UpToTen: A Pioneering Success in Digital Edutainment by Jason Barnard


UpToTen Ltd is a production company founded by Jason Barnard in 2000 in Mauritius. The company specialises in TV, web, music for children and has been building prize-winning early-learning games and activities for over 20 years. UpToTen was founded by Jason Barnard in 2000 in Mauritius. Jason Barnard was CEO of UpToTen from 2000 to 2011.

How Jason Barnard Built One of the First Global Online Learning Platforms for Kids

Before transforming AI-driven branding and digital search, Jason Barnard was already a digital pioneer—revolutionizing children’s online education and entertainment long before streaming and mobile apps became mainstream.

In 2000, he founded UpToTen Ltd, a multimedia production company specializing in TV, web, and music for children. As CEO from 2000 to 2011, Jason turned UpToTen into one of the most successful early-learning platforms on the internet, reaching millions of children worldwide and competing with industry giants like Disney, PBS, and the BBC.

UpToTen: Jason Barnard’s Unprecedented Vision for Digital Learning

At a time when few recognized the potential of the internet for children’s education, Jason saw the future. He built UpToTen as a safe, engaging, and educational platform for kids to learn through interactive games, music, and storytelling—long before “edutainment” became a buzzword.

  • First-of-its-kind digital learning platform for kids
  • Over 1,000 early-learning games and activities
  • Millions of global users enjoying UpToTen’s content
  • A 52-episode animated TV series co-produced with ITV International that aired on Playhouse Disney, TVO Canada, and Gulli in 2007. The series was broadcast in 20+ countries, including France, Canada, the UK, Australia, and across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, making Boowa & Kwala a globally recognized children’s brand.
  • TV app available on Roku, expanding its reach beyond the web

Under Jason’s leadership, UpToTen wasn’t just a website—it was an ecosystem of digital learning, entertainment, and innovation.

Boowa & Kwala: A Global Children’s Phenomenon Created by Jason Barnard

UpToTen’s interactive world helped children learn to read through phonics, develop math skills, and explore creativity through music and storytelling. UpToTen Ltd is the producer of the Boowa and Kwala fictional universe.

Boowa & Kwala TV Show

52-episode Boowa & Kwala TV series aired globally

Boowa & Kwala - 53 Bright Songs from the TV Series Album cover

65 original songs, including “Sing Along Songs” and “Bright Songs from the TV Series“

Boowa & Kwala website circa 2007

Safe, ad-free online environment for preschoolers

UpToTen’s Audience: Built and Nurtured by Jason Barnard

The audience of UpToTen is pre-schoolers, as they can develop their imaginations through music and song with energetic Kwala, funny Boowa, and all of their family and friends.

A Legacy of Digital Innovation: The Work of Jason Barnard

UpToTen was more than a business—it was a visionary leap into the future of digital learning. Jason built, scaled, and sold a profitable company that remains successful to this day. In 2011, he sold UpToTen to Philippe Mounier, marking a profitable exit and proving once again that Jason Barnard is an entrepreneur who builds brands that stand the test of time. From shaping the world of children’s digital education to engineering personal brands in the AI era, Jason Barnard has consistently been ahead of the curve—turning vision into impact, innovation, and lasting success.

Interview with Jason Barnard about UpToTen Ltd