From the moment Tonee Ndungu began his formal education, he had a tough time decoding meaning from written material. He was constantly frustrated with his schoolwork. Even today, literacy is tested and scored on one’s ability to read and write. Numeracy, on the other hand, hinges on the understanding of the functionality of numbers. The capacity to perform these two functions underpins the level of success with which one can navigate the educational system. For Tonee, words and numbers never seemed to stay still on a page; they lifted off and swam around, making comprehension very difficult.
In primary school, Tonee was fortunate to have a teacher who was patient enough to teach him at his pace. The result of this learner-centred approach saw him excel in his KCPE exams and gain admission into Mang’u High School in 1994, one of Kenya’s most prestigious national schools. Tonee’s great performance proved that with the right assistance, he could overcome his learning difficulties. But the fast-paced, swim-or sink-environment at Mang’u made the replication of this learning model harder. His learning difficulties were further exacerbated using old textbooks that relied heavily on written content. Because of this, his grades were impacted all through high school and he was labelled an underperformer. It was only when Tonee was 23 years old, studying for a degree in International Relations, Diplomacy and International Law at United States International University, that he found out he was dyslexic.
Tackling the Bull by its Horns
Putting a name to the issue made it easier for Tonee to understand the challenges he faced in school and be more gracious with himself moving forward. He also realized that visual learning worked best for him and began to implement this in his studies. This period of self-assessment and learning his strengths and weaknesses also propelled Tonee into the job market as he tried his hand at different fields, from web development to project management to media production. By his graduation, he was confident that he could make it big if he struck out on his own. He also did not want the struggles he had experienced in school to carry forward into his work, and the best way to control his environment was to start his own business.
Self-employment was a difficult path, as Tonee’s first two start-ups shut down after a short while. Amidst these failures were important lessons that shaped his entrepreneurial journey. Tonee took stock of the challenges he had faced while trying to get his businesses off the ground, the two key ones being lack of funding and support. Eager to lean into the tech space, he co-founded Nailab in 2009. This business incubator brings people in the tech space together to grow their ideas through the support of other specialists.
The third time was the charm as the company took off. Its success unearthed the innovative spirit within Tonee which he wholeheartedly embraced. In 2012, he sold the company for a whopping $5 million, equivalent to over half a million Kenya shillings. This buyout validated Tonee’s smarts outside the normal classroom setup and positioned him as a key player in the tech space. With this knowledge, he was off to his next venture.
Redefining Learning in Kenya
After walking away from Nailab, Tonee took some time to reflect on what really mattered to him and the difference he hoped to make. Given how the education system failed Tonee, one would assume that he would try and get as far away from this space as possible. But that was not so. His next quest was innovating affordable access to learning materials. This became the basis of founding Kytabu in 2012, a subscription-based education app that allows users to rent textbooks.
Kytabu’s brilliance lies in its simplicity; it can be used by learners, educators or parents. In addition, one need not buy an entire textbook to access a specific chapter. You can simply pay to gain access to the specific material needed. It also goes beyond the traditional written approach of learning to include audio and visual content, exam prep material, and educational games.
Tonee’s innovation completely revolutionized the education sector. Just one year after launching Kytabu, the platform won the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Initiative. In 2014, Kytabu was recognized by Google as the best learning platform in the world. In 2015, Tonee won the African Entrepreneurship Award for his work. Recognition has kept rolling in since, and with it comes the funding needed to grow. As of 2022, Kytabu works directly with over 18,000 schools across the country to facilitate learning.
By founding Kytabu, Tonee has ensured that there are fewer children left behind because of their different learning speeds, and a learner-centred approach is prioritized. His success is a testament to the fact that there is never an end to learning, and there is no one right way to learn.
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