Tanoshi is shortening the technology divide between the affluent and the poor. They stay true to their mission to make affordable tech to create learning equity. How? Let’s go back to the beginning.
In 2014, CEO and founder of Tanoshi, Brad Johnston, had an eye-opening conversation with his mother and sister — who were both teachers in low-income communities. That was one of the first years that standardized tests were done on computers and not on paper. Since many kids in those communities didn’t have a computer at home, their test results didn’t reflect their true intellect.
When learning technology just comes to market, it’s much more expensive. So only the affluent can afford it — causing learning gaps between the affluent and the poor. This was Tanoshi’s opportunity for business and to close learning gaps.
After multiple trips to Taiwan and three years of creating prototypes, a product was ready. But getting a factory to take his minimum order to market was tough. One factory who believed in Tanoshi’s mission agreed to work with them and they sold out of their first 500 computers. However, to be able to place the next order, the first round of computers had to be sold out. Tanoshi had to continue doing this process to remain intact.
While they still haven’t found investors, they stayed true to their mission and turned $250,000 of raised capital to $4 million and sold more than 17,000 computers to date. Tanoshi says they will continue to “Do tech for good.” Watch the full story on #RamenProfitable.