Talent Nation, a startup focused on nurturing African talent in artificial intelligence, has successfully raised pre-seed funding. This investment will enable the company to broaden its training initiatives and bridge the gap between skilled African AI professionals and global tech firms.
The funding round was jointly spearheaded by Enza Capital, an African venture capital firm, and LocalGlobe from London. Additional contributors included Future Africa, Kaleo Ventures, Ajim Capital, Solving the World’s Greatest Problems, and Accelerate Africa. Notable individual investors were Sir John Lazar, who heads the Royal Academy of Engineering, and Saul Klein, a co-founder and managing partner at LocalGlobe.
While the exact funding amount remains undisclosed, this investment marks a significant milestone for Talent Nation, which has recently concluded 18 months of stealth operations. Founded by Nigerian tech entrepreneur Iyinoluwa Aboyeji and CEO Kesiah Valkin, the startup aims to tackle the worldwide scarcity of specialized AI engineering experts.
Aboyeji, known for co-founding Flutterwave and Andela, brings valuable expertise in technology entrepreneurship and talent cultivation to this new venture. Talent Nation operates through Learn2Earn NG, a program dedicated to identifying, training, certifying, and placing African developers in international tech roles.
The company reports that its program has garnered over 63,000 applications, with more than 32,000 candidates evaluated to date. Currently, Talent Nation supports around 1,400 active participants across nine physical locations in Nigeria. These fellows receive training designed to prepare them for AI engineering careers. The program is tuition-free, enabling selected developers to access training without financial burden.
Revenue is generated by matching qualified engineers with international companies in need of specialized technical skills. Talent Nation has set an ambitious goal: to train, certify, and place one million African AI engineers within the next ten years.
Backed by its investors, Talent Nation plans to enhance its training facilities, expand participation, and forge stronger connections with global employers. This investment empowers the startup to pursue its vision of establishing Africa as a key source of world-class AI engineering talent.