In Zambia, quality education has the power to change lives, yet challenges in delivering effective, personalised learning have held students back. Koloso, an innovative EdTech startup, is tackling this challenge head-on, driven by a passionate team determined to empower teachers and students alike. They’re on a mission to make learning more effective, engaging, and accessible for every child.
Koloso, co-founded by Sowi, Petra, and James, was born from a shared goal to transform Zambia’s education system. Koloso focuses on personalised learning by automating assessments, saving teachers time and enabling them to deliver targeted feedback to each student. The platform originally began as a simple maths quiz game but evolved after feedback from teachers, who saw its potential for classroom use.
James’ experience in particular fueled Koloso’s mission. While shopping, he encountered a young cashier who needed a calculator to give him change for a small purchase, an encounter that highlighted just how essential basic maths skills are. For James, that moment emphasised the gaps Koloso could help close.
Koloso operates with a simple yet impactful approach. Students log in to play a short, interactive quiz game that assesses their knowledge and tracks their learning progress. This data is automatically sent to a centralised school dashboard, allowing teachers to see where each student is excelling or struggling. For teachers, this means having the insights needed to provide more targeted support. For parents, it means staying connected to their child’s progress through updates that keep them engaged and informed.
This personalised, data-driven approach not only supports students but also alleviates the workload of teachers, who spend less time assessing and more time teaching. Koloso has quickly proven valuable in the classroom setting, making a difference for both teachers and students.
As with any startup, Koloso’s path hasn’t been smooth. Building the right team, refining the product, and navigating funding challenges required persistence and a willingness to adapt. Originally, Koloso aimed to partner with government schools, but due to structural delays, they focussed on private schools.
Funding was also a major challenge. Fortunately, support from the Zambia Business Angels Network (ZBAN) and the Catalytic Africa Fund enabled Koloso to move from a prototype to a market-ready product. With this backing, they were able to expand and refine their tool, now actively used in seven schools by over 1,000 students.
Transforming Education, One Student at a Time
By integrating technology into education, Koloso is actively working to close the learning gaps that exist in Zambia and equip students with skills essential for a brighter future.
As Koloso grows, its impact will only expand. The team has big plans to reach even more schools and explore new features that could make learning even more interactive and personalised. By creating a platform that bridges educational gaps, they’re not only enriching students’ lives but also contributing to a more educated Zambia.
