Valingo Launches Online Language Learning Platform for Africans, Opens Office in Côte d’Ivoire
Valingo, an EdTech startup aimed at providing affordable and quality online language learning to Africans, has officially launched its platform and opened a new office in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The company, founded by Uba Alintah and Michael Eshun, seeks to address the significant gap in the African market for accessible language education.
The founders bring a wealth of experience to the table, with Alintah’s 15 years in African tech and Eshun’s background in global EdTech at companies like Magoosh and Lingoda. Together, they’ve assembled a team with over 40 years of combined tech experience in Africa and 10 years in EdTech worldwide.
Valingo offers live online classes with certified teachers via Zoom, as well as self-paced video, audio, and text lessons with quizzes. The company targets both corporate workforce learning, which is often subsidized by governments, and individual adult and child learners. Their goal is to prepare learners for work, school, travel, and exams.
“We estimate our total addressable market at $2.25 billion,” said CEO Uba Alintah. “With over 600 million African workforce members and students, we see a huge opportunity to make a positive impact.”
Since conducting their first online lessons in Francophone Africa in 2022, Valingo has already gained traction with over 6,000 users across 11 African countries. The company began monetizing two months ago and has several corporate customers such as Jumia (also know as Amazon for Africa, Caterpillar, GIZ, Burger King and more)
The new office in Abidjan, which opened in October 2022, marks a significant milestone for Valingo as they expand their presence in Francophone Africa. “Côte d’Ivoire is a strategic location for us,” Alintah noted. “It allows us to better serve our Francophone users and establish strong partnerships in the region.”
Looking ahead, Valingo plans to empower African teachers through their academy program, enabling them to earn three times the average teacher’s salary. This initiative will also help lower the costs of live lessons for students.
With a strong founding team, a clear mission, and early traction, Valingo is well-positioned to revolutionize language learning in Africa and provide opportunities for personal and professional growth across the continent.
