2024 Africa EdTech 50

The Africa EdTech 50 is aligned to the Global Learning Landscape, an Open-Source Taxonomy that maps the education and talent market

Exhibit 2

Content-driven EdTech solutions lead the 2024 cohort, emphasizing the urgent need for accessible, high-quality learning materials.

Sub-Saharan Africa, home to a rapidly growing population of over one billion people, faces significant challenges in education and a growing workforce skills deficit. Despite progress in recent years, millions of young people still lack access to quality education, with over 97 million children out of school in Sub-Saharan Africa. K12 STEAM providers such as MindJoy and ULesson and Workforce upskilling providers such as Moringa School and AltSchool Africa are examples of models aimed at bridging the skills gap and preparing learners in foundational skills for future jobs.

Also featured in this year’s list are teams that support the digital transformation in Africa’s schools. Education reforms, tech-driven curricula, and modernized infrastructure reflect Africa's commitment to expanding access and improving education quality. Schoola, a learning platform uses AI and analytics to help schools increase efficiency in lesson delivery, also pays teachers to create local content as an incentive, and Edutams provides digital infrastructures for efficient administration capabilities to school systems. 

Exhibit 3

B2B and D2C models remain fairly balanced, highlighting the need for tech solutions in both institutional and consumer markets.

The direct-to-consumer model captures a majority, comprising 60% of this year's cohort, reflecting strong consumer demand and established mobile infrastructure. Platforms like Gradely, which personalizes learning for K-12 students, and Semicolon Africa, which upskills African learners in tech, illustrate this trend.

B2B organizations have gained momentum in 2024, indicating a growing number of startups addressing the growing tech-enabled needs of schools and institutions. Notably, Edves, a learning and school management software, automates student journeys and streamlines school operations. Schoolinka focuses on building teacher pipeline and development, aiming to elevate the standard of education in Africa

‍Exhibit 4

Geographic diversity grows with Nigeria holding a third of the share, with other major markets shrinking. Rwanda growing to 6% in 2024.

Nigeria maintained its 34% share this year, while South Africa dipped to 28%, indicating that Geographic diversity in edtech startups is growing. This year, Rwanda’s edtech startup scene has emerged with companies dedicated to improving working populations—from teacher community edtech like Ubuntu Education to upskilling and talent platforms such as BAG technologies. Overall, the African edtech landscape is becoming increasingly diverse, with startups emerging from a wider range of countries and addressing a broader spectrum of educational needs.

Exhibit 5

Growth stage companies dominate this year’s list with early stage EdTech finding the economic environment challenging.

The startup ecosystem for this year’s cohort is relatively young, similar to last year, with nearly 50% of organizations around the 4-6 year mark. This suggests that while many ventures are still maturing, they are also reaching a stage where they can scale and impact the market. Among them, those dedicated to upskilling—such as Schoolinka, SAYN, and Dexude—as well as STEM and digital learning platforms like LessonSpace, Fois Labs, and Yenza, are setting the pace.

Later-stage startups now make up 22% of the list, a notable rise from 14% last year. These include established organizations like Schoolap, a distance learning platform aligned with national curriculum, and Itot Africa, a social impact venture advancing vocational training and job creation across the continent. Overall, Sub-Saharan Africa’s edtech sector is evolving to meet the needs of a growing population, addressing a variety of educational priorities across diverse sub-regions.

Exhibit 6

Track the 2024 Cohort

HolonIQ customers can track the data for the most promising EdTech startups in the region on the HolonIQ Intelligence Platform. Look for the 2024 Africa EdTech 50 list and double click into the data behind the charts. Request a Demo if you are not a customer and would like to learn more.

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