GOMYCODE

GOMYCODE is an educational technology firm targeting the skills gap in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Founded in Tunis in 2017 by brothers Yahya and Amine Bouhlel, the company provides training in digital skills to address youth unemployment and the mismatch between traditional education and the demands of the digital job market. The founders' journey began when CEO Yahya Bouhlel, a self-taught coder from a young age with internship experience in Silicon Valley, and his brother Amine, who faced challenges hiring web developers in Tunis, identified a critical need for accessible tech education. They started with a summer camp prototype and have since expanded significantly.

The company operates on a blended learning model that combines online, self-paced learning with in-person instruction at its physical "hackerspaces" located across multiple countries. This model is designed to be affordable and accessible, offering instruction in over 12 local languages to cater to a diverse student base. GOMYCODE serves a broad market, from university students to professionals seeking to upskill or change careers. Its revenue is generated through direct-to-consumer course fees and partnerships with corporations that enroll their employees, sometimes through a study-now-pay-later arrangement. The course offerings are extensive, with over 30 tracks covering subjects like web development, data science, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, and UI/UX design. These programs are structured as either short-term introductory courses or longer, career-focused studies.

Significant milestones include securing $850,000 in a 2020 seed round and a subsequent $8 million Series A funding in 2022, led by AfricInvest and Proparco. These funds have fueled GOMYCODE's expansion from its Tunisian origins to a network of over 40 locations in countries including Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, Senegal, and Ivory Coast, with plans for further growth across the MEA region. The company reports a high success rate, with an 80% job placement for its graduates. Partnerships, such as a collaboration with Google to train Nigerian developers in generative AI, further solidify its market position.

Keywords: edtech, digital skills, coding bootcamp, workforce development, blended learning, technical education, online learning, skills gap, Africa tech, Middle East tech, career development, IT training, web development courses, data science training, AI education, digital marketing training, job placement, upskilling, reskilling, hackerspace