Learning platform Kahoot acquires learn-to-read app Poio

Global learning platform Kahoot has acquired Poio, the learn-to-read app for children. To date, Poio’s community in Scandinavia has helped more than 100,000 children to learn to read through play. Kahoot! and Poio will launch the English edition of Poio in June, and make it available to Kahoot!s hundreds of millions of users worldwide.

“Were impressed by how Poio has already helped more than 100,000 children in Scandinavia to learn how to read in an awesome way,” said Åsmund Furuseth, CEO and co-founder of Kahoot. “In June, we are together launching Poio to our international community of millions of users, empowering kids everywhere to play, learn and find joy in reading.”

Daniel Senn, then working as a teacher, started work on Poio in 2012. The inspiration for the project was his son, who was born with a severe hearing problem. Knowing that his son would require extensive assistance to master reading, Senn and his wife started work on the app, which aims to help children learn how to read through the natural process of play.

“There is only one goal for Poio, and that is to help as many children as possible to crack the reading code through play,” said Senn. “By teaming up with Kahoot, we will be able to launch Poio in more languages and with new functionality, bringing the joy of reading to millions of children around the world.”

The app is based around a game where the user has to help a troll, named Poio, learn how to read the storybook he has stolen from a group of letter bugs, called Readlings. These characters introduce letters, words and a story in a coherent fantasy world that unravels scene-by-scene. Poio boosts childrens self-esteem, empowering them to master reading at their own pace through play, with positive feedback and exploration as the core experience.

Kahoot is building a leading learning community, connecting teachers, students, parents and organizations with premium content. Last year, it launched the Ignite accelerator program, to seek out innovative learning and gaming apps to join its community.

“Mastering reading and math is fundamental for all children to succeed in life. Together with Poio learn-to-read app and Dragonbox math apps, we will make the best learning experiences available for Kahoots hundreds of millions of users around the world, inside and outside the classroom,” said Kahoot chairman, Eilert Hanoa.