What Decagon does

Decagon Institute is a Lagos-based tech training institute founded in 2018 by Chika Nwobi that operates a structured, bootcamp-style program converting aspiring professionals into software engineers. The core offering is a step-by-step curriculum covering core programming through advanced software engineering practices, including AI fundamentals and prompt learning, delivered through hands-on real-world project assignments under the supervision of tutors and industry mentors. The company self-reports producing more than 1,500 engineers over five years with an 80%+ placement rate at employers including Flutterwave, Microsoft, Payoneer, Carbon, Interswitch, Sterling Bank, Vertex, and Terragon.

Revenue is generated through tuition for the training program, with student affordability supported by loan financing partnerships with Sterling Bank and Access Bank, evidenced by an extensive loan administration document library (repayment guidelines, liquidation templates, guarantor acknowledgements, restructuring requests). Distribution is direct-to-consumer via a waitlist-based enrollment funnel delivered in-person at the Lekki Peninsula II headquarters in Lagos, with marketing relying primarily on alumni referrals, social channels, and community events. The company is privately held, founder-controlled, and reports no external funding rounds.

Adjacent to the core bootcamp, Decagon has launched Zeem Global, a wholly-owned subsidiary offering study-abroad master's degree pathways for alumni in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. The organization employs approximately 326 people, which is a notably large headcount relative to its disclosed graduate output and suggests significant non-instructor operating capacity, though no breakdown is provided. The business model remains concentrated in tuition revenue from a single geography with a single delivery modality.

Name

Decagon

Legal name

Decagon Institute

Website

https://decagon.institute

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Decagon Institute is a Lagos-based tech training bootcamp founded in 2018 by Chika Nwobi that transforms individuals into software engineers through structured curricula, hands-on projects, and mentorship, with 1,500+ alumni placed at top companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Software Engineering Training

NAICS

Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Computer Training (611420), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Bootcamps & Accelerated Reskilling (Full-time/Part-time) (BPAEANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Software Engineering & Application Development Training (Languages, Frameworks, Testing) (BPAEANAI), Software Development (Programming, Frameworks, Dev Tools) (EDABAFAA), Information Technology & Software (EDAAAPAB), Online/Hybrid Overseas Pathway & Bridging Programs (EDAIAJAK)

Keywords

• Software engineering training
• Tech bootcamp
• Coding education
• Career transformation program
• Tech institute

Headquarters

HQ city

Lagos

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tech Training Programs: Decagon generates revenue through tech training bootcamps that transform individuals into software engineers. The institute charges tuition for its structured learning programs, with loan financing options available through partnerships with Sterling Bank and Access Bank to support student payments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Decagon runs a structured, in-person software engineering training program that takes aspiring individuals and trains them into job-ready software engineers through a step-by-step curriculum, hands-on real-world projects, and mentorship from experienced tutors and industry mentors. The institute also extends its offering through subsidiary Zeem Global, which provides study-abroad pathways for alumni pursuing master's degrees in tech in the U.S., U.K., and Canada.

Product overview

Decagon is a tech training institute offering a structured curriculum-based training program that transforms talented individuals into world-class software engineers. The core offering includes a step-by-step learning path covering core programming to advanced software engineering practices, hands-on real-world project assignments, and mentorship from experienced tutors and industry experts. Decagon has also launched Zeem Global as a subsidiary to provide study-abroad opportunities for alumni pursuing master's degrees in tech in the U.S., U.K., and Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Decagon Tech Training Program A structured, in-person tech training bootcamp that transforms aspiring individuals into job-ready software engineers through a step-by-step curriculum covering core programming to advanced software engineering practices, hands-on real-world projects, and mentorship from experienced tutors and industry mentors; targeted at individuals in Nigeria seeking a career in tech.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1500 successful software engineers produced in 5 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Zeem GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZeem Global is Decagon's newly launched subsidiary focused on providing study-abroad opportunities for Decagon alumni. Through this initiative, graduates interested in pursuing a master's degree in tech can explore options in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. This partnership extends Decagon's value proposition beyond local placement to international education pathways.
• Sterling BankcoreOthersSterling Bank partners with Decagon to provide loan financing options for students enrolled in the training program. Decagon's community resources page references multiple loan-related documents including guidelines for loan repayment, full liquidation templates, guarantor acknowledgments, loan restructuring requests, and letters of non-indebtedness.
• Access BankcoreOthersAccess Bank partners with Decagon to provide loan financing options for students enrolled in the training program. The partnership includes guidelines for loan repayment and liquidation templates similar to the Sterling Bank arrangement.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Regional players

• Code for Africa: Pan-African civic technology and data-focused talent-development initiative. Partially comparable in mission (building African tech capacity) and geography, though it focuses on civic tech / journalism rather than commercial software engineering placement.

Broad incumbents

• Aptech: Global IT education and training franchise with operations across Africa and Asia. Comparable as a broader IT training incumbent in similar emerging markets, though its offerings span more domains than Decagon's software-engineering focus.
• Udacity: Global online tech education platform offering nanodegree programs in software engineering, AI, and data. Comparable as an alternative technical-skills training provider for the same career-changer persona, with online rather than in-person delivery.
• HackerU: International tech training provider offering bootcamps and corporate training across multiple geographies including emerging markets. Comparable in curriculum (software engineering, cybersecurity) and B2B corporate training monetization, though operating primarily outside Africa.
• Coursera: Global online learning platform offering university and industry tech credentials, including software engineering specializations. Comparable as an alternative learning pathway for aspiring software engineers in Africa, though its model is self-paced online rather than bootcamp / placement-driven.
• NIIT: Global IT training and workforce development provider with a long-standing presence across Africa and other emerging markets. Comparable as an IT skills training incumbent operating in similar geographies, with broader portfolio (corporate training, K-12, vocational) than Decagon's specialized bootcamp.
• Andela: Africa-focused engineering talent marketplace that has historically trained and placed African software engineers into global companies. Comparable as an Africa-based software-engineering talent producer, though significantly larger and broader in scope than Decagon's pure bootcamp model.

Emerging players

• Microverse: Global remote-based software engineering bootcamp with an income-share agreement model and remote-first delivery. Comparable to Decagon in bootcamp model and placement-driven outcomes, but differentiated by remote delivery and global (non-Africa-specific) reach.

Direct peers

• Moringa School: Nairobi-based tech training bootcamp offering software engineering and data science programs with employer placement. Comparable to Decagon in bootcamp model, curriculum focus, and placement-driven GTM, with a stronger East African footprint.
• AltSchool Africa: Pan-African software engineering and tech skills bootcamp operating across multiple African markets. Directly comparable to Decagon in target customer (career-switchers), curriculum (software engineering), and placement-led value proposition, but with broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/decagon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 Decagon