Name: Toni Mumo

Title: CEO

Company: MARKME LLC

Website: www.markmeicons.com

Founded: 2016

Headquarters: Nairobi

Description: MarkMe is an Online Platform Building Company that focuses on creating products that connect, educate and empower.

MarkMe Icons: Toni Mumo’s Vision for Revolutionizing Education and Empowering Learners

Toni Mumo, CEO of Markme LLC is a man of multiple skills and dons many hats. From mastering graphic and web design to embracing videography, entrepreneurship has pushed Toni beyond his creative skills. Founding MarkMe has been an incredible journey, exposing him to challenges like recruiting, business pitching, and leadership development. He has also learnt the power of delegation, motivation, and active listening—ensuring all team member’s ideas are valued. His ability to develop online platforms has given MarkMe a unique edge, allowing the team to o expand and innovate beyond the company’s roots. In an interview, Toni speaks on an array of subjects.

Excerpts:

Conception of MarkMe

The inspiration behind MarkMe Icons stems from the transformative power of teaching, a profession that shapes lives and futures, according to Toni.

MarkMe Icons is redefining educational technology with a distinct brand identity and an industry-first Classroom UI, a “unique interface unseen in the tech industry.” This groundbreaking design sets a new standard for interactive learning, adds Toni. Beyond enabling educators to create classes, MarkMe Icons is developing EXCLUSIVES, a feature showcasing custom e-learning experiences. Among these innovations is Icon Moments, a “scenario-based learning” tool that delivers lessons through immersive storytelling. As the EXCLUSIVES section continues to evolve, MarkMe Icons is positioning itself as a leader in cutting-edge EdTech solutions.

Building Blocks of Classes in MarkMe Icons

MarkMe Icons offers a structured and dynamic learning experience through its carefully designed class components.

• Sessions: To ensure a seamless learning flow, creators can organize their classes into sessions, allowing for better structure and progression. This helps students follow the course in a logical and engaging manner.

• Goals: Each class in MarkMe Icons is uniquely designed with specific objectives set by the creators, ensuring that students have distinct learning outcomes. This approach personalizes the learning experience and sets varying demands on students, making every class unique.

• Media & Files: A dedicated media section within each class ensures that all uploaded content is easily accessible to students. This allows for a centralized repository of learning materials, enhancing engagement and accessibility.

• Class Drawer: A standout feature of MarkMe Icons, the Class Drawer allows students to switch between classes seamlessly without leaving the classroom page. This not only improves the user experience but also supports the business model by enabling students to subscribe to multiple classes and access them instantly.

By integrating these features, MarkMe Icons creates an interactive, efficient, and highly engaging learning ecosystem for both educators and students.

 Building a Social Learning Experience

“Social engagement is a huge part of our brand and marketing,” says Toni. “To keep learners invested in the platform, we’ve built features that create a true sense of learning together.” One of these features is a live student meter, which shows how many students are currently in class. This reinforces the firm’s slogan—‘learning together’—by reminding students they’re part of a larger community.

Another key addition is Classroom Forums, where students can engage beyond the instructor’s content. “While we prioritize creators, we also highlight student discussions, allowing learners to see questions, share tips, and interact in real-time.” By integrating these features, MarkMe Icons fosters a collaborative and interactive learning environment, making education more engaging and community-driven.

Enhancing Learning Through Data Analytics

MarkMe Icons prioritizes data analytics to help students find the right classes and optimize their learning experience. While the platform features a dedicated explore page, personalization is integrated into the home page, presenting a curated feed of newly uploaded classes. Through careful analysis, three personalized tabs are provided on the home page, aligning with each learner’s interests for easy navigation.

Beyond discovery, data analytics also enhances user engagement through a stats page on each learner’s profile. This includes: Time Spent in Each Class and Subscriptions Paid. By integrating these features, MarkMe Icons ensures a data-driven, personalized learning experience that maximizes both time and value for students, adds Toni.

Overcoming Funding Challenges in Kenya’s Tech Ecosystem

One of the biggest hurdles for startups in Africa, particularly in Kenya, is financing. Investment opportunities are limited, and the high cost of app development makes it even more challenging for tech startups to scale. “Despite these obstacles, MarkMe Icons navigated the funding landscape by engaging with the few venture capital firms available. The transition from a WhatsApp-based model to a beta version was made possible through pre-seed funding from AfriNext Ventures, which provided the necessary capital to test the app’s viability and refine its presentation to users. While startups face multiple challenges, securing financing remains the most significant roadblock in achieving their mission” maintains Toni.

Though the pandemic accelerated the demand for e-learning, it did not directly influence MarkMe Icons’ product development. The platform was built after the pandemic had passed, meaning its timeline and decision-making were not shaped by the global shift to online learning. Instead, the focus has remained on creating a seamless, long-term solution for educators and learners alike.

 Exciting Social Features and Future Initiatives

MarkMe Icons is gearing up to enhance its social-oriented features, with a long-term vision to introduce a unique leaderboard system called ICONIC. Unlike traditional leaderboard models, ICONIC will foster greater collaboration and interaction among learners, setting a new standard in the market.

Looking ahead, once global recognition and financial success are achieved, Toni plans to launch two major initiatives:

• Icons Spaces – A project aimed at providing corporate spaces for startup entrepreneurs in Kenya. Inspired by MarkMe LLC’s transition from working online to having a physical office in Westlands, this initiative will offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to work in a collaborative, professional environment.

• Icons Campus – A world-class skill-based education center that offers a learning environment without traditional degrees. Envisioned as a school for problem solvers, it will train individuals to tackle challenges both locally and globally. This campus will also serve as a global destination for MarkMe Icons users, attracting visitors from around the world to experience the app in person.