OUR VALUES
What guides what we do
Digital social impact
We build platforms that support preschool owners with the administration tools to run their preschools as businesses, efficiently. Teachers take attendance, access daily plans and curriculums and manage events. Parents are updated on their child’s arrival at school and also on how they are progressing. Supporting quality education from within.
Aiming for self-sufficiency
Building small businesses is another of our north stars: enabling self-sustaining entities by supporting social entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, technology and access to previously untapped resources. We aim to help create jobs, forge careers and grow the economy. Real and measurable impact.
Money matters
As we learn about the needs of the communities, its members and the ecosystem, we design purpose-made digital tools with built-in next-generation financial services products, all with the chief aim to grease the wheels for entrepreneurs, bridge the gaps and build healthy businesses, and ultimately a strong economy.
OUR APP
What Oystar is
Oystar is a free platform for preschools where owners, teachers, parents and our partners can all manage, plan and record their activities and also interact with each other, real-time. It all happens on the Oystar platform — an app and website — which has been carefully designed to support early childhood development and the sector surrounding the preschool environment.
What 'powered by' means
Oystar falls within the NEXT176 suite of ventures, creating disruptive and self-sustaining businesses to positively impact 1 billion lives. NEXT176 is a subsidiary of Old Mutual Limited, the premium African financial services group, which has been helping customers thrive and achieve their financial goals, while investing funds in ways that will create a positive future.
PARTNERSHIPS
Impact at scale
Our success lies in our collaborations. We are inspired by our partnerships as we share, learn and further our common goals. We thrive on being part of the greater early learning development community. Right now, we're forming more partnerships in key industry categories, with the view to connect the dots within our ecosystem. Watch this space.
Implementation partner
Technology becomes even more effective when it's supported by an implementation partner with deep knowledge and in-person reach within communities. That's why one of our first steps was a collaboration with GROW Educare Centres, a support organisation highly experienced in professionalising early learning.