Deaf Technology Foundation

What Deaf Technology Foundation does

Deaf Technology Foundation is a Nigerian nonprofit founded in 2017 and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (Registration No. 120650), headquartered in Jos, Plateau State. It is described as Africa's first tech hub for the deaf community and delivers programming and robotics education to deaf individuals aged four and above, reaching 6,000+ beneficiaries across 6 Nigerian states and 10+ schools. The curriculum centers on STEM coding tools (Scratch, Arduino C++, Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and hands-on robotics using the MakeX competition framework, supplemented by literacy (Deaf Reading Club), empowerment (Trauma Healing Workshop, Deaf Hike Expedition), performance (Deaf Dancers), and sports (Deaf Hoopers basketball) programs. Graduate pathways include employment at tech companies and self-employment; 98% of graduates reportedly pursue careers in tech.

The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees and a Board of Governors and operates with 17 employees including sign language interpreters, therapists, web developers, and robotics instructors. Its services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. The business model is a grant- and donation-funded nonprofit: revenue derives from occasional individual donations, grants, and corporate partnerships (notably a January 2024 partnership with Scratch Foundation that supplied platform access and resources). Go-to-market is community-led, relying on school partnerships, bootcamps across multiple states, a volunteer network, social media, and earned media; no commercial pricing or paid customer tiers exist. There are no reported funding rounds, M&A activity, or institutional investors.

Name

Deaf Technology Foundation

Legal name

Deaf Technology Foundation

Website

https://deaftechfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Deaf Technology Foundation is a Nigerian nonprofit founded in 2017 that delivers free programming and robotics education to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals across 6 states, reaching 6,000+ beneficiaries via coding, robotics, literacy, and empowerment programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI), Assistive Technology (AT) & Accessible Learning Tools (EDALAGAB), AT Implementation, Coaching & Professional Development (Teachers/Staff) (EDAKAIAI)

Keywords

• Deaf education programs
• Coding bootcamps
• Robotics training
• Nonprofit tech training
• Assistive technology education

Headquarters

HQ city

Jos

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: The nonprofit organization relies on occasional donations and grants from individuals and organizations for construction and development expenses. Programs are provided free to deaf beneficiaries.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Support from organizations like Scratch Foundation who provide resources and platform access for training programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Deaf Technology Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides free programming and robotics education to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals aged 4 and above in Nigeria. Programs are delivered through in-center coding sessions, schools, robotics labs, and bootcamps across six states, covering Scratch, Arduino C++, Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and robot building under the MakeX competition framework.

Product overview

Deaf Technology Foundation is a nonprofit organization operating as Africa's first tech hub for the deaf, established in 2017. The organization provides programming and robotics education as its core offerings, teaching deaf individuals aged 4 and above using tools including Scratch, Arduino C++, Python, HTML, CSS, and JavaScripts. The portfolio includes structured coding sessions, hands-on robotics education, reading/literacy programs (Deaf Reading Club), community and wellness initiatives (Trauma Healing Workshop, Deaf Hike), performing arts (Deaf Dancers), and sports programs (Deaf Hoopers basketball team). Programs are delivered through bootcamps, the Robotic Lab facility, and community events including MakeX Robotics Competition. Since inception, over 6,000 deaf individuals have been trained across 6 states of Nigeria.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deaf Coding Sessions STEM coding education program teaching Scratch, Arduino C++, Python, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to deaf individuals aged 4 and above.
• Robotics Education Hands-on robotics sessions teaching deaf students teamwork, problem-solving, and robot building, culminating in students creating their own robots.
• Deaf Reading Club Literacy initiative fostering reading culture within the deaf community through diverse books, book discussions, author talks, and literacy workshops.
• Trauma Healing Workshop Empowerment program for deaf girls who have experienced trauma, providing safe healing spaces and building self-esteem.
• Deaf Hike Expedition Adventure expedition designed to challenge and empower deaf individuals through nature exploration, community building, and personal growth.
• Deaf Dancers Dance performance group featuring deaf dancers in contemporary, hip-hop, traditional, and afrobeat styles, adapted to their unique perception of music.
• Deaf Hoopers All-girls deaf basketball team empowering deaf girls through sport, building confidence, teamwork, and community.
• JentaReads Bootcamp Intensive reading and literacy bootcamp for deaf individuals.
• Ganaka Bootcamp Technical bootcamp program for deaf individuals.
• Robotic Lab Dedicated laboratory space for robotics education and hands-on robot building activities.
• MakeX Robotics Competition Robotics competition for deaf students to showcase their skills and compete with peers.
• Zamfara Bootcamp Regional bootcamp program in Zamfara state for deaf individuals.
• Policy Advocacy Advocacy initiative promoting policies that enhance accessibility and inclusion for the deaf community in education, employment, and assistive technologies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6000+ deaf individuals trained
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Scratch FoundationcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Scratch Foundation partnered with Deaf Technology Foundation to introduce computer programming and robotics training to deaf students in Zamfara State. The partnership provided access to Scratch's educational platform and resources for the training programs at the Special School.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD): CSD is a nonprofit deaf-services organization offering interpreting, employment, and technology access programs to deaf communities in the US. It is directly comparable to DTF as a nonprofit delivering tech-adjacent services to deaf beneficiaries with a similar social-mission operating model.
• WAAW Foundation: WAAW Foundation runs STEM education and coding bootcamps for women and girls across Africa. It is directly comparable to DTF as an Africa-based nonprofit delivering tech-skills training to underrepresented populations through bootcamps and school partnerships.
• LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired: LightHouse is a nonprofit serving blind and low-vision individuals with adaptive technology training, employment services, and community programs. It is comparable to DTF as a disability-focused nonprofit delivering assistive-tech training and employment pathways to a sensory-disability community.

Broad incumbents

• Gallaudet University: Gallaudet is the world's only university specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, offering extensive STEM programs. It is comparable to DTF's deaf-education mission and is directly relevant through co-founder Pantong Dashwet's Gallaudet graduate background.
• Sightsavers: Sightsavers is an international NGO working on disability inclusion, particularly on visual impairment, in low-income countries across Africa and Asia. Comparable to DTF as a disability-inclusion nonprofit operating in Nigeria with grant-funded programming, though focused on sight rather than hearing.
• African Leadership Academy: African Leadership Academy is a pan-African nonprofit developing young African leaders through STEM-intensive secondary and gap-year programs. Comparable to DTF in operating as a pan-African talent-development nonprofit using project-based learning, though at a larger institutional scale.
• National Association of the Deaf (NAD): NAD is the largest US civil-rights organization for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, providing advocacy, education, and community programs. It shares DTF's deaf-community focus and nonprofit delivery model but operates at a much larger national scale.
• World Federation of the Deaf (WFD): WFD is the global umbrella organization representing deaf communities worldwide, with UN-recognized advocacy and capacity-building programs. It is comparable to DTF in mission but operates at international scale rather than a single-country grassroots level.

Emerging players

• Learning Equality: Learning Equality is a nonprofit that delivers offline educational technology (Kolibri platform) to underserved communities globally. It overlaps with DTF in deploying accessible learning tools to marginalized learners, though with broader content rather than deaf-specific focus.

Regional players

• African Disability Forum (ADF): ADF is a pan-African network of organizations of persons with disabilities, including deaf-led organizations across the continent. Comparable to DTF as a continental platform advancing disability rights and inclusion, though operating as an umbrella advocacy body rather than direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deaftechfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

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 Deaf Technology Foundation