With Backing From Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and GV (formerly Google Ventures), Andela Will Empower Africa's Next Generation Of Great Technical Leaders



LAGOS, Nigeria, June 16, 2016 — Andela, a company that identifies the most talented software engineers and problem solvers in Africa and prepares them for successful careers with top global tech companies, is today announcing $24M in Series B funding to catalyze its growth across the African continent. Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan’s Chan Zuckerberg Initiative led the round, with participation from new investor GV (formerly Google Ventures) and existing investors Spark Capital, Omidyar Network, Learn Capital, and South Africa-based CRE Ventures, among others.

For Andela, the investment represents an international 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. Through its four-year technical leadership program, Andela provides a pathway for talented Nigerian programmers into the global tech economy.

"We live in a world where talent is evenly distributed, but opportunity is not. Andela's mission is to close that gap," says Mark Zuckerberg. "Companies get access to great 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 amazing."

Since Andela launched in 2014, it has received over 40,000 applications and accepted only the top 0.7%. The program begins with an intensive skills ramp-up, during which developers complete open-source projects and specialize in a specific tech stack. Then, they’re placed as full-time software engineers with Andela’s partners, which range from venture-backed startups in Silicon Valley and New York to global industry leaders including IBM and Microsoft.

“Andela’s mission statement to develop hundreds of thousands of world-class software developers in Nigeria and across Africa is very compelling”, says Seni Sulyman, Director of Operations. “The ambition is so bold, and the energy it creates is so incredible, that I couldn’t imagine walking away from the challenge. I fully expect alumni of Andela to be launching the companies that will lead the technical revolution across Africa.”

Sulyman joined Andela in May after completing his MBA at Harvard Business School and returning to Nigeria to build and launch a new private B2B airline. Sulyman was born and raised in Nigeria, and had begun his career in the US and Canada before surrendering to a growing desire to make an impact at home. Sulyman encourages fellow Africans, both at home and abroad, to join the Andela movement and help write the future of the digital revolution in Lagos, Nairobi, and cities across Africa.

Over the past two years, Andela developers have played a major role in building and supporting technology communities in both Lagos and Nairobi, participating in hackathons, hosting meet-ups, and forming local developer groups. The latest financing will bolster the company’s ability to seek and spread extraordinary technical talent across the continent, as it plans to announce a third African country before the end of the year, as well as power efforts to attract the most talented team in engineering and management.

About Andela:
Andela identifies high-potential software engineers on the African continent, shapes them into world-class technical leaders, and places them with top technology companies worldwide as full-time, distributed team members. Current company partners range from venture-backed startups to industry leaders including Microsoft and IBM. With headquarters in Lagos, Nairobi and NYC, Andela is building the next generation of global technology leaders.

About Chan Zuckerberg Initiative:
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) was launched by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan to advance human potential and promote equality. In support of this mission, CZI funds nonprofit organizations, makes private investments and participates in policy debates, with the goal of making the world a better place for future generations.

Bravo!

I'm happy for them. Lalasticlala

There has been some sort of relationship between Africa and mark zuckerberg of late.

Now he has invested $24M in one of Africa's top technology startups, isn't this just wonderful.

Click here for more details: http://bizwatchnigeria.ng/mark-zuckerberg-invests-24m-andela/

What are your thoughts?

Their developers tight! Good for andela. They deserve it

Gotta Roll up ma sleeves......

I am way too rusty now... Where my PC @

This is very good o, at least the nairaland programmers for andela go take this opportunity to shine.

dhtml18:
This is very good o, at least the nairaland programmers for andela go take this opportunity to shine.

Wouldn't you go and apply, your skills is highly needed.

guru01:

Wouldn't you go and apply, your skills is highly needed.

Me keh? I am satisfied with trollin' about the streets of Lagos. Not ready to swear my allegiance to Andela. . . .

Andela is a for-profit company that outsources developers to companies abroad. Software outsourcing is nothing new - India's tech economy was basically propped up by outsourcing shops in the past two decades.

According to Andela companies abroad have difficulty finding good developers, and their answer is to provide cheap inexperienced developers with only 6 months coding experience?

As a Nigerian developer, I'm really happy the program is teaching development skills to Nigerian youths, but it's not something we should be celebrating. The only companies that hire outsourced workers are those who are unwilling to pay fair wages to developers in their own country. Andela is simply providing cheap labour for these companies to exploit, and then marketing their business as a humanitarian cause.

^^^The above was what i found out, and why i refused to join Andela.

Andela must be charge to an e-court for e-human-trafficking and e-slavery.

In the end everybody wins, the company cut cost, Andela makes profit, you get your salary and port folio. It's the business world, why run into debt when there are other alternatives that your fund can accommodate? From my research Andela developers are just part of already existing teams. Everybody wins.

Can someone with an amateur or no programming skills really apply?

I read on the website that no coding experience required. But really what is the chance of such a person?

cashflowpc:
Can someone with an amateur or no programming skills really apply?

I read on the website that no coding experience required. But really what is the chance of such a person?

Yes. You will work through an introductory software development curriculum as part of the selection process.

GoodBoi1:
Yes. You will work through an introductory software development curriculum as part of the selection process.

Thanks for the prompt response.

GoodBoi1:
Yes. You will work through an introductory software development curriculum as part of the selection process.

Thanks for the prompt response. Just thinking if that won't in anyway reduce the person's chances of being picked for the programme since he might be competing with others who are developers already.

cashflowpc:


Thanks for the prompt response. Just thinking if that won't in anyway reduce the person's chances of being picked for the programme since he might be competing with others who are developers already.

If you can work through the curriculum, you can get in. It's not about how good you can code, but how you learn. Even some developers don't get in. Andela doesn't care about your programming history. You will be trained for six months.

GoodBoi1:
If you can work through the curriculum, you can get in. It's not about how good you can code, but how you learn. Even some developers don't get in. Andela doesn't care about your programming history. You will be trained for six months.

That is the reason that cannever get developers like dhtml18. . . .except they train one themselves.
#proud programmer/troll (to bad gan)

GoodBoi1:
In the end everybody wins, the company cut cost, Andela makes profit, you get your salary and port folio. It's the business world, why run into debt when there are other alternatives that your fund can accommodate? From my research Andela developers are just part of already existing teams. Everybody wins.

Not necessarily though. The only clear winners here are Andela's founders /early investors.

The company outsourcing the work might cut costs in the short term, but more problems typically show up down the line. Outsourced developers generally create massive technical debt - much less inexperienced developers whose only programming experience is a 6-month bootcamp. Andela's advantage is that they strictly control their talent pool - so only the most promising candidates advance through the training. Only time will tell if that makes any difference... But in the end they're just another outsourcing shop with a good PR department.

Andela "fellows" get a decent salary, true. I have no idea what packages they offer so I can't comment on that. However, there's a lot more to software development than producing web apps using [framework of the month]... which is what developers at Andela could potentially end up doing over their tenure.

Lets say you're a company looking to outsource your software development; why would you pick Andela over the thousands of outsourcing shops in India and Eastern Europe with more experienced developers? I can't think of any reason, unless they're quoting significantly cheaper prices. Which is what additional funding would enable them to do.

I guess it's obvious I'm against outsourcing. I'm lucky enough to have a well-paying job because my employer values my worth and is willing to pay fairly for my services. Andela developers aren't so lucky.

dhtml18:

That is the reason that cannever get developers like dhtml18. . . .except they train one themselves.
#proud programmer/troll (to bad gan)

I expect the 6 months training to be intensive. The environment is also very okay constant power supply, High Speed Internet, Lunch and Breakfast... all-round training

GoodBoi1:
I expect the 6 months training to be intensive. The environment is also very okay constant power supply, High Speed Internet, Lunch and Breakfast... all-round training

I believe Andela is good for programmers that are just starting up. But if you are already a pro, well, you need to have a sort of re-think.

dhtml18:

I believe Andela is good for programmers that are just starting up. But if you are already a pro, well, you need to have a sort of re-think.

I agree

mrdcai:


Not necessarily though. The only clear winners here are Andela's founders /early investors.

The company outsourcing the work might cut costs in the short term, but more problems typically show up down the line. Outsourced developers generally create massive technical debt - much less inexperienced developers whose only programming experience is a 6-month bootcamp. Andela's advantage is that they strictly control their talent pool - so only the most promising candidates advance through the training. Only time will tell if that makes any difference... But in the end they're just another outsourcing shop with a good PR department.

Andela "fellows" get a decent salary, true. I have no idea what packages they offer so I can't comment on that. However, there's a lot more to software development than producing web apps using [framework of the month]... which is what developers at Andela could potentially end up doing over their tenure.

Lets say you're a company looking to outsource your software development; why would you pick Andela over the thousands of outsourcing shops in India and Eastern Europe with more experienced developers? I can't think of any reason, unless they're quoting significantly cheaper prices. Which is what additional funding would enable them to do.

I guess it's obvious I'm against outsourcing. I'm lucky enough to have a well-paying job because my employer values my worth and is willing to pay fairly for my services. Andela developers aren't so lucky.

The kind of projects they work on during the six months should give them the experience they need. Do you know what one can achieve in six months intensive study? Don't look at things from the nigerian perspective. Andela maintains the same standards world class software companies overseas. Programming bootcamps in America use 3 months to transform students to industry-ready developers. How much more six months? I've looked at some of their projects on github and I must say that it is not the nigerian child's play projects, they even to work in teams, so imagine what can be accomplished in six months, thereby proving their capability.
I don't think Andela uses "frame work of the month" because their technology stacks are stated on their website. Every developer is assigned to one stack probably FOR SIX MONTHS and that's what they will work on.

GoodBoi1:
The kind of projects they work on during the six months should give them the experience they need. Do you know what one can achieve in six months intensive study? Don't look at things from the nigerian perspective. Andela maintains the same standards world class software companies overseas. Programming bootcamps in America use 3 months to transform students to industry-ready developers. How much more six months? I've looked at some of their projects on github and I must say that it is not the nigerian child's play projects, they even to work in teams, so imagine what can be accomplished in six months, thereby proving their capability.
I don't think Andela uses "frame work of the month" because their technology stacks are stated on their website. Every developer is assigned to one stack probably FOR SIX MONTHS and that's what they will work on.

Pls share the links to some of their github project.

guru01:

Pls share the links to some of their github project.

I can't find them now but since Andela developers have the prefix andela- added to their github username, just google "github andela-" (without quotes) you also discover that their github profiles are active

My angst against Andela is a personal grouse. My relationship with two Fellows deteriorated exponentially after they gained membersheep (sic). Have you also observed admittance is dependent on signing an agreement that you'll be stuck with them for the next four years?? Utterly disgusting!

I also align totally with the framework charge. In such production driven environment, frameworks are the holy Grail.
Like my man Mordecai wisely opined, I agree the projected glamour is a product of well thought out schemes: forcing every fellow to snap uniformed pictures in a glittering background which they ALL use on LinkedIn, prefixing their github handles and repos with "Andela" etc. They're consciously making sublime impressions so more folks can sign up. Why?! Who goes into any business to lose??

mrdcai:
Andela is a for-profit company that outsources developers to companies abroad. Software outsourcing is nothing new - India's tech economy was basically propped up by outsourcing shops in the past two decades.

According to Andela companies abroad have difficulty finding good developers, and their answer is to provide cheap inexperienced developers with only 6 months coding experience?

As a Nigerian developer, I'm really happy the program is teaching development skills to Nigerian youths, but it's not something we should be celebrating. The only companies that hire outsourced workers are those who are unwilling to pay fair wages to developers in their own country. Andela is simply providing cheap labour for these companies to exploit, and then marketing their business as a humanitarian cause.

you are the third person to I have heard express this view. I was once with some techno-prenuers and they didnt say alot of positives things about andela either.

elfico:
you are the third person to I have heard express this view. I was once with some techno-prenuers and they didnt say alot of positives things about andela either.

They cannot now. When i finished NYSC back then, i was looking forward to joining Andela. By the time i did my research ehn, i just CHANGE straight away.

GoodBoi1:
The kind of projects they work on during the six months should give them the experience they need. Do you know what one can achieve in six months intensive study? Don't look at things from the nigerian perspective. Andela maintains the same standards world class software companies overseas. Programming bootcamps in America use 3 months to transform students to industry-ready developers. How much more six months? I've looked at some of their projects on github and I must say that it is not the nigerian child's play projects, they even to work in teams, so imagine what can be accomplished in six months, thereby proving their capability.
I don't think Andela uses "frame work of the month" because their technology stacks are stated on their website. Every developer is assigned to one stack probably FOR SIX MONTHS and that's what they will work on.

I've looked at their projects on github and to be fair, they're impressive - considering a lot (?) of the bootcamp participants had little coding experience beforehand.

I don't have any issues with the quality of their training... I just think the PR and marketing belie their business model: they're just another outsourcing company looking to profit off cheap labour.

i applied 5 times went 4 d interview twice n was neva selected then i gave up

Well.. It's not like getting into Andela is easy. Being the best of the best among ur peers doesn't guarantee u a place in Andela.... Most of their developers are quality churning out massive chunks of code on github...... Andela is good.... In the long run they offer exposure.