The free technology education outfit championed by billionaire businessman Richard White, Grok Academy, is in disarray, laying off staff and losing almost half of its board after it failed to get approval to become a tax-deductible charity.

Grok Academy was founded in 2013 to improve the digital skills of school children. Mr White, who made his fortune at logistics software group WiseTech Global, initially pledged $2.5 million in 2022 to roll out free coding and digital education programs. He had pledged to donate 1 per cent of WiseTech’s profits to education initiatives.