Lagos-based Data Entry Academy has emerged as the winner of the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Get Ready 4 timbuktoo EdTech Accelerator, beating more than 1,400 startups from across Africa. The achievement highlights the growing influence of Nigeria’s education technology ecosystem as investors and development organisations increase support for digital skills across the continent.
Data Entry Academy, a Nigerian edtech startup based in Lagos, has won first place in the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Get Ready 4 timbuktoo EdTech Accelerator, taking home a $10,000 prize after outperforming 1,429 applicants from across Africa as reported by techcabal.
Founded by Chioma Ifeanyi-Eze, the startup secured the top spot during the accelerator’s final pitch competition held in Dakar, Senegal, on July 1. Finalists from Egypt and Senegal finished second and third, while another Nigerian startup, Varsity Scape, placed sixth among the top ten winners.
The victory represents another milestone for Nigeria’s rapidly growing edtech sector, which continues to attract recognition for developing practical digital skills solutions at a time when employers across Africa are demanding a more technology-ready workforce. Competition for this year’s accelerator was intense.
According to UNDP, the programme received 1,429 applications from startups across the continent, with 1,099 meeting the eligibility requirements. After nearly 2,850 blind evaluations conducted by 19 independent experts, only 50 startups advanced into the 12-week accelerator programme.
Twenty startups eventually reached the final pitch event, where ten winners were selected. Data Entry Academy claimed the overall top prize. Founded in 2020, Data Entry Academy focuses on preparing Africans for the modern workplace through practical online training.
Its flagship 30-day programme teaches learners how to use workplace software such as spreadsheets, cloud accounting systems, invoicing platforms, inventory management tools and payroll applications. The company says it has already trained more than 17,000 learners across Africa using platforms including Telegram and Teachable. Students range from job seekers and entrepreneurs to professionals seeking new digital skills and organisations looking to upskill their employees.
The startup is no stranger to major accelerator programmes. Both Data Entry Academy and Varsity Scape previously participated in the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, where selected startups received $100,000 in equity-free funding alongside mentorship and business advisory support. Data Entry Academy joined the fellowship’s second cohort in 2024.
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The latest award concludes a 12-week accelerator programme designed to strengthen business models, improve products, increase market traction and prepare startups for investment opportunities through UNDP’s broader timbuktoo ecosystem. The timbuktoo initiative itself is one of Africa’s most ambitious innovation programmes.
Launched by the UNDP during the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos, the initiative aims to mobilise $1 billion over ten years to support 10,000 African startups and generate $10 billion in economic value across the continent. The programme brings together governments, investors, universities and private-sector organisations to accelerate innovation.
Industry observers say the award also reflects a broader shift within Africa’s startup ecosystem. As venture capital funding becomes more selective, accelerator programmes are becoming increasingly important sources of mentorship, product validation, investor readiness and international visibility for early-stage companies.
Nigeria’s education technology sector has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of that trend. A growing number of startups are building platforms that address digital literacy, workforce development and employability, helping individuals acquire practical skills needed in today’s technology-driven economy.
Data Entry Academy’s success demonstrates that African edtech companies are not only solving local challenges but are also becoming increasingly competitive on the continental stage. The achievement also sends a positive signal to entrepreneurs building education-focused businesses.
With the right combination of innovation, execution and ecosystem support, African startups are proving they can compete at the highest level while helping equip the continent’s workforce for the digital economy.
About the Author
Marcel Chidozie is a tech analyst and writer covering foreign news, fintech, and emerging technologies at TechRegard. Based in Nigeria, He's passionate about translating complex tech developments into compelling, accessible stories for diverse audiences. His work focuses on how technology shapes innovation across Africa and globally.
