Kamkalima: the Women-Led EdTech Startup Thriving in Lebanon's Economic Crisis

Revolutionizing Arabic Education for the 21^st Century

In a world where education is increasingly shaped by technology, Kamkalima stands at the forefront of a revolution. 

Founded in 2016 in Lebanon by passionate educators Siroun Shamigian and Nisrine El Makkouk, Kamkalima set out to bridge a critical gap in the Arabic language learning ecosystem. Their mission is to enhance Arabic classrooms by using innovative tools and resources that would equip students with the essential skills for the 21^st century while inspiring teachers to thrive in their craft. 

From humble beginnings to reaching over 128,000 learners across 11 countries, Kamkalima provides a digital curriculum companion including e-learning modules, curriculum-aligned resources, and assessment tools to help students in grades 4-12 advance their reading, writing, and listening skills in Arabic. In addition, teachers benefit from deep data analytics, enabling them to prepare lessons, track student progress, and intervene when needed.

Lessons Beyond the Classroom

Siroun Shamigian began her journey in 2009 when she integrated technology into her classroom while teaching, a move that sparked a remarkable transformation. The students’ engagement skyrocketed, and their feedback was overwhelmingly positive. “The school principal noticed the difference and wanted me to train the rest of the teachers,” Shamigian shared. Her efforts led to a ripple effect, and a school-wide transformation, as she began training 150 staff members weekly.

Over three years, the school witnessed a significant improvement, in all subjects except in the Arabic department. The problem was clear. While other subjects thrived, Arabic teachers struggled without suitable tools, content, or support. “There was nothing tailored to Arabic,” Shamigian explained. Despite teachers working additional hours weekly to create custom content, students' Arabic grades remained the lowest.

Siroun and Nisrine realized that this deficiency wasn’t just stalling progress in Lebanese schools; it was holding back learners all around the region. From these struggles emerged a vision to revolutionize Arabic education, offering tools and resources that could empower teachers and inspire students across the region. 

Starting Kamkalima in Lebanon was no easy feat, especially for founders without a business background. “We had to learn everything from scratch, including what words like ‘entrepreneur’ or ‘MVP’ meant,” Shamigian admitted. 

Adding to their challenges was Lebanon itself, a country grappling with instability and economic crises. “We faced contextual challenges like the financial crisis, which was beyond our control, but also typical startup issues like adoption,” El Makkouk explained. 

Even when teachers needed their platform, it wasn’t as simple as handing it to schools. Resistance to change was a big barrier. “We had to build teachers’ confidence first to ensure they’d adopt the solution.” The turning point came from their shared belief in the mission as educators. “We were never sellers, and they were never buyers, we’re partners,” Nisrine El Makkouk emphasized. They invested time and resources to build a knowledge base at the school level, enhance Arabic teaching skills, and improve the content, laying the groundwork for Kamkalima’s success. 

The Backbone of Kamkalima’s Success

The importance of a reliable co-founder cannot be overstated, especially during moments of uncertainty and adversity. Siroun Shamigian reflected on how they leaned on each other in challenging times, stating, "Difficult circumstances happen, including currently the Israeli bombing, but you're a responsible person with employees and doing it for a cause, so we go back depending on each other." This mutual support became their anchor, lifting each other up when the road seemed impossible.

Nisrine highlighted how early challenges, whether financial, logistical, or technological, were outweighed by the powerful feedback they received from users. She shared, "When things get difficult, it was a powerful reminder that the impact was big." 

Their shared purpose and commitment to their cause were their guiding light. Together, they cultivated a strong, family-like relationship with their audience across the Arab world, creating advisory boards for students and teachers to co-design and shape their future. 

Kamkalima's groundbreaking work has been fueled by multiple rounds of funding, starting with $400K in 2016 during its seed stage, followed by additional funds that were not accompanied by joy, but rather distress. 

The Devaluation Disaster

The journey took a dramatic turn when the financial crisis in Lebanon struck with a force that nearly shattered their dreams. The co-founders, Siroun and Nisrine, had secured their second round of investment, $1.5M in 2018, just six months before Lebanon’s devastating currency devaluation and the collapse of its banking system. 

What followed was nothing short of a financial nightmare. The Lebanese pound plummeted, and the capital they had fought so hard to secure lost its value almost overnight. “We lost $500K in devaluation alone,” Siroun Shamigian said. 

The blows didn’t stop there. The government imposed strict capital controls, locking the remaining $1M away. They were no longer allowed to use the funds for marketing, travel, or even basic operational costs outside Lebanon. “Our auditors calculated that the $1.5M we had was worth only $380K in real cash,” Shamigian said, a sobering realization of how drastically the situation had changed.

Yet, despite the financial devastation, Kamkalima pressed forward. With their belief in the cause unwavering, they focused on the bigger picture, providing education and tools for the future, no matter the cost. 

Kamkalima and StartMashreq's Shared Mission

Kamkalima was selected to join the StartMashreq program due to its remarkable potential and significant growth trajectory. Throughout their journey in the program, Kamkalima actively participated in various high-profile events, such as GITEX, Biban, KSA Networking Event by Flat6Labs X StartMashreq, LEAP, StartMashreq Egypt Retreat, and HITEX in Iraq. These roadshows and global events provided Kamkalima with valuable exposure to investors and key market opportunities. 

However, during the program, Lebanon faced a challenging period marked by war, adding immense pressure to Lebanese startups. Lenah Hafez, the program manager, emphasized, "Our goal was to be there for them by offering additional support and resources during these difficult times." StartMashreq remained committed to empowering Kamkalima and other Lebanese startups by ensuring their participation in events like the UAE and KSA Investor Mixers. 

StartMashreq ensures that during the war the startups overcome challenges, grow, and represent their countries on the global stage. This support extended beyond individual startups, as it was vital to sustaining Lebanon’s economy and employment ecosystem, ensuring that startups continued to make a lasting, nationwide impact. 

Resilience in the Face of Adversity

Kamkalima’s journey has been nothing short of a testament to unwavering resilience. From the early days of struggling with limited tools for Arabic education to facing economic disasters, the path was filled with seemingly insurmountable challenges. Yet, Nisrine and Siroun pushed forward. "If there is a bigger ‘why’, it makes it a bit possible to get by," Makkouk reflects, speaking to the relentless drive that fueled their mission. 

Despite the financial devastation, shifting market conditions, and cultural hurdles, their commitment to improving Arabic education never wavered. With over 128,000 students across the MENA region, Kamkalima has transformed classrooms and enriched learning experiences. 

The company raised additional funds in 2021 ($250K), extended its bridge funding with a $600K SAFE note in December 2023, and secured a $300K Impact-Linked Finance Fund in the same month. With a total of $1.8M in pre-Series A funding expected to close by Q1 2025, Kamkalima is poised to redefine the future of education in the Arabic-speaking world, creating a lasting impact for both students and educators alike. 

Their strength was not just in the technology they built but in their ability to listen, adapt, and keep going, empowered by their belief in their mission and the support of their community.