Digisoft Education Platform “Go Anywhere & Teach Anything”

The MckInsey Feb 2015 report “Powering Africa”, particularized the direct correlations between economic growth, social development, the eradication of illiteracy and poverty, and electricity supply. The sub-proliferation of foundational amenities and the ensuing digital divide has created economic and social inequality with regards to access and use of information and communication technologies (ICT) especially in the third World.

For example Africa's total labor force is projected to reach 1billion by 2040 making it the largest in the world, surpassing both China and India. The majority of Africa's workforce remains low-skilled, and largely uneducated, and this exacerbates the digital divide.

In the third world there is a deficit in digital connectivity, and the cost of connectivity to broadband is very high relative to much lower incomes margins. Some 4.5 billion people remain unconnected to the internet, but most of them live within areas covered by 2G or 3G mobile access. Mobile broadband is the key to getting people online, however greater mobile broadband penetration depends the cost of equipment and services, which is unattainable with large very low incomes (income often at $2 dollars).

ICT is essential to building strong education systems, in addition to being a key United Nations Millennium Development Goal. Education is the key to realizing the elimination of poverty, gender inequity, and widespread health crisis. Until the power and internet issues are resolved, such wide-reaching education ambitions cannot be realized. The DCS provides the remedy for such issues.

The Digisoft Education Platform, Digital Classroom System (DCS), takes advantage of the emergence of reliable solar power, the cloud, hybrid offline applications, cheaper Integrated PC and off grid technologies to mitigate elements of the digital divide related to Education.

The DCS Hybrid Delivery Systems (HDS) is comprised of an integrated compact smart projector and computer in one, a solar chargeable power bank and a Keyboard; online and offline appsofflineapplications include all 5600 Khan Academy videos offline, Wikipedia offline and customizable educational material.

DCS as a Leader in Hybrid Delivery Systems Niche

DCS improves and increases education access in emerging markets by creating hybrid delivery software systems for underserved groups, using solar charged devices, offline and online educational applications and offline encryption systems at an economical rate. This means:

Our core DCS 900 system delivers:

  • A stand-alone teaching tool a projector/computer in one.
  • A distributive system with pupil tablets interacting with the system, syndicating content, quizzes, interactivity, ideas within the class, engaging students on a one to one basis and polling.
  • An e-learning tool using a USB camera and app where the class at multiple points can see a remote teacher and the teacher can see them and present documents or video (using the Polycom SDK and 3G).
  • We alsospecified the hardware and trademarked it, in addition to our proprietary software.

Developing a Content Hub Product (Currently in development)

  • Satellite delivery to Content Hubs, creating content hotspots for the delivery and monetisation of digital content
  • Specifically designed for emerging markets with limited bandwidth infrastructure/ or expensive bandwidth, electricity independent

Offline Encryption Systems

  • To secure and deliver premium content offline

Offline App Ecosystem

  • To expand the delivery of offline application from the current Wikipedia/Khan Academy and engage other app producers.

Product Pitch – “Go Anywhere & Teach Anything”

  • Unique, android based, electricity independent, small highly portable and versatile teaching tool for emerging markets
  • Use education apps, use as a computer with office applications, use as a projector, run online Digisoft apps we created for the system like Wikipedia and Khan offline, show video.

Our new software ecosystem for the projectors includes -

Unique software
  • DCS Cloud - provision of updates, authentication, logs and profile management, ability to rebrand the interface for specific users on activation
  • DCS Client, easy to use smart projector interface providing web services offline, USB recognition and support for offline Android applications.
  • DCS apps - Khan Academy, Wikipedia, and Access Agriculture in 25 languages.
The DCS 900 KIT
  • DCS 900 Projector – projector, mains lead, remote control, AV connector, HDMI lead
  • Keyboard - full sized keyboard with wireless dongle & trackball
  • Mini 50,000 mAh battery -Battery, power lead, multiple connectors
  • 60W Solar Charger - Folding solar charger, multiple connectors
  • 2 x 6W Speaker--- Dustproof Speaker, Power Lead, Audio Lead
  • DCS Software----DCS 900 client software interface
  • Tripod
  • Backpack.

The Leadership Team

Digisoft Education in partnership with Digisoft.tv has a team of over 45 people; Digisoft.tv specializes in middleware and international TV apps for client such as MTN, FrontRow and Vodafone.

Werbayne McIntyreCEOhas a BA in Media & Publishing, and an OBE: He is a Marketing Executive with expertise in the Broadcast space. He is an Ex Marketing Director for Digsoft.tv. He is also ex SVP of Global Marketing for multi-national Piksel Inc, OTT TV software specialists for SKY, AT&T, Mediaset, C4 and more. He understands the Apps market and attends and exhibits at most of the major broadcast shows (IBC, NAB, CABSAT, etc.) and an industry leader.

Revenue & Profits Projections

Indicative Term Sheet
Investment to date / $300,000
Investment required / $700,000 Equity
Ownership / 100% owned by W McIntyre /A McIntyre
Company / AM Consultancy London LLP trading as Digisoft Education
Wholesale cost of DSC 900 full KIT FOB Dubai / $1037
Gross Margins On Product / 31%
Wholesale cost of Corporate Kit FOB Dubai / $578
Conservative Net Margins Estimates year 1 to 3 (Low-End estimates) / ($281)K , $632K and $2,674K respectively
% Gain / 332%
Annualised return / 62% per annum over 2.8 years

DCSMarket Growth Prospects

Most emerging markets receive tech made in the mold of the developed world they are coming from. Cloud based delivery systems, CDN’s, AWS and Azure. VoD (Video on Demand) delivery systems, PC’s and Tablets. These technologies are often not supported by the local infrastructures of third world countries. So these advanced services often support the top 10 to 15% of the market. However withtechnology proliferation enablerssuch as hybrid offline applications, cheaper pc’s, better teaching tools and off grid tech asmuch 60% to 80% of the market can be serviced at relatively very low cost in a shared community economy. Some companies are already taking up this challenge, companies like Brick, Yamzee, and Eneza's education text service to phones which already has 500,000 users. Digisoft Education platform seeks to play a key role in evangelizing and creating new opportunities for social improvement and education specifically, whilst making a profit by opening up a new market segment.By 2016, it is expected that the global ICT market will be worth a total of more than 3,663 billion euro.

Currently the only product on the market able to deliver an affordable, portable solution, the DCS holds the potential to transform the delivery of some key services across Africa. The financial implications are hugely significant. In Nigeria alone the education sector comprises over 60,000 primary schools, 12,000 secondary schools and 100 universities. Additionally the country’s agricultural sector, currently being repositioned as the central driver of national future economic growth, also holds market potential for the system, as the DCS can play a key role in supporting the delivery of training and content to rural communities.

We sell a new kind of projector; a highly compact smart projector and computer in one, it runs on its own power bank which can be recharged via a small solar charger. Complete with a keyboard this solution, the Digital Classroom System (DCS), enables teachers working in areas where there is very little going on except chalk, to completely modernize the way they teach. Used to teach rural villages agriculture, and in schools and universities alike, the DCS is highly versatile. What's also exceptional is that with DCS users can also run some online applications even in an offline setting. For instance they can view all 5600 Khan Academy videos offline, or browse Wikipedia offline, utilizing all the usual search functions and accessing all the clickable links. This means that no matter where they are, and irrespective of whether they have bad or good infrastructure they can continue to teach and research with the same functionality as if they were connected. With the expansion of education in emerging markets and the subsequent increase in students without connectivity and inconsistent electricity, this is a growing requirement for many. We have the product that can fill this deficit.

Funding Required

Digisoft Education is asking for $700K in equity funding to expand their current business operations, continue to evolve the product market roadmap and strategy, and most importantly to fulfill pending orders/contracts from 32 prospective clients for next 16 months that cumulate to $48Million USD; though the high estimate is attainable with available funding. For detailed Business Plan, supporting documents, Demos and Financials are available – Please contact , +1 (703) 772-6771.