The ODIN Journey: Building the Future of Learning

Chapter 1: The Spark That Started It All 

In 2018, a question arrived at Cubet that would ignite a transformative journey. Mr. Ajit Gopalakrishnan, a Senior Manager at Jendamark Automation, South Africa, walked in with a challenge: 

“Can we build a platform that delivers quality digital education to students who’ve never had access to a mobile tablet device?”

Jendamark had shortlisted three companies for this ambitious vision, but it was Cubet they chose to sit with, to dream, to plan, to begin. This wasn’t just the launch of a project; it was the birth of ODIN Education, a mission so vibrant it demanded everything we had from the very start.

Welcome to the first chapter of The ODIN Journey: Building the Future of Learning, where we revisit how it all began.  
 

Sitting Down to See the Vision 

When Mr. Ajit first laid out Jendamark’s vision, it wasn’t a quick briefing, it was a deep dive. Cubet and Jendamark spent hours together, unpacking the heart of the idea. This wasn’t about slapping tech on a problem. It was about reaching South Africa’s underserved students—kids in rural villages and underfunded schools, cut off from the digital world and giving them a lifeline to learning.  

We listened as Jendamark painted the picture: a secure, student-first platform that didn’t just deliver lessons but sparked curiosity and opened doors. Cubet didn’t just agree to build it, we started to feel it. This was about more than code; it was about impact. Together, we shaped a mission that pulsed with possibility, and the excitement took root. 
 

Facing the Challenges Together 

The vision was bold, but the road ahead? That needed work. Cubet and Jendamark sat side by side, dissecting the challenges. How do you design for students new to tech? How do you keep it secure where resources are scarce? How do you make it engaging when the odds are stacked against you?  

These weren’t abstract questions; they were real hurdles we had to face. Jendamark brought the context: classrooms with shaky infrastructure, kids eager but untested. Cubet brought the questions: How do we adapt? How do we protect? How do we inspire? Together, we charted the first step, a Proof of Concept (PoC) to test the waters. It was a partnership built on shared resolve, ready to turn obstacles into opportunities.  
 

Bringing the Team to Life 

With the vision clear and the challenges mapped, it was time to rally the troops. Cubet assembled a team not just to work but to create. Developers, designers, and thinkers came together, sparked by Jendamark’s passion and Cubet’s drive. This wasn’t a solo gig, but it was a collaboration from the jump.  

Ideas flew in those early meetings. Jendamark urged us to dream big; Cubet pushed to make it real. Whiteboards overflowed, discussions crackled, and the energy was electric. We weren’t just a client and a vendor, we were co-creators, united by a question that demanded action. That’s how ODIN began: with a team ready to build something that mattered.  
 

From a Spark to a Force 

That was the start - a question, a partnership, and a team set in motion. Today, ODIN Education is a fully realized EdTech platform, reaching thousands of learners across Africa. It stands as one of the biggest EdTech ecosystems in Africa, a testament to what’s possible when vision meets determination.  

We’ve come a long way now, but we’ve never forgotten where it all began with a question, a challenge, and a PoC that changed everything. The lessons from those early days still guide us as we grow ODIN responsibly, intentionally, and always with impact at its core.  

This series, The ODIN Journey: Building the Future of Learning, will trace the steps that followed. Next, in Chapter 2: Igniting Curiosity: Inside ODIN’s Early Rollouts, we’ll explore how that PoC hit the ground and started to shine. For now, this is the spark that started it all—a beginning that still feels alive.  

Join us as the journey unfolds. The best is yet to come.