Since 2020, the number of edtech startups operating in Africa has been growing steadily. Their adoption is also rising due notably to the alternatives they offer, allowing learners to learn at their own pace and make better use of their time.

Mara Academy is a digital platform developed by a Beninese start-up. It allows users to access online training in various fields, including digital marketing and social media management.

The edtech startup behind the app is based in Cotonou. It was founded in 2021 to offer every African a unique learning experience. Its digital solution has no mobile app for the time being. To submit applications for one of the training courses it offers, users have to visit its web platform and fill out a dedicated form. Once an application is accepted, the applicant has to take an entrance test. After the test, there is a third step, which consists of an interview with the startup’s team and the signing of enrollment documents.

To be accepted for its courses, applicants need to meet certain conditions. They must be 18 to 30 years old, live in Benin, Togo, Niger, or Côte d’Ivoire,  be unemployed, be available for training and employment, and have at least two years of higher education.

Mara Academy wants to give quality education to every African. It also wants to serve as a bridge to the labor force. This is why it set up the Youth Employment Accelerator YEA program. This program allows users to get trained and pay when they get employed. "No loans, no hidden fees. We get paid when you get paid. After you get your job you will pay us 30% of your salary over 12-24 months," its platform reads.

Through partner companies, it helps learners land a decent job after a 52-week training. In addition, throughout the training, learners spend time in companies where they each have mentors who follow their progress.

Adoni Conrad Quenum