Forge Academy & Labs

What Forge Academy & Labs does

Forge Academy & Labs (legally Forge Academy (Pty) Ltd, registered in South Africa in 2015 under registration number 2015/517951/07) is a for-profit training and education institution that launched operations in November 2020 as South Africa's first fully inclusive artificial intelligence laboratory and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) academy. The company delivers 4IR training programs covering 3D printing, virtual and augmented reality, digital marketing, robotics, coding, and drone technology to youth, graduates, small businesses (SMMEs), and educational institutions, anchored by a year-long Nokia-sponsored learnership and an AWS re/Start cloud certification pathway. It also runs a 12-month creative internship program and operates an incubation hub for 4IR-focused startups in association with the Finnish Embassy and the South African Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies.

The core technology stack consists of an AI laboratory at The Gantry in Fourways (powered by Nokia), Oculus-based virtual classrooms, customized LMS portals, and resold enterprise hardware including TEMI and DOUBLE autonomous personal AI assistant robots and GuideBOT indoor navigation systems supplied through a partnership with Ozone Connect. Curriculum is co-developed with Nokia's global 4IR experts and Finnish pedagogy specialists, with content partnerships extending to the Digital Marketing Institute (Ireland), CompTIA, UX Design Institute, and TestOut for certification content.

The business model is multi-stream and largely partner-dependent. Revenue is generated from corporate-sponsored training (notably Nokia), paying-student short courses (Basics of Computing, Basics of Coding), DMI co-branded online courses, AWS re/Start delivery, B2B sales of business technology solutions (robotics, VR classrooms, LMS portals), and incubation hub services for 4IR startups. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; payment is processed via Yoco Technologies under PCI-DSS/EMV compliance. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding, operates from Roodepoort and Fourways in Gauteng, and is led by founder and CEO Arthur Wade Anderson.

Name

Forge Academy & Labs

Legal name

Forge Academy (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://forgeacademy.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Forge Academy & Labs is a South African for-profit training institution that delivers Fourth Industrial Revolution courses (AI, VR/AR, robotics, cloud, digital marketing) to youth, graduates, and SMMEs via Nokia-sponsored learnerships, AWS re/Start, and enterprise technology solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Skills Training and Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Computer Training (611420), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

3D Printing, CAD & Digital Fabrication Programs (EDAMADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI), Certification & Credentialed Creator Programs (MPACALAI), Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)

Keywords

• Technology skills training
• Fourth industrial revolution
• Digital marketing education
• Cloud computing certification
• Business technology solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Randburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Online Courses and Diplomas: Provision of online educational courses in conjunction with Digital Marketing Institute, including bespoke co-branded courses, writing support services, assessment preparatory training, and other educational products and services
2. Short Courses: Short courses such as Basics of Computing and Basics of Coding targeted at children and paying students
3. Business Technology Solutions: Technology-driven business solutions including TEMI robots, GuideBOT systems, virtual classrooms, and customized LMS portals sold to businesses
4. AWS re/Start Training Program: Cloud computing skills training program with professional skills development, connecting graduates to potential employers
5. Incubation Hub Services: Providing enabling space for startup businesses with special funding access, laboratory time, Wi-Fi, think tanks, smart technologies, assistance in product certification

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Forge Academy & Labs is a South African training institution that delivers Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technology education through online courses and on-site instruction at South Africa's first fully inclusive AI laboratory, covering 3D printing, virtual and augmented reality, digital marketing, drone technology, robotics, and cloud computing. Beyond student training, it operates an enterprise business-technology solutions division distributing TEMI AI assistant robots, GuideBOT indoor navigation systems, and Oculus-powered Virtual Classrooms with customized LMS portals, plus a startup Incubation Hub and a 12-month paid Creative Internships program.

Product overview

Forge Academy & Labs operates as a unified education and technology platform comprising multiple interconnected offerings. The core consists of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) training programs covering VR/AR, drone technology, robotics, and digital skills, delivered through online courses and physical training at their AI laboratory. AWS re/Start provides cloud computing certification training as a specialized program. The Creative Internships Program extends learning into 12-month paid positions. For business clients, the Business Technologies Solutions division offers TEMI/Double Robots, GuideBOT navigation systems, and Virtual Classrooms with customized LMS portals through Ozone Connect partnerships. SMME Support Services provide additional training for small businesses. The Incubation Hub complements the education offerings by providing startup businesses with funding access, laboratory facilities, and 4IR expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) Training Programs Comprehensive educational programs focused on 3D printing, next-generation computing, virtual and augmented reality, digital marketing, drone technology, and robotics to prepare students for careers in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
• Creative Internships Program 12-month paid internship program offering graduates practical experience in 4IR disciplines including software development, user experience design, 3D animation, and game design.
• AWS re/Start Cloud Training Program Hybrid learning program in partnership with Amazon Web Services that prepares individuals for careers in cloud computing through scenario-based learning, hands-on labs, and AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification preparation.
• Business Technologies Solutions Innovation-driven business solutions including TEMI and Double AI assistant robots, GuideBOT indoor navigation systems, and Virtual Classrooms with Oculus VR integration and customized LMS portals, sold to enterprises through Ozone Connect partnership.
• Online Courses Platform Digital Marketing Institute-certified online educational courses including bespoke co-branded courses, writing support, assessment preparatory training, and other educational products delivered via audio, video, text, and document collaboration technology on the Forge Academy website.

Quantifiable outcome

• 165,000+ members globally have joined through DMI partnership

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

• NokiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner and sponsor of Forge Academy. Nokia is sponsoring 30 students for a year-long learnership in a Fourth Industrial Revolution certified diploma. The programme was designed by Forge Academy in conjunction with Nokia's global team of 4IR experts and leading Finnish education specialists. Nokia powers the fully inclusive AI laboratory.
• AWS re/StartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWS re/Start is a skills development and training program that prepares individuals for careers in the cloud. Forge Academy & Labs teamed up with AWS re/Start to offer this hybrid learning program. Through scenario-based learning, hands-on labs, and coursework, learners gain skills for entry-level cloud roles and prepare for AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification.
• Digital Marketing InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for online educational courses. Forge Academy provides services in conjunction with the Digital Marketing Institute of the Republic of Ireland, including bespoke co-branded online educational courses. Over 165,000 members globally working for top companies.
• Finnish EmbassymoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking in close association with the Finnish Embassy to provide enabling space for startup businesses and access to Finnish education expertise and pedagogy
• Ozone ConnectmoderateTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for TEMI and DOUBLE robots, and GuideBOT indoor navigation systems. Ozone Connect provides the technology solutions for business robotics and virtual classroom offerings.
• Ministry of Communications & Digital TechnologiesmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams attended the launch of Forge Academy. The Ministry supports the academy's mission to provide 4IR education and create employment opportunities for youth.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Explore Data Science Academy: South African vocational data science and engineering bootcamp. Directly comparable as a SETA-aligned, intensive South African training provider targeting career-changers and graduates with employer placement.
• ALX Africa: Pan-African technology training operator offering software engineering and other tech programmes across multiple African countries. Comparable as a scaled African 4IR skills training provider targeting similar youth segments.
• HyperionDev: South African-headquartered coding bootcamp offering online and hybrid tech training across Africa and globally. Directly comparable as a coding/digital skills training provider targeting similar youth and graduate learner segments in South Africa.
• Zaio: South African coding and technology training platform targeting working professionals and graduates. Directly comparable as a South African tech education peer pursuing similar digital skills learners and employer partnerships.
• WeThinkCode_: South African software developer training program using a tuition-backed, employer-linked model. Competes for the same youth learner base seeking technology careers and operates in the same Gauteng-centric geography.
• Moringa School: East Africa-based (Kenya) software development and data science training school with employer-linked curriculum. Comparable as an African vocational tech training institution with hybrid learning model and corporate partnerships.
• Umuzi: South African tech skills development organisation focused on placing graduates into digital economy roles. Comparable as a South African training and employer-pipeline peer serving similar youth learner demographics.

Broad incumbents

• Andela: Africa-focused technology talent company with a learning and apprenticeship platform. Operates at significantly larger scale and broader scope than Forge Academy, but overlaps in African 4IR skills training and corporate talent supply.
• General Assembly: Global technology and digital skills training provider with bootcamps and short courses across multiple geographies. Comparable in the digital and 4IR skills bootcamp category, though at materially larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Forge Academy.
• Coursera: Global online learning platform offering credentialed courses including cloud (AWS), digital marketing, and IT certifications. Comparable in the credentialed online course category that Forge Academy delivers through its partner-sourced curriculum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/forgeacademyza
• Facebookfacebook.com/ForgeAcademySA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forgeacademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/forge_academy

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forge Academy & Labs