Jiliguala

About Jiliguala

Jiliguala, operating under its parent company Ohana Global, Inc., is a significant player in China's competitive edtech market. Founded in 2014 by Tony Hsieh, Xie Shangyi, and Cathy Hsu (also referred to as Xu Kexin), the Shanghai-based company has established itself as an online English learning platform specifically designed for young learners. The company targets children from the ages of 0-12, offering a comprehensive suite of educational tools to facilitate early language acquisition.

The platform's business model revolves around providing a subscription-based mobile application. Jiliguala delivers its curriculum through a variety of engaging formats, including animations, music, picture books, and AI-driven interactive video classes. This multi-faceted approach aims to create an immersive learning environment. Key features of the service include daily progress tracking, personalized content recommendations based on a child's learning pace, and channels for doubt clarification. The company has also forged strategic partnerships to enhance its content, notably collaborating with Penguin Random House to develop a series of books and workbooks to supplement the online experience.

The company has demonstrated a strong trajectory in securing capital from prominent investors. Its funding journey began with an angel round from ZhenFund in 2014, followed by a pre-A round in 2016. Jiliguala's Series A in 2017 and Series B in 2018 included backing from investors such as Sequoia Capital China, Bertelsmann Asia Investments (BAI), and Trustbridge Partners. A major financial milestone was achieved in January 2021, when the company announced a Series C funding round of nearly $100 million, co-led by Tencent and Trustbridge Partners. This substantial investment was earmarked for the development and launch of new products, signaling a focus on expanding its educational offerings.