2023 Africa EdTech 50

HolonIQ’s annual list of the 50 most promising EdTech startups in sub-Saharan Africa

Education Intelligence Unit

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December 20, 2023

The Africa EdTech 50 is HolonIQ's annual list of the most promising EdTech startups from the region.

The Africa EdTech 50 is focused on identifying young, fast growing and innovative learning, teaching and up-skilling startups from the region. Powered by data and insights from our Impact Intelligence Platform together with qualitative assessments by HolonIQ’s Intelligence Unit, and local market experts, organizations are evaluated and scored based on our eligibility and assessment criteria, which excludes EdTech's founded over 10 years ago, or those which have exited (listed, acquired or controlled by another organisation).

Download the Market Map. Companies are categorized by their main area of focus following the globallearninglandscape.org. Categories in the market map are not mutually exclusive.

Deep Dive the List

Customers can deep dive the open-source list on the platform. Request a demo to learn more.

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

Exhibit 2

One in five of this year's cohort are in the STEAM category, up from 14% on the prior year. Education Management systems and continues to be the largest category as institutions and companies seek digital solutions, and learners look for financing, advice and matching of educational offerings.

Exhibit 3

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A relatively stable balance of Direct-to-Consumer and B2B EdTech models illustrates both institutional and learner needs.

Sixty-percent of this year’s cohort operate a direct-to-consumer model with examples across all segments including those supporting teachers (Instill Education), AI teaching assistant (Kwame AI), animated video lesson platforms (Yakili, Watobe), and STEM education (AltSchool, AfricaCode4Kids). Management Systems make up over half of the B2B segment, with Learning Environments such as Angaza Elimu, Beeline and Lessonspace, as well as school management systems and portals (Edutams, EDVES, Excel@Uni, Skizaa).

Exhibit 4

Nigeria's share grows to over one third of the list, followed by South Africa, then Kenya.

Exhibit 5

This year's cohort is more mature than previous years. A decline in early stage start-ups is indicative of the tight funding environment for those without traction.

Twenty percent of this year's list were founded three or less years ago, signifying the difficult conditions for early stage startups in the region. Of those early stage startups who made this year's list Talstack and upskhill offer talent upskilling platforms, FoondaMate provides AI & chat-based learning, while Foris Labs is an interactive laboratory environment.

Growth stages companies include those focused on tutoring and test prep (Gradely, Nigeria & Kidato, Kenya), maths (Watobe) and African language learning(Ambani Africa).

Exhibit 6

Track the 2023 Cohort

HolonIQ customers can track the data for the most promising EdTech startups in the region on the HolonIQ Intelligence Platform. Look for the 2023 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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