An edtech company that pivoted from K-12 education to teaching African languages, successfully raising funds and expanding its user base.
Toluwanimi Onakoya has built a career managing startups’ hardest moments
Toluwanimi Onakoya transitioned from RED Media Africa to corporate communications, showcasing her ability to adapt to fast-paced environments. She successfully positioned Stears as the go-to product during the 2023 Nigerian elections, achieving over one million signups and significant media coverage
Beyond the Stripe Gateway: How to unlock the Nigerian diaspora wallet
Remittances to Africa have doubled over the past decade, reaching $100 billion in 2022. Nigerians abroad send approximately $20 billion back home each year, yet most Nigerian tech products capture almost none of it.
Why African Edtech is abandoning children for adults
Edukoya shut down in February 2025 after raising $3.5 million, citing that it was too early for its vision. Global funding for edtech peaked at $20.3 billion between 2020 and 2021, but interest in K-12 products declined as classrooms reopened.
Lingawa: Reviving African Languages Through Digital Education”
12% of Africa's 2,000 languages are at risk of disappearing. UNESCO predicts 40% of global languages face extinction.
With $1.1 million in funding, Lingawa wants to redefine language education for Africa’s diaspora
Over 2,000 languages in Africa, with 12% at risk of extinction. Lingawa has secured $1.1 million in funding to promote African language learning.
