Apolitical

How Homeschooler Robyn Scott Scaled Apolitical to 250K Public Servants Worldwide

March 9th, 2025

Founded By

Robyn Scott

Founders

Employees

55 (est.)

Profitable

Yes

Year Started

2015

Customer

B2B

Founded By
Robyn Scott: Founders
2

Employees
55 (est.): Profitable
Yes

Year Started
2015: Customer
B2B

Who is Robyn Scott?

Robyn Scott, co-founder and CEO of Apolitical, was homeschooled in Botswana and later grew up in New Zealand. She is an entrepreneur and author, living in London, with past experience in founding organizations that teach coding to prisoners and working as a journalist.

What problem does Apolitical solve?

Apolitical helps government workers break out of their isolation by connecting them to practical skills and successful strategies, saving time, money, and improving public services.

How did Robyn come up with the idea for Apolitical?

Robyn Scott's inspiration for Apolitical began in her unique upbringing and early professional experiences. Growing up in Botswana, she witnessed firsthand the significant challenges and systemic issues within governmental systems. Her family's non-traditional approach to education, which prioritized self-directed learning and real-world problem-solving, instilled in her a desire to address large-scale societal issues, particularly those related to public policy and governance.

Her pivotal moment came while working on a project teaching coding to South African prisoners. Through this experience, Robyn realized that the root causes of many social problems were failures in education, healthcare, and social policies, and she became determined to tackle systemic issues at a higher, more impactful level. She saw a critical need for innovation and effective problem-solving in government, which led to the concept of creating a learning platform that could facilitate global knowledge sharing among public servants.

Before launching Apolitical, Robyn and her co-founder Lisa Witter engaged in extensive discussions with innovators within government systems to validate their idea. They found a strong demand for platforms that enable the sharing of best practices and learning across borders. Their research showed that public servants lacked access to effective learning resources, which confirmed their belief that Apolitical could play a crucial role in improving public sector efficiency and effectiveness.

How did Robyn Scott build the initial version of Apolitical?

Robyn Scott and her team began working on Apolitical in 2015, diving into the challenge of revolutionizing government learning and development. The initial development phase was marked by extensive research and information gathering, particularly focusing on identifying innovators within the public sector who could provide valuable insights. They spent significant time connecting with these often-overlooked public servants to understand their needs and gather stories of innovation. The platform's development took approximately two years, with its official launch in 2017. Initially, Apolitical's offering was the narratives of government innovators, which served as the groundwork for the platform.

The primary challenge during this phase was breaking into the fragmented government market, fraught with outdated systems and significant bureaucracy. By leveraging technology to facilitate global peer-to-peer learning, Apolitical aimed to provide contextualized learning experiences through partnerships with institutions like Oxford University and Stanford Online. Building trust and credibility within government circles was a significant hurdle, one that was overcome by forming strategic partnerships and leading with robust compliance and data handling practices.

What were the initial startup costs for Apolitical?

Funding: Apolitical raised $15 million to support its mission to transform government learning and innovation.

What was the growth strategy for Apolitical and how did they scale?

Partnerships

Apolitical partnered with prestigious institutions such as Oxford University and Stanford to offer high-impact training for government officials. Collaborations with reputable entities helped Apolitical gain credibility and attract more users. For instance, their AI training program for public servants is part of a partnership with Google.org to expand education in this area. These collaborations elevated Apolitical's offerings and extended their reach globally.

Why it worked: Partnering with respected academic and tech organizations lent Apolitical the authority and trust needed in the government sector. By leveraging these partnerships, they were able to access expansive networks and deliver high-quality content, allowing them to engage with many public servants worldwide.

Strategic Networking

Apolitical utilized strategic networking by identifying and amplifying hidden innovators within government. By focusing on these change-makers, Apolitical was able to bypass traditional barriers and gain traction in a challenging sector. This focus on unsung public servant champions allowed them to gradually build a credible reputation and form essential connections with government officials.

Why it worked: By spotlighting innovative public servants, Apolitical built trust and goodwill within government circles, opening doors to influential decision-makers. This approach helped them gain endorsements and support from key figures who saw the value in Apolitical’s offerings.

Publishing Insight Reports

Apolitical generates unique market insights and regularly publishes reports based on the data and interactions within their network, such as their report on AI use in government. This not only helps them gain visibility but positions them as thought leaders in public sector innovation.

Why it worked: Publishing valuable insights attracts attention and builds authority. These reports help Apolitical stand out in their field, making them a go-to resource for government leaders seeking to stay informed on best practices and innovations, further enhancing their credibility and reach.

AI and Technology Integration

Apolitical has integrated AI into their learning platform, providing contextualized learning experiences tailored to local laws and policies. This technology integration makes Apolitical’s training more relevant and effective for their global user base, who face diverse regulatory environments.

Why it worked: By using AI to personalize the educational experience for public servants, Apolitical ensures their content is immediately applicable and valuable. This technological edge helps them provide solutions that resonate deeply with the needs and constraints of their users, fostering higher engagement and retention.

What's the pricing strategy for Apolitical?

Apolitical offers a free platform for verified public servants to access best practices and skills, with plans to introduce premium subscriptions for deeper learning and tools, primarily targeting governments and related private sector organizations.

What were the biggest lessons learned from building Apolitical?

Listen to Innovators: Apolitical succeeded by engaging hidden innovators within the government. By telling their stories and focusing on what's working well, they built credibility and trust with public servants. Aspiring founders should find and highlight champions in their target market to gain valuable insights and advocacy.
Align Mission and Profit: Apolitical's business model aligns financial success with social impact. They chose investors and practices that ensure long-term alignment with their mission. Founders should ensure their business objectives support rather than compromise their core values.
Embrace Partnerships: By collaborating with prestigious institutions like Oxford and Stanford, Apolitical leveraged external credibility to enhance their offerings. New founders should seek strategic partnerships that provide expertise and market access.
Diversify and Adapt: Although focused on government, Apolitical expanded their customer base to include private sector partnerships, like with Google.org. Diversifying can provide stability and new opportunities while reinforcing the main mission.

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