Zuckerberg initiative funds Africa education start-up

Facebook Inc founder Mark Zuckerberg’s philanthropy venture has made its first major investment, leading a funding round in a startup that trains and recruits software developers in Africa. Venture firm GV also joined the round, alongside existing investors Spark Capital, Omidyar Network, Learn Capital and CRE Ventures.

“As part of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Priscilla and I are investing in an education company called Andela”. Andela then pairs each developer with one of its vetted company partners as a full-time, distributed team member. Currently, they’re valued at $48 billion.

“This marks the first time that Mark and Priscilla have led a round and we’re thrilled to welcome them”, said Chief excutive officer and co-founder at Andela, Jeremy Johnson in a statement. It was founders by veteran entrepreneurs from North America and Africa to bridge the gap between skilled software developers and companies that needs them.

For Andela, the investment represents an worldwide seal of approval from the most respected and innovative minds in the global tech ecosystem, and a validation of the caliber of Nigerian technical talent. “Andela’s mission is the close that gap”. Andela fills a less talked about vacuum in the USA for good software developers. “And developers in Africa get the opportunity to use their skills and support their communities”. “Priscilla and I believe in supporting innovative models of learning wherever they are around the world-and what Andela is doing is pretty awesome”.

Andela has its base in Lagos, Nairobi and NY, with plans to open in another African country in 2017.

The startup, which has almost 200 engineers now employed by its Nigeria and Kenya offices, will use the funds to expand to a third African country by the end of 2016.

This latest funding will allow the company to expand its services to a third African country this year.