Kami Company Profile
Overview
Kami is a distinguished edtech company from New Zealand, founded in 2012, providing a collaborative learning platform that enhances educational experiences for educators and students worldwide. Its tools cater to classroom management, grading, and planning, making it a global community cornerstone with more than 40 million users.
Key Features and Integration
Kami's platform excels in document annotation and markup, supporting formats like PDFs and integrates with leading digital education ecosystems such as Google Classroom, Google Workspace, Canvas, Schoology, and Microsoft Teams. These integrations enrich collaborative learning by permitting real-time feedback and streamlined classroom management.
Notable Achievements and Growth
- In 2020, Kami expanded its free subscriptions globally during the COVID-19 pandemic to support remote learning, augmenting its user base to 20 million.
- Kami was declared the #1 fastest-growing tech business in New Zealand by Deloitte Fast50 in 2021 and 2022.
- The Times 100 most influential companies listed Kami in 2022, and it received the Westpac Excellence in International Trade Award.
- The company embarked on its first statewide partnership with Louisiana in 2023 and widened its presence at international conferences like EduTech Australia.
Executive Leadership
- Hengjie Wang, CEO and Co-Founder: Based in San Francisco, influential in the edtech community.
- Alliv Samson, COO and Co-Founder: Operates from Auckland with a background in education and women empowerment.
- Jordan Thoms, CTO and Co-Founder: Experienced in scaling technology platforms.
- Bob Drummond, Executive Chairman and CRO: Focuses on strategic vision for sales and growth.
- Andrew Dalziel, CFO: Develops robust financial strategies for growth.
- Louis Esther, VP of Marketing: Drives brand development and strategic alignment.
- Todd Bloom, Chief Learning Officer: Advances educational technology and international sales.
Recent Investments and Financial Performance
Kami secured a strategic investment from BV Investment Partners in 2024, valuing the company at over $300 million. This capital injection is aimed at global classroom reach, enhancing platform features, and expanding operations, including a new Boston office while keeping a strong base in Auckland.
Mission and Values
Kami is committed to making education more accessible and engaging globally. Its principles emphasize diversity, compassion, transformation, and fun, to drive meaningful impacts on students and teachers worldwide.
Resources and Community Engagement
Kami supports its community through resources like the Kami Library and the Kami Heroes educator program. The company invests in community engagement via webinars, training sessions, and active social media interaction.
For more insights, visit [kamiapp.com](https://www.kamiapp.com/).
Competitor Profiling
Key Competitors
1. Google for Education: A top alternative, offering comprehensive educational tools integrated across many classroom activities.
2. Flipgrid (Microsoft Flip): Specializes in video discussions and peer engagement, now integrated with Microsoft Teams for Education.
3. Echo360: Offers a comprehensive learning management system, maintaining a competitive stance with robust market share.
4. Annotate Technologies: Provides business-centric document collaboration solutions that rival Kami's productivity offerings.
5. Seesaw, Xodo, ShowMe: Focus on K-12 interactive digital learning tools akin to Kami's offerings.
6. Adobe, Apple, Dropbox: While not purely educational, these companies offer strong document management alternatives that might serve specific needs.
Competitive Analysis
Kami's competitive landscape includes both dedicated educational tech companies and major tech corporations with collaborative tools. Giants like Google and Microsoft underline the critical importance of seamless integration capabilities in the education sector.
While Google for Education provides an all-encompassing suite, Kami emphasizes document interaction, a necessity in digital education. Echo360 and Flipgrid occupy different niches like comprehensive management systems and video tools, sometimes serving as complements or substitutes to Kami's portfolio.
Market Presence and Insights
With annual revenues of approximately $3.4 million and a workforce of around 30 employees, Kami is smaller compared to larger counterparts, yet its niche specialization in document-centric learning offers a significant advantage in education requiring document interaction and collaboration.
