Khan Academy is a free, online educational platform founded by Salman "Sal" Khan in 2008. It started as a way for Sal to tutor his younger cousin in mathematics, and has since grown into a global resource offering free educational content across a wide range of subjects, including math, science, history, and more.

The origins of Khan Academy trace back to 2004, when Sal began tutoring his cousin remotely using an online notepad. As more relatives and friends sought his tutoring, Sal decided to post the lessons on YouTube to make them more accessible. The popularity of these videos led Sal to quit his finance job in 2009 and focus on Khan Academy full-time.

Today, Khan Academy offers over 10,000 educational videos and exercises, with content translated into over 36 languages. It is a nonprofit organization supported by individual donations, with the mission of providing a "free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere." Khan Academy has grown to a team of over 150 people, including developers, teachers, designers, and content specialists, all working towards the goal of making high-quality education accessible to all.