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What is Thunkable?

Thunkable is a web based application development environment that users could use to create apps for both Android and iOS operating systems. It uses a block of code very similar to Scratch programming language to c. A drag and drop user interface that makes it easy to program even for beginners.

The idea behind the development of Thunkable is supported by the Constructivist learning theory. In a constructivist classroom, learners are active participants of their learning and happen when learners are creating tangible objects of the real world.

THE APP

The Future of Coding is No Code: Analyst Report

Drag
'n'
Drop
Blocks

About Thunkable

Leadership

Arun Saigal,
Cofounder and CEO at Thunkable

Arun Saigal is an entrepreneur and business executive. He is the co-founder and CEO of Thunkable. Arun graduated from MIT with Bachelor’s degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Also earning a Master’s degree in the same fields with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence in the same year.

Arun Saigal and his partner WeiHua Li co-founded Thunkable in January 2016.

WeiHua James Li,
Cofounder and CTO at Thunkable

WeiHua Li, is the cofounder and Chief Technology Officer officer at Thunkable, He holds a BSc in Computerscience and Economics and Masters in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning both from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

History of Thunkable

Released January 2016
Thunkable was developed from the idea created by the MIT App Inventor team which was led by Hal Abelson and Mark Friedman
Thunkable X was released in February 2018
The Thunkable Companion app enables real-time debugging

HOW IT WORKS

Market Analysis

Market Focus

The importance of coding in K-12 schools is generating a lot of buzz in K-12 schools and Thunkable is geared towards grade 6 to high schools students and teachers. However, anyone can use Thunkable to create apps that can be published in the Google play store and Apple’s Appstore.

Market Share

As of late 2017, Thunkable have over 4.3 million users from 195 countries.
These users have built more than 13 million apps.
16million Monthly Active Users use publicly available apps on the Thunkable platform
Thunkable raised $3.3 million in known funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners, NEA, SV Angel, Y Combinator, PJC, Mandra Capital, Joe Montana's Liquid 2 Ventures and ZhenFund.

Thunkable Pricing

Source (Thunkable.com,2021)

ABOUT US

Venture Opportunities

There is a growing number of students who are showing interest in coding. The number doubled to 2million students from 2016 to 2017 and on track to reaching 35 million by 2021

Interest in coding

Future tech entrepreneurs and job opportunities for CS students

Global Target Market

Source (code.org/promote, 2021)

Competitors

There are other several no-code web based platforms that offers students and teachers similar pricing options but since 2017 Thunkable has had the largest market share in the number of user base. Several of the other competition include:

TESTIMONIALS

Educational Venture Analyst (EVA) Recommendation

Thunkable, a web based platform makes it easy for any with no prior programming skills to create and publish app on the Android and iOS platform. The drag and drop feature of the user interface makes it intuitive to create and design app.

Currently, Thunkable user base is largely students and teachers in K-12 educational institutions. However, Thunkable has partnered with educational programs such as Technovation challenge which is committed to helping young enterpreneurs develop apps to solve real world problems. I think there is an untapped market in adult learners and individuals who require retraining in order to regain employment. If Thunkable is used as a product to teach new skills to the demographic, there is an opportunity to increase the company's market share and revenue base.

Reflection

As a mentor and former Technovation ambassador for Technovation.org. I have worked with many students mostly females who participated in the Technovation challenge program. A program which is dedicated to bridging the gap in the number of female students who study computer science, work in the tech industry and are technology entrepreneurs.

Coding has so many benefits to students and the future of coding does not involve writing numerous lines of codes. Through the use of Thunkable and other no-code platform, students are able to learn how to design and create apps in a way that makes coding fun and easy. I have used Thunkable to teach students how to create apps, and I find that it is an easy to use app that simple requires a Google account or a personal email to signup. In my experience, new learners get easily frustrated with technology when it becomes an obstacle to the learning process, but Thunkable was designed with the novice learner in mind.