25 Sep 2025

Kiwi edtech founders backing new startups

From Nine To Noon, 9:35 am on 25 September 2025
Kami founders Hengjie Wang, Bob Drummond, Jordan Thoms and Alliv Samson

Kami founders Hengjie Wang, Bob Drummond, Jordan Thoms and Alliv Samson Photo: Supplied

The local founders of a successful education software business have begun a fund to invest in local startups.

Hengjie Wang and Alliv Sampson founded Kami 12 years ago, providing educators with interactive software for presentations and assessments.

Last year,  a US investor acquired a majority stake in Kami, putting the value of the company at $300 million.

Now Kami has acquired British company Book Creator which it says will lift its customer base to 70-million users worldwide.

Hengjie Wang and Alliv Sampson have now turned their attention back home by opening a new fund - to invest in local startups.