Kano Computing
Kano Computing is a London-based educational technology company known for build-it-yourself computers, coding software, and creative STEM learning products.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Kano Computing is a United Kingdom educational technology company that developed hardware and software intended to make computing more approachable for children and families. Founded in London in January 2013 by Alex Klein, Yonatan Raz-Fridman, and Jonathan Klein, the company built its identity around transparent, hands-on products rather than sealed consumer electronics. Its early kits combined Raspberry Pi single-board computers, a keyboard, a case, storage media, printed instructions, and Kano OS, allowing users to assemble a functioning computer and then learn programming through guided projects. The company emerged during a period of growing interest in coding education, maker culture, and the use of Raspberry Pi hardware in schools. Its initial prototype campaign on Kickstarter in 2013 raised more than $1.5 million from 13,387 backers in over 80 countries. The campaign helped establish Kano as an internationally visible education brand and provided evidence that families and educators would support a more playful, construction-oriented approach to learning computer science. A 2014 commercial computer kit expanded that concept into a consumer product designed to teach hardware assembly, programming, and digital creativity. Kano’s product strategy combined accessible physical devices with software lessons and visual learning experiences. The company created activities intended to introduce concepts such as JavaScript, animation, games, sensors, and robotics without assuming prior technical knowledge. It also used recognizable entertainment properties to broaden the appeal of educational technology. Partnerships with Disney produced Frozen- and Star Wars-themed motion-sensor products, while a Warner Bros. collaboration resulted in an electronic Harry Potter wand that connected physical movement with programmable behavior. The company expanded beyond Raspberry Pi kits through the Kano PC, developed with Microsoft and released in 2019. The device was designed as a modular Windows 10 laptop and tablet for educational use, with Kano’s learning tools integrated into the experience. Accessories such as a mouse, headphones, and webcam followed in 2020. Kano also introduced Kano Club, a subscription service offering coding and animation software, lessons, tutorials, community features, and multiplayer activities. Kano attracted substantial outside financing. Its 2015 Series A round reportedly raised $15 million, and HSBC announced a £14 million funding package in 2019. Microsoft invested £800,000 in 2020 in connection with the Kano PC program. The company received design and marketing recognition, including a Red Dot Design Award, a Cannes Lions Golden Lion, a Webby Award, and inclusion on Fast Company’s list of the world’s most innovative companies. A prominent later initiative was the Stem Player, developed with Yeezy Tech and Kanye West and shipped from October 2021. The device was presented as a portable tool for manipulating and remixing music. In January 2023, Kano announced that its relationship with West had ended following his antisemitic public statements and that the Stem Player would be discontinued. Kano Computing entered administration in June 2023, after which its assets were sold to Ashdust LLP, a company connected with Alex Klein. The business continued under the acquired operations and indicated plans for additional Stem-branded products. Separately, Kano World, established in 2023 with Ollie Dotsch as chief executive, entered insolvency proceedings after operating for approximately six months and was wound up in 2025. The available record therefore presents Kano as an active but reorganized educational hardware and software brand, with its current corporate structure requiring further verification.
History
Kano Computing was founded in London in January 2013 by Alex Klein, Yonatan Raz-Fridman, and Jonathan Klein. The company took its name from Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo, reflecting an emphasis on learning through practice and disciplined experimentation. Its initial concept was a computer that children could assemble themselves and use to explore programming. The first prototypes combined a Raspberry Pi computer, a case, a keyboard, an SD card containing an early Kano operating system, and printed project materials. All 200 prototype boxes were sold. In November 2013, Kano used Kickstarter to finance its first large production run. The campaign raised more than $1.5 million from 13,387 backers in more than 80 countries. The result gave the young company international visibility and helped establish its central proposition: computing education could be physical, social, and creative rather than limited to abstract lessons or conventional textbooks. The commercial Kano Computer Kit followed in 2014. It used Raspberry Pi circuit boards and Kano OS to guide users through assembly, programming, games, and creative projects. Kano expanded its financing and product range during the middle of the decade. In 2015 it raised a reported $15 million Series A led by Breyer Capital. A second Kickstarter campaign in 2016 supported products including a pixel-art kit, motion sensor, and webcam, raising $643,030 from 2,399 backers. The company also gained recognition from design and technology organizations. Its awards and honors included a Cannes Lions Golden Lion, a Red Dot Design Award, a Webby Award, and later inclusion on Fast Company’s list of the most innovative companies. Partnerships became an important part of Kano’s growth strategy. In 2016, the company worked with Novak Djokovic and his charitable foundation on delivering computer kits to children in Serbia. In 2018, collaborations with Disney and Warner Bros. brought Kano’s learning model into entertainment properties. Frozen and Star Wars motion-sensor kits let children program responses to movement, while an electronic Harry Potter wand used gesture-based interaction. These products helped position Kano as an educational brand with cultural reach rather than only a Raspberry Pi accessory maker. In 2019, Kano partnered with Microsoft on the Kano PC, a modular laptop and tablet running Windows 10 alongside Kano’s educational tools. The same year, it launched Kano Club, a subscription service that combined online lessons, programming and animation tools, tutorials, community functions, and multiplayer elements. Accessories including a mouse, headphones, and webcam were added around the Kano PC program in 2020. Microsoft invested £800,000 that year, while Kano had earlier announced a £14 million HSBC funding package in 2019. Kano later moved into music hardware through a collaboration with Yeezy Tech and Kanye West. The resulting Stem Player began shipping in October 2021 and allowed users to manipulate components of recorded music. In January 2023, Kano ended the relationship after West’s antisemitic statements and announced that the product would be discontinued. The episode marked a sharp break from the company’s earlier education-focused partnerships. Kano Computing entered administration in June 2023. Its assets were sold to Ashdust LLP, which was connected with Alex Klein, and the acquired operation continued with plans for additional products under the Stem name, including the proposed Stem2 Speaker and Stem3 Projector. The 2023 restructuring also involved the creation of Kano World, led by former Kano sales and education executive Ollie Dotsch. Kano World subsequently filed for insolvency after approximately six months and was wound up in 2025. Because the available reference record does not fully describe the post-administration ownership, staffing, product availability, or current trading structure, Kano’s present status should be treated as active but requiring verification.
- 2023
Administration and asset sale
[1]Kano Computing enters administration and its assets are sold to Ashdust LLP.
- 2021
Stem Player ships
[1]Kano begins shipping the music-manipulation device developed with Yeezy Tech and Kanye West.
- 2019
Kano PC and Kano Club
[1]Kano introduces its Microsoft-supported educational PC and launches the Kano Club subscription service.
- 2018
Entertainment partnerships expand
[1]Kano releases Disney-themed motion products and a Warner Bros. Harry Potter wand.
- 2016
Second Kickstarter campaign
[1]A campaign for creative coding accessories raises $643,030 from 2,399 backers.
- 2015
Series A financing
[1]Kano announces a $15 million Series A led by Breyer Capital.
- 2014
Kano Computer Kit launches
[1]The company releases its principal build-it-yourself computer kit with Raspberry Pi hardware and Kano OS.
- 2013
Kano is founded
[1]Alex Klein, Yonatan Raz-Fridman, and Jonathan Klein establish Kano Computing in London.
- 2013
First Kickstarter campaign
[1]Kano raises more than $1.5 million from 13,387 backers for its Raspberry Pi-based learning computer.
Products and positioning
Hands-on, accessible, creative computing for children, families, and educational users, combining physical assembly with guided software learning.
Educational computer kit · 2013
Kano Computer Prototype
The 2013 prototype box combined a Raspberry Pi 1, a compact USB keyboard, a case, an SD card, and printed build-and-learn materials. Its small initial production run tested Kano’s idea that children could learn computing by assembling a real computer and following guided creative projects.
Educational computer kit · 2014
Kano Computer Kit
Kano’s core Raspberry Pi-based kit was designed to teach hardware assembly, basic programming, and digital creativity. It paired accessible components with Kano OS and project-based instructions, giving learners a structured path from connecting the computer to creating games, animations, and other software.
Coding and robotics accessory · 2018
Kano Motion Sensor Kits
The motion-sensor products used a USB sensor to detect movement and allowed learners to program reactions to gestures. Frozen and Star Wars versions applied the same educational interaction model to familiar entertainment themes.
Coding accessory · 2018
Harry Potter Coding Wand
Developed with Warner Bros., the electronic wand connected physical gestures with programmable activities. It extended Kano’s emphasis on making programming tangible and playful through a recognizable fictional object.
Educational laptop and tablet · 2019
Kano PC
The Kano PC was a modular Windows 10 laptop and tablet created with Microsoft. It combined general-purpose computing with Kano’s educational software and was aimed at children, families, and schools seeking a guided entry into coding and digital creation.
Educational software subscription · 2019
Kano Club
Kano Club provided online access to programming and animation tools, lessons, tutorials, community features, and multiplayer activities. The service represented Kano’s move from one-time hardware sales toward continuing educational content.
Music hardware · 2021
Stem Player
The Stem Player was developed with Yeezy Tech and Kanye West as a portable device for separating and manipulating elements of music. It shipped from October 2021, but Kano later ended its collaboration with West and announced that the product would be discontinued.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Disney and Warner Bros. learning partnerships
International
Kano used Frozen, Star Wars, and Harry Potter themes to connect coding activities with recognizable entertainment properties.
Outcome. The partnerships increased the cultural visibility of Kano’s educational hardware and introduced gesture-based and sensor-based programming activities.
- 2016Kano creative accessories Kickstarter
International
A second crowdfunding campaign supported a pixel-art kit, motion sensor, webcam, and related creative computing products.
Outcome. The campaign raised $643,030 from 2,399 backers and broadened Kano’s educational accessory range.
- 2016Kano and Novak Djokovic Foundation education initiative
Serbia
Kano worked with Novak Djokovic and his charitable foundation to deliver computer kits to Serbian children.
Outcome. The initiative extended Kano’s educational mission through a charitable distribution partnership.
- 2013Kano Kickstarter
International
Kano used Kickstarter to present its build-it-yourself Raspberry Pi computer to an international audience and raised more than $1.5 million from 13,387 backers.
Outcome. The campaign funded production and helped establish Kano as a globally visible educational hardware brand.
Brand decisions
2023
Post-administration restructuringStrategyBackground
Kano Computing entered administration during financial and operational restructuring.
Action taken
Its assets were sold to Ashdust LLP, after which operations continued with plans for new Stem-branded products.
Aftermath
The business continued in reorganized form, while the separately established Kano World later entered insolvency and was wound up in 2025.
2021
Launch of Stem PlayerProduct launchBackground
Kano expanded from educational computing into music hardware through its relationship with Yeezy Tech and Kanye West.
Action taken
The company began shipping the Stem Player, a device designed to let users manipulate components of music.
Aftermath
Kano ended the collaboration in 2023 and announced that the product would be discontinued.
2019
Launch of the Kano PCProduct launchBackground
Kano sought to extend its build-and-learn proposition beyond Raspberry Pi kits into a more conventional personal computer.
Action taken
It partnered with Microsoft to release a modular Windows 10 laptop and tablet with Kano educational tools.
Aftermath
The product was followed by Kano accessories and Microsoft investment in 2020.
Recent events
- 2025
Kano World is wound up[1]
Bankruptcy
Kano World, a separate company formed during the 2023 business split, was reported to have entered insolvency and been wound up.
- 2023
Kano Computing enters administration[1]
Bankruptcy · M&A
Kano Computing entered administration and its assets were sold to Ashdust LLP, a company connected with Alex Klein.
- 2021
Kano begins shipping Stem Player[1]
Product launch
Kano began shipping the Stem Player, a music device developed with Yeezy Tech and Kanye West.
- 2020
Microsoft invests in Kano[1]
Other
Microsoft invested £800,000 in Kano in support of the Kano PC and its educational computing proposition.
- 2019
Kano introduces the Kano PC with Microsoft[1]
Product launch · Campaign
Kano and Microsoft developed a modular Windows 10 laptop and tablet for educational use, combining Microsoft’s operating system with Kano learning tools.
- 2019
HSBC provides Kano with a £14 million funding package[1]
Other
Kano announced a £14 million financing package from HSBC to support its growth and product development.
- 2018
Kano partners with Disney on themed motion-sensor kits[1]
Product launch · Campaign
Kano released Frozen- and Star Wars-themed motion-sensor products that used movement as an input for coding projects.
- 2018
Kano launches Harry Potter coding wand[1]
Product launch · Campaign
A Warner Bros. collaboration produced an electronic wand intended to connect physical gestures with programmable activities.
- 2015
Kano announces Series A financing[1]
Other
The company announced a $15 million Series A round led by Breyer Capital, with participation from Collaborative Fund and Jim O’Neill.
- 2013
Kano raises more than $1.5 million in Kickstarter campaign[1]
Other
Kano’s first Kickstarter campaign attracted 13,387 backers and became one of the crowdfunding platform’s largest learning campaigns at the time.
Sources1 sources
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