Grok Academy
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computing education |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | James Curran, Tara Murphy, Nicky Ringland, Tim Dawborn |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Key people | James Curran (former CEO and founder) |
| Products | Online programming courses for secondary school students |
Number of employees | Reduced by approximately 80% in 2024 (2024) |
Grok Academy is an Australian enterprise specializing in computing education, providing online programming courses tailored for secondary school learners. By the year 2024, the platform had engaged more than 200,000 distinct users.
Grok Learning
Established in 2013 by James Curran, Tara Murphy, Nicky Ringland, and Tim Dawborn, Grok Learning originated as an online initiative within the University of Sydney offering a self-directed programming course named the NCSS Challenge. As demand for a wider selection of courses increased, it separated from the university structure and transitioned into a commercial entity.
Australian Computing Academy
The Australian Computing Academy (ACA), initially a non-profit organization affiliated with the University of Sydney, created computing curricula supported by both governmental and private sector sponsors such as ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank, Westpac, BT Group, and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia. ACA delivered courses focused on programming, cybersecurity, and mining themes through the Grok Learning platform. James Curran held the position of academic director at ACA.
In 2020, ACA departed from the university environment and merged with Grok Learning to establish Grok Academy, combining their assets to broaden their educational programs.
Richard White funding
In 2022, prominent Australian technology entrepreneur Richard White became a key benefactor for Grok Academy. This support allowed the organization to provide its educational content free of charge to all school students, moving away from its previous subscription-based model.
Starting that year, White’s company Wisetech pledged to allocate 1% of its pre-tax earnings—projected at AUD 300 million—towards Grok Academy over a five-year period.
Sexual harassment allegations and acquisition
In October 2024, following independent inquiries that upheld several harassment claims against CEO and founder James Curran, Grok Academy experienced a withdrawal of funding and a reduction in workforce by approximately 80%. Over more than ten years, nine women—including six secondary school students—reported receiving inappropriate communications from Curran.
A 2019 investigation conducted by the University of Sydney documented 35 instances of harassment linked to Curran, resulting in an official warning. A subsequent inquiry in 2024 by the University of New South Wales was referred to law enforcement authorities in New South Wales.
Later in 2024, KIK Innovation, a social impact charity based in Adelaide, acquired the company.
Product and reach
Grok Academy creates computing education programs aimed at primary and secondary school students, predominantly serving the Australian market. In 2024, its reach extended to over 200,000 students and approximately 5,000 educators across the country.
Until 2024, the organization also managed The NCSS Summer School, an intensive 10-day event hosted in Melbourne and Sydney designed for high-achieving students.