What does it take to leave a career in public health and build one of Africa's fastest-growing online schools? In this episode of Born to Build, Lauren Anderson, CEO and co-founder of Koa Academy, shares the bold vision, creative grit, and practical steps behind reimagining modern education. From early funding wins to smashing myths about online learning, Lauren takes us inside the journey of scaling Koa to 700 students while keeping the learner experience at the heart of every decision. Whether you are building a school, a startup, or your next big idea, this conversation will inspire you to think bigger and build smarter.
Chapters:
(00:00) Welcome and guest introduction
(00:55) From public health to starting an online school
(06:50) Founding Koa and the meaning behind the name
(08:27) Reimagining modern education
(14:09) A day in the life of a Koa student
(18:35) Busting myths about online schooling
(23:07) Scaling to 700 students sustainably
(36:01) Securing venture capital funding
(37:34) Winning the 2023 MEST Africa challenge
(39:41) Overcoming the biggest challenges
(41:41) What's next for Koa
(44:10) Advice for entrepreneurs
(46:20) Rapid fire questions
Find them online: https://www.koaacademy.com/
About Born to Build:
Born to Build is a podcast featuring conversations with the builders, founders, and pioneers driving change from the ground up. Each episode highlights the real stories of SME owners - how they started, what they've overcome, and what keeps them building their business. It's honest, practical business insight from those shaping their industries one bold move at a time, equipping you with the tools to build and grow YOUR business.