Instill Education
A start-up education organisation with a vision to transform teaching and school leadership across the africa.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | investor investor investor | €0.0 | round |
| N/A | €0.0 | round | |
| N/A | $40.0k | Grant | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
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Instill Education operates as a pivotal force in addressing Africa's teacher shortage and quality gap, a critical challenge with an estimated need for 17 million new teachers by 2030. The company was founded by Alim Ladha, Tom Parry, and Evan Hendon with a vision to transform the quality of teaching across the continent. Ladha, the CEO, brings a wealth of experience from his time at McKinsey focusing on education in the Middle East, as an executive at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, and as the founding CEO of African Leadership University. This background fuels the company's mission to develop the next generation of African leaders by empowering their educators.
The firm targets both aspiring and current teachers, offering a lifelong support network through a blended learning model. This approach combines in-person, on-campus training with practical experience at partner schools, alongside digital offerings that allow for self-paced, modular learning. Its primary service, the Upskill mobile app, provides bite-sized online modules aligned with education standards in South Africa, Ghana, and Kenya, making professional development accessible even in remote areas. For aspiring educators in South Africa, Instill Education offers a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) accredited by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). This makes quality credentialing more accessible, costing about 50% less than competing programs.
The business model addresses the systemic issue that over 30% of primary and 50% of secondary school teachers in Africa lack formal qualifications. While currently supported significantly by grant funding and program-related investments, the company is exploring a long-term SaaS subscription model for educators. This strategy is supplemented by a marketplace connecting those who benefit from an educated workforce. Instill Education works directly with governments to act as a zero-cost distribution channel, solving public sector challenges while scaling its reach. The platform has already engaged over 55,000 teachers and has received recognition from the ministries of education in Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria, underscoring its systemic approach to improving student outcomes by focusing on educator empowerment.
Keywords: teacher training, EdTech, professional development, blended learning, Africa education, upskilling, teacher certification, educational leadership, mobile learning, workforce development