US-Based Seesaw Acquires Jordan-Based Little Thinking Minds

Seesaw, the American PreK-12 learning experience company with a presence around the world, has acquired the Jordan-based edtech company Little Thinking Minds in a strategic move that will see it launch its first Arabic-language platform in 2026, and thereby expand its footprint in the MENA region.  

The acquisition combines Seesaw’s artificial intelligence (AI)-driven learning technology—which is trusted by over 25 million educators, students, and families around the world—with Little Thinking Minds’ proven Arabic literacy content, marking a significant step in making high-quality bilingual education more accessible to students across diverse school systems. The integrated platform is set to serve PreK–12 students, families, and educators with culturally responsive and curriculum-aligned content across both American and British educational frameworks.  

“Integrating Arabic literacy into global edtech is a really exciting challenge, and it's something we're focused on at Seesaw, which is part of why we’re so excited to bring Little Thinking Minds into the fold,” Seesaw CEO Matt Given told Inc. Arabia in an interview. “One of the biggest hurdles is less about the language itself, it’s about ensuring we are reflecting the varied and nuanced cultural context for different regions. It's not just about translating content; it's about creating a learning experience that truly resonates with Arabic-speaking students and educators.”  

Founded in 2004 by Rama Kayyali and Lamia Tabbaa, Little Thinking Minds has long prioritized building localized, research-backed literacy solutions that are both culturally relevant and scalable. The company’s offerings—including I Read Arabic, I Start Arabic, and the Mizan Assessment Platform—have been used by over 400,000 students in more than 10 countries. The tools are popular not only in public and private schools, but also in refugee education programs and government-led initiatives. According to independent research, students using its content have shown a 25 percent improvement in literacy levels.

According to Kayyali, co-founder and CEO of Little Thinking Minds, several factors were key to making this acquisition happen. “There was a strong alignment between Little Thinking Minds and Seesaw in terms of our shared commitment to improving education and empowering learners,” Kayyali told Inc. Arabia. "Seesaw's focus on joyful, inclusive instruction resonates deeply with our own values. We have both been able to demonstrate the positive impact our products have on teaching and learning. This is crucial for any successful acquisition in the edtech space, and it made it clear to both companies that we’re in it for the right reasons.” 

Kayyali also pointed out that the USP of Little Thinking Minds’ offering has been its emphasis on the importance of culturally relevant content in effective learning. “We've always believed at Little Thinking Minds that homegrown culturally relevant content is key to effective learning, which includes building localized Arabic solutions,” she said. “There is no one-size-fits-all solution for all of the MENA. The opportunity to leverage technology to make Arabic literacy more accessible, engaging, and impactful is massive. But it has to be done thoughtfully with deep understanding of language, culture, and context at its core.” 

That commitment to thoughtful implementation is echoed in how Seesaw plans to integrate Little Thinking Minds’ strengths into its global platform. “Our platform is built on the idea of multimodal learning and accessibility, especially for classrooms with diverse learner profiles,” Given said. “We empower students to express themselves in lots of different ways with their voice and language—through drawing, voice recordings, videos—and that flexibility is crucial for supporting diverse learners and different learning styles.”  

Kayyali added, “Little Thinking Minds brings deep expertise in creating engaging Arabic literacy content and offering it in a fun gamified way that leads to real improvement in Arabic language outcomes. By combining our resources with Seesaw's platform, we can deliver a powerful learning experience that's both effective and engaging.” 

She also noted that Little Thinking Minds’ expertise in Arabic literacy and Seesaw's robust platform and global reach also set the stage for a powerful partnership between the two entities. “We filled a gap in their offering, and they provided us with the infrastructure to scale our impact,” she explained. “Our unique strengths create a larger growth trajectory than either company would have had separately.” 

Founded in 2007 by Adrian Graham, Charles Lin, and Carl Sjogreen, Seesaw today serves more than 25 million users worldwide. Following its acquisition of Little Thinking Minds, Seesaw is currently supporting over 800,000 users across 3,000 schools and education groups in the MENA region. 

Looking toward the future of digital learning, Given said that the space is currently seeing several trends that are set to fundamentally reshape it. “One is the move towards more personalized teaching and learning experiences, especially through the use of AI,” he said. “But we need to do that in a way that also encourages social development and collaboration in the classroom. Technology is enabling us to better cater to individual student needs, providing differentiated instruction and individualized learning. This is incredibly important for creating truly inclusive classrooms.” 

"But it's crucial to remember that digital learning should complement the effective methods of traditional learning,” Given added. “The most effective teaching blends online and offline activities, leveraging technology to enhance and extend the learning experience while honoring the importance of the social and interpersonal aspects of school.” 

Meanwhile, Kayyali emphasized the growing importance of rich, multimodal content in multilingual learning. “It's not just about text anymore; it's about incorporating video, audio, and interactive elements to engage students in different ways and to address different learning styles,” she said. “This is so critical for multilingual learners, allowing them to express themselves and connect with the material in a variety of ways.”   

For school leaders and policymakers aiming to integrate inclusive technology into education, both Given and Kayyali pointed to the importance of intentionality. “Any technology implemented must be accessible to all learners, including those who speak multiple languages,” Kayyali said. “I would also add don’t adopt tech for the sake of tech. Begin with clear learning objectives—especially around multilingual and inclusive education—and seek tools that enhance those goals, especially those that are evidence-based.” 

Given added, “Investing in teacher professional development is essential. Technology is a tool, and teachers need the training and support to use it effectively, especially in diverse classrooms. Finally, I’d encourage policymakers and school leaders to consider the role of parents and families from the start. An effective edtech implementation can give families a window into the classroom and help them better support their children at home.”   

Kayyali also shared advice for startups in the MENA region aiming to attract global partners like hers did. “First, focus on solving a real problem and building a strong, scalable solution,” she advised. “In our case, we saw a significant need for high-quality Arabic literacy resources, and we dedicated ourselves to creating a suite of products that truly addresses that need.” 

She continued, “Second, stay close to your users—always. In education, if your product isn’t engaging for students and intuitive for teachers, it simply won’t stick. Prioritize user experience and meaningful engagement from day one. Understand what excites your learners, what frustrates your educators, and design with their needs at the core. We’ve always put the user at the heart of our design process—and that’s made all the difference.” 

Kayyali also stressed the importance of demonstrating impact rather than just growth. "In sectors like education, numbers matter, growth matters, retention matters, but outcomes matter more,” she said. “We showed measurable literacy gains, strong engagement, and solid partnerships with public, private, and humanitarian sectors." 

Kayyali concluded by advising entrepreneurs to build strong teams around themselves, as that will be their greatest asset. "Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you, who challenge you, and who cover your blind spots,” she said. “A mission-aligned, motivated, and skilled team is essential not just for execution but for sustaining momentum, weathering storms, and scaling impact. It is said culture eats strategy for breakfast; so, build one that drives purpose and performance.” 

Pictured on the lead image from left to right are Seesaw's Matt Given and  Little Thinking Minds' Rama Kayyali. Image courtesy Seesaw/Little Thinking Minds.