Sara Berkai

About

Sara Berkai is a founder, investor, and educator exploring how play and making can enhance self-efficacy in children. A first-generation student, she earned an MSc in Child Development from the University of Oxford and a first-class BSc from UCL. Her work has been recognised by Forbes 30 Under 30, Innovate UK, the UN’s ITU Young ICT Leader, and the Conduit Young Innovator award. She has given lectures at Stanford, UC Berkeley, MIT, and the University of Oxford. Berkai serves on the advisory board of UCL School of Management and SXSW EDU.

Ambessa

In 2020, during her master’s degree, Berkai founded Ambessa, a social enterprise encouraging children to build. For every DIY kit purchased, one is donated to a displaced out-of-school child who lacks access to consistent electricity. With over 250 million children currently out of school and 40 million displaced, Ambessa teaches science through play and first principles, and sparks confidence through hands-on making. Launched through a successful grassroots Kickstarter campaign, Ambessa has since been featured in WIRED, The Financial Times, Fast Company, and Disegno. The company won Dezeen’s Product of the Year 2024, and its kits are now sold in museums and schools across the UK and US, and to parents and preppers in more than 35 countries.