Student tech education platform Grok Academy lives on, acquired by KIK Innovation

Schools-focused digital skills e-learning platform in Grok Academy has survived a near-death experience following allegations of inappropriate behaviour by its founder and former CEO, is rebuilding under the ownership and management of Adelaide’s KIK Innovation.

KIK, which delivers the tuition-free coding school 42 Adelaide, stuck a deal to acquire Grok Academy last month. It came after Grok backers such as the CBA, withdrew their support in the wake of the scandal.

Founder and former CEO Dr James Curran resigned in October following a series of revelations about inappropriate messages to school-aged girls who’d been a part of the coding classes, which aided more than 200,000 students in 2o23.

Subsequent independent investigations commissioned by Grok found the allegations of harassment were substantiated. The allegations spanned more than a decade and included staff as well as students.

Grok was a brilliant idea run by a flawed individual. It will now get a second chance.

KIK Innovation was founded in Adelaide in 2015 to help disadvantaged people embrace innovation and entrepreneurship. It began KIK Coffee, retail outlets that acted as a training grounds for students, offering a business education and employment, helping more than 100 young people over two years. 

42 Adelaide launched in 2020, setting out to reimagine education by removing barriers like prior qualifications and socioeconomic status, offering free education using a peer-to-peer gamified approach.

KIK Innovation founder and CEO Louise Nobes said that as a registered charity with a focus on breaking educational barriers, she’s keen to continue Grok’s mission.

“We are deeply honoured to carry forward Grok Academy’s legacy of empowering students through transformative digital education,” she said.

“This transition allows us to amplify our vision of breaking barriers, fostering inclusion, and becoming the number one tech school in Australia for diversity and inclusion.” 

Nobes said Grok Academy has been a not-for-profit edtech leader for over a decade, helping more than 1 million young people, with female students making up 43% of that total.

“It is our goal to reassure Grok’s valued partners that the organisation’s mission, high standards, and commitment to positive impact will continue under KIK’s stewardship,” she said.

“We believe this transition represents a meaningful opportunity to strengthen and enhance our shared objectives in using technology education as a way of transforming lives and building a diverse and inclusive society.”