In the past, education was limited to physical and classroom learning, leaving so many excluded.
Technology came in and gradually bridged that gap, facilitating the edtech sector; although not yet decentralized across the globe, as the recent Global Education Monitoring Report, and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics revealed that 244 million children and youth between the ages of 6 to 18 were still educationally excluded in 2021.
This was despite the heat of the pandemic which accelerated the edtech sector in 2020.
But then, players in the field are strongly coming together to tackle this issue. Ranging from primary and secondary education to digital skill acquisition and others, these startups are not limited across Africa; but to mention a few, they include:
1. uLesson
Leveraging technology to enable students learn at a convenient pace, uLesson is making education self-fulfilling and exciting for learners at primary and secondary levels.
Its simplified teaching methods are designed to carry students along individually and holistically, depending on their learning abilities, so no one is left behind.
Founded barely four years ago by Sim Shagaya, a technopreneur and serial investor who also founded
Konga, Lesson has already raised $25.6 million, backed by investors such as Nielsen Ventures, TLcom Capital Partners, Founder Collective, Tencent, Owl Ventures, among others.
The startup affirms to have over 3.5 million downloads with increasing user interest, 10.6 million lessons watched, 810k+ live lessons attended and more than 3.6 million questions attempted.
2. AltSchool Africa
What makes AltSchool interesting is its non-traditional approach to grooming individuals from zero to hero within a targeted period. The edutech platform takes up students with or without technical knowledge and trains them to become experts in fields such as product design, product marketing, product development, software engineering, data analysis and data science.
AltSchool transitioned from TalentQL to build a broader foundation where students can kickstart their dream tech career; fresh out of high school, seeking extra education, or want to transition to a career in tech, anyone goes, AltSchool will give you the skills and insight to achieve the success you desire.
In February 2022, the startup raised $1 million in pre-seed funding to bolster its efforts in edutech. According to the founders Adewale Yusuf, Akintunde Sultan and Opeyemi Awoyemi, the fund was launched into building its content and curriculum, technology infrastructure and community concept, so students can meet offline to network and learn together.
3. Teesas
What I love most about Teesas is its connection to the African root and its zeal to bridge the educational gap in the continent through an inclusive approach. In its drive to enhance education in Africa through technology, the startup combines local and global learning, it provides educational tablets to students so they are not limited by a lack of technological reach to take part in education across the globe.
Founded by Osayi Izedonmwen, Teesas started a donate program last year, ensuring no child is left behind, but everyone gains access to quality education for free and collaborating to achieve its goal.
Teesas enables students learn alphabets, greetings, songs, folktales, history and lots more both in indigenous and English languages. Its expert tutors provide live classes with personalized experiences to every child, with gamified teaching methods, animations and musicals that will grasp every child’s learning interest.
4. Edukoya
Lagos- and London-based Edukoya was founded by CEO Honey Ogundeyi, who was also the founding CMO of Kuda, a Nigerian neobank. The startup was built on a model that reaches parents and learners 100% online, providing support for examinations and day-to-day learning, including homework.
Edukoya focuses on students in grades 10 to 12 and those taking exams into tertiary institutions. This is different from other edtech platforms that targets mainly grades 1 to 12.
The edtech kick-started its journey less than two years ago and is backed by Target Global and other angel investors such as Shola Akinlade, Ed Robinson, Raffael Johnen, Babs Ogundeyi and others.
5. Edves
Another edtech startup focused on ensuring the development of individuals with in-demand skills, Edves digitizes teaching and learning a secure School Management Software.
The startup, which has already enrolled over 400,000 students, is present in 10 countries, with 29,000+ educators, 25,000+ administrators and is currently leveraged by over 1500 schools.
Backed by Launch Africa, Chinook Capital Limited, Future Africa, Beta Ventures, Growth Capital and Seedstars, Edves was founded by Dimeji Falana and Dare Adebayo Edves. Its partners include MTN, Paystack, Interswitch, Flutterwave and 9mobile.
Its technology enables users track daily expenses, generate bills, process payment receipts, manage inventory, track defaulters and automate every step of the financial reporting process, as well as real-time monitoring by parents.
6. RiseBack
RiseBack recently launched for African students in September 2022. The edtech company offers affordable college degrees to students in partnership with leading Indian Universities, enabling them gain quality education and higher-paying jobs after graduation, without worrying about student debt.
RiseBack offers Skill & Professional Training & Certification Programs, US Evaluation of Degrees assistance, Recruitment assistance, Internship assistance, Incubation & Acceleration services for Students Startups.
Its focus is currently on students getting the chance to study in Indian Universities because of the schools’ reputation over the years, having created super successful alumni who are heads of Fortune 500 companies, Noble Laureates, Scientists, Academicians, IT Professionals, Serial Entrepreneurs & investors.
7. GetBundi
GetBundi has developed digital skills and STEM-related courses for secondary school students based on the West African curriculum.
The edtech is taking advantage of time to help students get equipped for the future, taking hold of the millions of tech-related jobs springing up every day. From digital marketing, coding, graphics, video editing and cybersecurity, GetBundi equips students in less than 3 months.
Launched in July 2022, the startup was founded by Osita Oparaugo. It currently has over 1,008 hours of audio-visual content on the platform covering six years of secondary school curriculum.
8. Utiva
From training users on data and numbers, to designing and creativity, business analysis, programming, cloud development product marketing and many more, Utiva is a platform for learning digital skills virtually.
Present in over 30 countries, the edtech leverages partnerships to facilitate its drive and achievements. These partners include Flutterwave, Autochek, CredPal, Nomba, Bundle, Moove, TeamApt, Cowrywise, Opay and many more.
Having trained over 30,000 students across focus aspects, Utiva was founded by Nigerian tech entrepreneur, Eyitayo Ogunmola.
9. Classera
Backed by 500 Global, Endeavor Catalyst, Global Ventures, Sanabil, Sukna Ventures, among other investors, Classera has raised a total funding of $40 million to scale its edtech solution.
Classera utilizes a Learning Super Platform (LSP) to enhance education and corporate e-training sectors. The Silicon Valley-founded edtech was built by Mohammad Almadani and his partner Mohammad Alashmawi. It leverages artificial intelligence and social learning to provide an integrated e-learning platform and e-payment gateway “C-Pay” for pocket money, tuition payments and financing, and a specialized educational marketplace for edtech and educational supplies products “Edumalls”.
Classera’s users include over 10 Ministries of Education, private K-12 schools, universities, and corporates for e-training. It affirms to have developed over 100 strategic partnerships with global and regional players including Microsoft, Zoom, Amazon, Intel, Udemy, and HP.
10. LearnAm
LearnAm is a localized mobile platform focused on improving digital literacy and inclusion in Africa, taking out language barriers, through audio and visual educational content.
The edtech pivoted from ScholarX in 2016. Founded by Bola Lawal, Damilola Emuze, and Maxwell Ogunfuyi, it went beyond teaching students to helping them gain access to scholarships.
LearnAm currently provides an environment for learners to acquire digital skills, personal improvement and vocational skills. Students can take courses in Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, English and Pidgin languages, receive free learning resources and materials, after which they receive certificates.
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