# Codemao **Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/codemao **Vertical:** Education **Subcategory:** General **Tier:** Emerging **Website:** codemao.cn **Last Updated:** 2026-04-14 ## Summary Shenzhen children's coding education platform for 31M+ students in 11,500 China schools; $360M/$7.3B valuation (2024) with UNESCO Africa-Asia Coding Initiative and TIME #1 global EdTech 2025 competing with Scratch for K-12 coding. ## Company Overview Codemao (编程猫) is a Shenzhen, China-based children's coding education platform — backed with $360+ million in total funding at a $7.3 billion valuation as of 2024 — providing 31+ million students aged 4-16 with visual programming and AI literacy education through proprietary tools including Kitten (a Scratch-inspired visual programming language optimized for mobile) and Nemo (mobile coding application). The platform partners with 11,500 schools across China and generates approximately $17 million in annual revenue. In 2025, TIME magazine ranked Codemao as the top EdTech company globally, and UNESCO launched a partnership with Codemao on the Africa-Asia Youth Coding Initiative Phase 2 (2025-2030) to expand digital skills education across developing nations. Founded in December 2014 in Paris by Sun Yue and Li Tianchi (Chinese graduate students at EIT Digital Master School), operating from Shenzhen headquarters with offices in Beijing and Shanghai and 3,000+ employees. Codemao's visual programming education model addresses the coding education accessibility gap in China's K-12 system: traditional computer science education uses text-based programming languages that create a steep learning curve for children under 12 — with the syntax, debugging, and abstract thinking requirements exceeding the cognitive development stage of young learners. Codemao's Kitten visual programming language (using drag-and-drop code blocks that snap together like puzzle pieces, with immediate visual feedback as children create games and animations) provides the intrinsic motivation loop that sustains coding practice: children build a platformer game in the first session, creating the engagement that drives continued learning. The mobile-first design (80% of Chinese children access Codemao on smartphones and tablets, not desktop computers) and cartoon character integration (characters familiar from Chinese children's media) create platform stickiness through the "children play, parents pay" monetization model. In 2025, Codemao competes in the China children's coding education, K-12 STEM programming, and global coding EdTech market with Scratch (MIT Media Lab, free open-source platform), Code.org (US non-profit, global K-12 coding curriculum), and Roblox (NYSE: RBLX, game creation platform with coding elements) for Chinese K-12 coding education curriculum adoption and global developing-market coding literacy programs. The UNESCO Africa-Asia Youth Coding Initiative partnership (Phase 2 covering 2025-2030 across Africa and Asia) expands Codemao's mission beyond China into the global EdTech market where demand for digital skills education is highest in emerging markets. The $7.3 billion valuation (achieved through aggressive school partnership and consumer app growth in China's competitive K-12 supplemental education market) reflects the platform's dominant position. The 2025 strategy focuses on growing the AI literacy curriculum (introducing LLM concepts and prompt engineering in the Kitten visual environment), expanding the UNESCO partnership countries, and building the competitive programming tournament ecosystem that drives platform engagement among older students. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Codemao? Codemao is China's leading online coding education platform for children aged 4-16. Using proprietary visual programming tools like Kitten and Nemo, Codemao has taught over 31 million children how to code through gamified, mobile-first learning experiences. The company partners with 11,500+ schools and employs 3,000+ people across China. ### Who are Codemao's target customers? Codemao serves two primary customer segments: parents seeking coding education for their children aged 4-16 (B2C), and schools looking to integrate programming into their curriculum (B2B). The platform has reached 30 million children across China through both direct subscriptions and school partnerships. ### When was Codemao founded? Codemao was founded in December 2014 by Li Tianchi and Sun Yue in Shenzhen, China, shortly after they attended the 2014 Web Summit in Dublin where they witnessed young European children's coding proficiency. ### Where is Codemao based? Codemao is headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, with additional offices in Beijing and Shanghai. The company employs over 3,000 people across these major Chinese tech hubs. ### How much funding has Codemao raised? Codemao has raised over $360 million (RMB 2.5 billion) across multiple funding rounds, with the largest being a $198 million Series D round in November 2020 led by Baring Private Equity Asia. The company reached a valuation of $7.3 billion by 2024. ### What makes Codemao different from competitors? Codemao's key differentiators include its proprietary Kitten visual programming language optimized for mobile devices and Chinese learners, strong community of 31 million students, partnerships with 11,500+ schools, and mobile-first approach crucial for China's smartphone-native generation. Unlike global competitors like Scratch, Codemao is specifically designed for Chinese cultural and educational contexts. ### Who are Codemao's main competitors? In China, Codemao faces competition from over 200 startups in the RMB 10 billion coding education market. Globally, competitors include Scratch (MIT), Code.org, Tynker, Code Monkey, Apple's Swift Playgrounds, and Google Blockly. However, Codemao maintains market leadership in China with its localized approach and extensive school partnerships. ### How can I contact Codemao? Codemao can be contacted through their website at www.codemao.cn, via their mobile apps, or through their offices in Shenzhen, Beijing, and Shanghai. The company also maintains active social media presence on Chinese platforms like WeChat. ### Is Codemao hiring? Yes, Codemao actively hires across technology, curriculum development, teacher training, sales, and operations roles. With 3,000+ employees and ongoing expansion including international initiatives like the UNESCO partnership, the company offers opportunities to impact children's education at scale. ### What's the latest news about Codemao? In March 2025, Codemao launched AI Day with UNESCO as part of the second phase of the Africa-Asia Youth Coding Initiative (2025-2030). In January 2025, TIME magazine ranked Codemao as the #1 EdTech company globally, recognizing its impact on coding education for children. ### What is Codemao's market position? Codemao is the undisputed market leader in China's children's coding education sector, with 31 million students taught and partnerships with 11,500+ schools nationwide. The company holds dominant market share in a RMB 10 billion market with over 200 competitors, generating $17 million in annual revenue. ### What are Codemao's future plans? Codemao is expanding globally through its UNESCO partnership to bring coding education to Africa and Asia (2025-2030 initiative), potentially pursuing an IPO that was mentioned in 2019, and continuing to develop new AI-powered educational tools. The company aims to reach more international markets while maintaining its leadership in China. ## Tags b2c, edtech, global --- *Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*