Dubai-based startup “Key2Enable,” specializing in educational technology for children with special needs, is preparing for global expansion through a franchise model after securing significant funding following its appearance on the entrepreneurship reality TV show “Shark Tank UAE” last year.

The company designs technologies and software aimed at helping children with physical or mental disabilities learn, and is now about to launch the next phase of its business plan focused on sustainable global reach.

Blue Ocean in Private Education

The company received an investment exceeding $300,000 in January 2024 after showcasing its products on “Shark Tank UAE,” aired on Dubai TV. This expansion responds to a huge market need, with UNICEF estimating around 240 million children worldwide living with disabilities, many of whom lack access to inclusive education.

Indranil Chatterjee, Head of Strategy at Key2Enable, emphasized that working in this sector is not just charity but a smart business investment; the private education sector currently lacks advanced operators. He described this market as a “blue ocean,” meaning an untapped market with huge growth potential.

Launching “Literacy Labs” as a Pioneering Model

Key2Enable initially manufactured keyboards and other tools that children with special needs can use to learn. It is now moving towards offering a more comprehensive package that includes creating fully equipped classrooms for special needs children called “Literacy Labs.”

Details of the “Literacy Labs” package:

    • Each room includes 10 workstations, each:
    • Dedicated to one student.
    • Equipped with a smart TV, company hardware, and proprietary software.
    • Includes intensive training for supervising staff.
    • The price per room is about $50,000 (approximately $5,000 per student).

The company has successfully opened four labs in the UAE and is working on opening 20 centers in Portugal and 10 in Turkey as part of deals with government agencies there, proving its commercial viability and scalability.

Transition to Franchise Model to Ensure Recurring Revenue

Key2Enable intends not to limit itself to one-time sales of these labs but plans to establish a franchise model. Local entrepreneurs in various countries will use Key2Enable’s intellectual property and products with their own investments to create and operate labs in their countries. The company expects to start implementing the full commercial transition plan from proof of concept to commercial marketing in Q2 2026.