CodeCombat

CodeCombat

Company type	Private
Industry	Educational technology, Video games
Founded	February 2013 (2013-02)
Founder	George Saines, Scott Erickson, Matt Lott, Nick Winter
Headquarters	San Francisco , United States
Products	CodeCombat, Ozaria
Number of employees	29
Website	codecombat.com

CodeCombat is an instructional video game aimed at teaching programming concepts and languages to learners between the ages of 9 and 16. It includes instruction in languages such as JavaScript, Python, HTML, and CoffeeScript, as well as core computer science ideas. The platform features 11 distinct units: three dedicated to game development, two focused on web development, and six centered on computer science fundamentals. The first unit, Computer Science 1, is available at no cost to both students and educators. In 2019, the College Board officially recognized CodeCombat for its curriculum and professional training aligned with AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP).

CodeCombat operates primarily through direct collaborations with educational institutions and districts, while also offering a subscription option for independent learners seeking access to additional game content. Advancement within the game depends on players demonstrating coding skills, with gameplay options available in both single-player and multi-player formats, suitable for students from 4th through 12th grade. The game has garnered favorable evaluations from PC Magazine, earned the 2017 SIIA CODiE award for Best Creativity Tool for Students, and was highlighted as a top educational resource by Common Sense Media.

In January 2014, the platform shifted to an open-source approach and launched a level editor that allows users to create their own content. Its most recent installment, Ozaria, released in August 2019, further broadens its range of educational gaming products.

Company

Established in February 2013 by George Saines, Scott Erickson, Matt Lott, and Nick Winter—who previously worked on the language-learning application Skritter—CodeCombat is headquartered in San Francisco, California. The company focuses on developing programming games such as Ozaria and CodeCombat, targeting both school environments and individual learners. In 2014, it raised $2 million in seed capital from investors including Y Combinator, Andreessen Horowitz, and Allen & Company. Later, in 2019, CodeCombat secured $6 million through a Series A funding round led by Hone Capital. The company also entered the Chinese market via a partnership with internet giant NetEase announced in April 2018. Presently, CodeCombat employs a team of 29 staff members.