Talent Nation, a startup that trains African engineers to build AI systems for companies, has raised a pre-seed round of undisclosed size, co-led by Enza Capital and London-based LocalGlobe, TechMoran reported on 28 October. Future Africa, Kaleo Ventures, Ajim Capital, Solving.org and Accelerate Africa also took part.
The company is chaired by Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, who co-founded Andela, Flutterwave and Moove, and run by chief executive Kesiah Valkin, a South African-born founder who co-founded London-based 01 Founders. Launch Base Africa's deal tracker also lists Enza's Sir John Lazar and LocalGlobe's Saul Klein among the backers.
More from StartupsSA's Fynbos Lets Investors Ask ChatGPT About Their MoneyThe Cape Town startup now connects accounts to ChatGPT and Claude, read-only, so savers can question their funds and fees in plain language.How the model works
Its Learn2Earn academy trains, certifies and places engineers with organisations building their own AI capabilities. Candidates pay no upfront fees: enterprise revenue funds new engineers, and graduates who get jobs contribute to future cohorts, TechMoran reported. Applicants sit an online test and in-person trials; the strongest are placed directly, and others join three-, six- or 12-month programmes.
- More than 63,000 applications in 18 months, and more than 32,000 candidates assessed (company figures).
- About 1,400 fellows across nine campuses in six cities.
- Engineers already work with IHS Towers, the telecoms tower group.
Training mixes peer-led learning, engineering projects, buildathons, internships and work experience, according to TechMoran. Enza's general partner, Sir John Lazar, who is also president of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said the firm backed the founders for their ability to find engineering talent and place it in valuable work while keeping global standards. Valkin said wider AI adoption depends on making engineering expertise cheaper and easier for businesses of every size to reach, and the company's slogan is "AI for the rest of us".
The goal is one million African AI engineers placed with businesses worldwide over the next decade, though the company has not given a timeline for getting there. "Talent is the final constraint to super intelligence," Aboyeji said.
