Kahoot Beta to Kahoot! Ignite: How the Learning Game Platform Grew
Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform where a teacher or host runs quiz games that players answer on their own devices. Its Kahoot beta opened in 2013, and in December 2018 the company launched Kahoot! Ignite, an accelerator for education game startups.
Updated
From Kahoot beta to a billion players
Kahoot! was founded by Johan Brand, Jamie Brooker and Morten Versvik in a joint project with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. The Kahoot beta went to a private group at SXSWedu in March 2013, and the beta opened to the public in September 2013.
Players answer on their own phones, tablets or computers while the questions appear on one shared screen, such as a whiteboard, projector or monitor. The design aims at what the company called a campfire moment, with the group looking up together. It is used in classrooms, meeting rooms and living rooms, by teachers, students, corporate users and social users. Hosts can build their own games, called kahoots, or choose from millions of existing ones, for any subject and in any language.
In January 2019 the company said it had reached one billion cumulative participating players and expected about 100 million monthly active unique users in more than 200 countries. Coverage at the time described the Oslo-based startup as valued at $376 million and reported some 60 million games on the platform, many made by users.
What Kahoot! Ignite offered
Kahoot! Ignite, launched in December 2018, was an accelerator for startups pushing education through games. The company sought apps for iOS, Android and Windows that could help it build a learning community. The idea was that outside developers could bring more innovation and fresh takes on educational gaming to the platform. Selected teams were offered global reach through the Kahoot! audience, joint campaigns, knowledge sharing on scaling and monetizing, and funding for their operations.
Applicants were asked to share a vision for the future of learning, create value for teachers, students, parents or corporate trainers, and share the company values of playfulness, inclusivity and curiosity. Applications went by email to the Ignite team.
What is true today
In November 2026, kahoot.com shows a Learning games page. The Ignite address, kahoot.com/ignite/, forwards to the homepage. The homepage does not mention Ignite, and no page opened for this article announces the end of the accelerator.
In 2019 the platform was described as free. The user counts and valuation quoted above are 2019 figures.
Questions about Kahoot
When did the Kahoot beta start?
The Kahoot beta started as a private beta at SXSWedu in March 2013 and opened to the public in September 2013. The founders came from a joint project with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
What was Kahoot! Ignite?
It was an accelerator launched in December 2018 that offered reach, joint campaigns, knowledge sharing and funding to education game startups.
Does the Ignite page still exist?
Not as its own page. In November 2026, kahoot.com/ignite/ forwarded to the Kahoot! homepage.