DIY.org

Last updated
DIY.org
DIYorg-logo.png
Area served160+ countries
URL diy.org
LaunchedMay 2012

DIY is an online skill-building platform designed specifically for children. Its website houses a variety of multi-media content designed to teach children various skills, in the context of a global interest-based community. The skills learned on DIY are largely creative and maker-focused.

Contents

History

DIY was originally founded by Vimeo co-founder Zach Klein [1] , Andrew Sliwinski, and Encyclopedia Pictura’s Isaiah Saxon and Daren Rabinovitch in May 2012. [2] [3] The company launched a second online children's educational platform in 2016 called JAM.com, [4] [5] which was subscription-based and more focused on a course structure for learning versus DIY's free and badge-based skill building structure.

DIY was later acquired in 2019 by LittleBits, [6] after which JAM.com was merged into DIY.org [7] .

It was bought back by Zach Klein in 2020. [8]

It was then acquired again in February 2021 by Kyt Technologies Pte. Ltd., which was founded by Bhavik Rathod and Tripti Ahuja[ need quotation to verify ]. Kyt Technologies Pte. Ltd raised $7.5 million in a Series A funding round[ need quotation to verify ]. The investment is led by Alpha Wave Incubation (AWI), a venture fund managed by Falcon Edge Capital[ need quotation to verify ]. Sequoia Capital India's Surge, January Capital, Titan Capital and other angel investors also participated in the round[ need quotation to verify ]. On April 30, 2024, the DIY website was closed and the DIY app removed from the App Store and Google Play due to difficulties within the company[ need quotation to verify ].

DIY was once more acquired by AstroSafe and returned in February 2025 [9] with the Android version returning on July 22nd 2025. [10]

Description

DIY members can choose from a selection of courses, challenges, activities, workshops and earn experience points and skill badges [11] on their completion. While the website is generally creative and maker-focused, the skills covered are broad, including things like biology, botany, app development, art, mechanical engineering, camping, gaming, and more. [12] [13] DIY also features a child-friendly social community that lets its members post their work and explore other user content, among other social features. [14]

Each child user on DIY gets a profile, an avatar, and a digital portfolio in which to collect, store and display all the badges they earn while completing the different challenges and projects throughout the platform. [15] The goal of this digital portfolio is to help provide users with a shareable portfolio of skills that can be academically and professionally referenced. [16] [17]

Features

References

  1. "Vimeo Co-founder Starts DIY.org, An Online, Social Scrapbook For Kids". Fast Company.
  2. Drew Olanoff (27 April 2012). "DIY launches a community for creative kids who make things". The Next Web.
  3. "DIY.ORG | Encyclopedia Pictura". encyclopediapictura.com. Retrieved 2025-11-24.
  4. Kolodny, Lora (2016-07-08). "DIY Co. launches JAM to help kids learn what they don't in school, with a little help from Cartoon Network". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  5. "DIY". blog.diy.org. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  6. bdeir, ayah (2019-02-28). "Welcome DIY to the littleBits Family!". Medium. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  7. "DIY". blog.diy.org. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  8. Klein, Zach (2020-01-10). "I bought @DIY back and I'm exploring how to convert it to a volunteer organization. Would you be interested to help make a place for kids to discover passion, learn skills and have a safe place online to share". @zachklein. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  9. "We've been acquired by AstroSafe!". diy.org.
  10. "DIY.org Android Launch 2025 – Back on Google Play Today". diy.org.
  11. "Skills – DIY". DIY. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  12. "Patches - DIY". 2019-06-08. Archived from the original on 2019-06-08. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  13. lombana-bermudez, andres (2017-08-10). "Building a Safe Digital Space for Young Makers and Learners: The Case of DIY.org". Berkman Klein Center Collection. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  14. "A Peek inside DIY.org". Mission Local.
  15. Ashlee Vance. "DIY.org: Be Prepared for 21st Century Scouting". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on 2013-09-10.
  16. Nathan Barry. "Build, Make, Hack, Grow With DIY.org".
  17. "DIY.org, Not Just for Kids!" Archived 2014-12-06 at the Wayback Machine . Biophillic Cities.