Zydii, an innovative Kenyan platform revolutionizing employee training by providing digital courses on technical and soft skills, has recently secured a significant amount of pre-seed funding, the exact sum of which remains undisclosed. This exciting development was officially announced on May 17th, attracting attention from investors worldwide.
Among the four notable participants in this fundraising initiative, Dob Equity, a renowned Dutch private equity firm, took the lead. They were accompanied by Kua Ventures, a prominent Kenyan investor, as well as Kaleo Ventures, a venture capital firm focusing on African ventures. Additionally, Nairobi Business Angel Network (NaiBAN), a collective of angel investors and entrepreneurs from Kenya, joined forces to support Zydii’s vision.
Co-founded in 2017 by the visionary computer scientist Joyce Mbaya, Zydii plans to utilize the newly acquired funding to bolster its presence in Kenya and expand its operations to Nigeria and South Africa. The ultimate goal of this strategic maneuver, as articulated by Mbaya herself, is to bridge the prevalent skills gap in the African job market and enhance the competencies of the active workforce.
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For Dob Equity, this investment in Zydii represents not only their second venture in Africa since the beginning of 2023 but also their second Kenyan company to receive their support. Demonstrating their commitment to empowering women-led enterprises, Dob Equity proudly asserts that such businesses now constitute a substantial portion of their portfolio.
Across the African continent, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of both formal and informal sectors, comprising nearly 80% of the workforce. However, these enterprises often struggle due to a lack of skilled personnel, impeding their growth and hindering their operational efficiency.
Zydii’s innovative platform comes as a breath of fresh air, addressing this pressing issue head-on. By equipping employees with the necessary technical and soft skills, the company is poised to make a significant impact on the African labor market, empowering businesses and fostering economic development.
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With the support of strategic investors and a clear vision, Zydii embarks on a transformative journey, not only transforming training methodologies but also reshaping the landscape of opportunities for individuals and companies alike. As they forge ahead, Zydii stands as a beacon of hope, leading the charge towards a more skilled and prosperous Africa.
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer, who has several years of experience working in Africa’s burgeoning tech startup industry. He has closed multi-million dollar deals bordering on venture capital, private equity, intellectual property (trademark, patent or design, etc.), mergers and acquisitions, in countries such as in the Delaware, New York, UK, Singapore, British Virgin Islands, South Africa, Nigeria etc. He’s also a corporate governance and cross-border data privacy and tax expert.
As an award-winning writer and researcher, he is passionate about telling the African startup story, and is one of the continent’s pioneers in this regard