/numeracy games, worksheets) and operates Akshar Forum, a free 100-student model school in Assam that serves as a testing ground and proof-of-concept for replication.
Is Akshar Foundation a public or private company?
Akshar Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Akshar Foundation founded?
Akshar Foundation was founded in 2016. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Akshar Foundation based?
Akshar Foundation is headquartered in Guwahati, India, in the Asia region.
How does Akshar Foundation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Philanthropic Support is the primary driver. The others are government Grants and Partnerships and plastic Waste as School Fees.
Who are Akshar Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pratham, Mantra4Change, Avanti Education Institutions, Akanksha Foundation and Teach For India. LEAD School is listed as an emerging player. Learning Equality is listed as an others. Educational Initiatives is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Akshar Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Akshar Foundation.
What industry is Akshar Foundation in?
Akshar Foundation's product category is K-12 Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAFAB, Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led), with a secondary code of EDAJAFAA, Curriculum Design & Scope/Sequence (School-Led). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.