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Simbi Foundation
Simbi Foundation was founded in 2015 by Aaron Friedland, then a PhD candidate, after fieldwork in Uganda revealed the absence of learning materials in...
Simbi Foundation
Simbi Foundation was founded in 2015 by Aaron Friedland, then a PhD candidate, after fieldwork in Uganda revealed the absence of learning materials in rural schools. The organization built a solar-powered, offline-first digital library called the SimbiReadBox — a rugged device that stores thousands of books, videos, and interactive lessons. Co-founder Miriam Altman oversees daily operations from the Singapore hub. The foundation's investment strategy centers on mission-related deployment: it funds hardware production, content licensing, and on-the-ground training across three continents. SimbiReadBox units have been placed in Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, India, and Canada, targeting remote Indigenous communities as well. The organization partners with local ministries of education and NGOs to tailor content to national curricula — a localization approach that avoids the one-size-fits-all trap of many edtech initiatives. As of 2025, Simbi Foundation had deployed over 1,200 SimbiReadBoxes and reported reaching 200,000 active learners (per the foundation's 2024 impact report). The team is lean, with fewer than 20 full-time staff spread across Singapore, Uganda, and Canada. The organization has also launched a mobile app version of the library for use in regions with intermittent connectivity — a 2024 pivot toward hybrid digital-physical delivery. What distinguishes Simbi from typical education nonprofits is its hardware-first, offline-first architecture — the SimbiReadBox operates completely without internet, relying on solar power and a mesh Wi-Fi hotspot. This design allows deployment in the world's most energy-poor and data-poor schools, where no other digital edtech can function. The foundation maintains its own content creation team to produce region-specific materials, a vertical integration rare in the sector.
General information
Firm type
Foundation
Year founded
2015
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Asia
Country
Singapore
City
Singapore
Corporate office
Singapore, Singapore
Principals
Aaron Friedland
Founder and Executive Director
Miriam Altman
Co-Founder and Director of Operations
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Simbi Foundation?
Founder Aaron Friedland, a PhD in education technology, sets strategic direction. Co-founder Miriam Altman manages operational deployment. The board includes academics from the University of British Columbia and former UNESCO advisors. Financial decisions are made collectively by the leadership team and board (per the foundation's governance page).
How does Simbi Foundation source proprietary deal flow?
Unlike a family office, Simbi Foundation does not make commercial investments. It sources deployment partners through relationships with education ministries, NGOs, and multilateral organizations such as UNICEF and the World Bank. The foundation's technology is proprietary — the SimbiReadBox is manufactured under contract in China and adapted in-house.
Is Simbi Foundation structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
Neither. Simbi Foundation is a registered charitable organization based in Singapore and Canada. It functions as a philanthropic operating foundation — it develops its own technology, runs direct programs, and does not invest in external funds or startups. There is no investment portfolio or endowment management arm.
Does Simbi Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Simbi Foundation does not make fund commitments. All capital raised goes directly to programmatic costs: hardware procurement, content licensing, logistics, and field staff. Institutional donors include the Canadian government's Global Affairs Canada and the Dubai Cares foundation (per the foundation's donor page).
What investment stages does Simbi Foundation typically target?
This question is inapplicable — Simbi Foundation does not make for-profit investments. Its 'deployment' is philanthropic-stage: it funds early-stage hardware R&D, pilot programs in new countries, and scaling of proven deployments. The foundation does not seek financial return.
Which sectors does Simbi Foundation explicitly avoid?
The foundation focuses exclusively on education technology for underserved, off-grid communities. It does not engage in healthcare, agriculture, or microfinance. Its content library is entirely curriculum-aligned K-12 material, avoiding entertainment or adult learning.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
Simbi Foundation is not a family office or tied to an individual fortune. Funding comes from government grants, corporate partnerships (Microsoft, Amazon Web Services), and individual donations. There is no single wealthy backer or family fund.
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