From a childhood without textbooks to founding one of Kenya’s most impactful EdTech startups, Julius Irungu’s journey is a lesson in resilience, purpose, and giving back.
Born of Struggle, Built with Purpose
Julius’ story begins in rural Kenya — a place where hope often rests in the pages of a borrowed textbook. “The only chance I had at making it in life was through education,” he reflects. But even that hope was fragile: “Throughout my nine years of primary education, my parents never afforded a textbook once.”
It is no surprise, then, that Julius would later become the kind of man who steps into the very gap that nearly swallowed him. After university, he returned to serve on the board of management at his former primary school. One day, the headteacher shared a story that shook him: an entire class could not answer exam questions simply because they could not read them.
“I felt the kids could not read because of the same problems I experienced,” Julius says. “Parents could not afford learning materials every year.” That pain birthed a dream. And that dream became Esoma Solutions.
Esoma: A Mission to Make Learning Accessible
Esoma, which means “read” in Swahili, is an EdTech company headquartered in Kenya. Its mission is clear: to enhance access to quality education through technology. With a small but mighty team six full-timers and three part-timers, Esoma focuses on building a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy for young learners.
“We believe that a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy is essential for lifelong learning and personal development. However, in Kenya and across Sub-Saharan Africa, many young learners face significant barriers to quality education due to cost and limited accessibility. These challenges contribute to alarmingly low levels of foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) proficiency,” Julius says.
The need is urgent. According to a 2022 World Bank report, 90% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa cannot read or solve basic math problems by the age of ten. Julius saw this gap, and instead of walking past it, he built a bridge: affordable, adaptive learning that meets children where they are.
“I felt that taking this adaptive learning to their parents’ phones or gadgets donated by government and well-wishers gives them a better chance at academic success,” he explains.
From Humble Beginnings to National Recognition
Esoma has already reached over 23,000 learners in 2024 alone. The company was also selected for the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship and won the ‘Most Innovative Solution in Greater South’ award at GreSFET 2024.
None of this came easy. “The EdTech business landscape is one of impact before profits,” Julius explains. “You have to demonstrate how well you are improving learning outcomes before selling.”
Despite resource challenges, Julius stayed the course. “We have complemented our internal revenue with funding from multinational philanthropies… and recruited a very balanced and talented team.”
Esoma has evolved from a B2C model to a B2B2C hybrid, with growing user numbers and a clear path to breaking even.
Giving Back, Grounded in Community
True to his roots, Julius remains a board member at both a primary and a high school in his hometown. These roles, he says, are his way of staying connected and giving back.
His heart for education beats beyond profit margins and into purpose. “Nobody can do better than you in implementing your own idea,” he advises. “Just start, embrace the journey, and it will start making sense when it starts coming together.”
Eyes on the Future: AI and Personal Learning
Looking ahead, Julius is excited about the possibilities of AI in education. “The AI trend will aid in improving learner-centered solutions, ensuring tailored feedback, and adapting learning to the specific needs of the learner,” he says.
Esoma is already working on an AI-powered project expected to launch in Q4 that promises to improve both user experience and learning outcomes.
A Final Word of Wisdom
“Listen all the time, be analytical, and make a decision you will not regret whether things turn out positive or negative,” Julius says with confidence.
His journey is not just about personal success. It’s about creating a legacy where no child ever fails an exam not because they didn’t know the answer, but because they couldn’t read the question.
