Adei Foundation

What Adei Foundation does

Adei Foundation, Inc. is a US-registered 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 82-2627894) that operates as Adei Institute of Technology from its Adei Technology Hub in Cocody, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Founded in 2018 by Odomitchi Anikpo, a Senior Software Engineer at Google, the organization runs three programmatic pillars — Adei Educate (technical and entrepreneurial skills training), Adei Elevate (startup acceleration and fellowships), and Adei Connect (mentor and investor network) — supported by the physical co-working and training facility inaugurated in December 2019.

Its core offering is structured programming rather than a technology product: an Adei Educate – Launch. Boost. Grow. accelerator track, a 9-month Data Science Fellowship developed with Google Engineering Education, a Google SSA Machine Learning Bootcamp collaboration, and a train-the-teacher program that has reached over 1,400 female students. Programs are delivered via in-person sessions at the Abidjan hub and virtual workshops, drawing on a network of 50+ international mentors and 15+ investors including Chanzo Capital, Finca Ventures, Mercy Corps Ventures, Brightmore Capital, Calvert Impact Capital, P1 Ventures, and Lateral Capital.

Adei is funded through donations, grants, and partner sponsorships rather than commercial pricing; highlighted giving mechanics include a $75-per-student-per-year donation benchmark and a sponsor-match program. The organization is governed by a founder-led board spanning the US and Côte d'Ivoire, supported by a small 1–10 person staff, and channels alumni startups into Angel Fair Africa's deal-making event, which has facilitated approximately $23M in alumni funding over seven editions.

Name

Adei Foundation

Legal name

Adei Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://adeiinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Adei Foundation is a US-registered 501(c)(3) non-profit that trains African tech entrepreneurs and talent through programs, fellowships, and the Adei Technology Hub in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, funded by donations, grants, and partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tech Education and Entrepreneurship Training

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM)

Keywords

• Tech entrepreneur training
• Startup accelerator programs
• Data science fellowship
• Digital skills training
• Tech mentorship network

Headquarters

HQ city

Abidjan

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Adei Foundation, Inc. is a 501c3 public charity (EIN 82-2627894) that relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and institutional donors. The organization promotes giving through its website, Amazon Smile, PayPal, and birthday pledge campaigns. A $75 gift is highlighted as supporting one student for a year.
2. Program Services and Fellowships: Revenue is generated through program fees, fellowship tuition, and training services. The Data Science Fellowship (9-month program), Google ML Bootcamp collaboration, and entrepreneurship accelerator programs represent service offerings. The organization also receives grants and sponsorships from partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Adei Foundation is a non-profit social enterprise that develops African tech talent and entrepreneurs through training programs, fellowships, and the Adei Technology Hub. It runs three program pillars — Adei Educate (technical and entrepreneurial skills training), Adei Elevate (startup acceleration and the 9-month Data Science Fellowship), and Adei Connect (a global mentor and investor network) — operating from the Adei Technology Hub in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, and via virtual delivery. Programs are offered at no cost or through sponsorship and fellowship models, funded by donations and grants.

Product overview

Adei Foundation (Adei Institute of Technology) is a non-profit social enterprise organized around three programmatic pillars: Adei Educate, Adei Elevate, and Adei Connect. Adei Educate provides technical and entrepreneurial skills training to students, professionals, and businesses through basic skills programs and advanced training. Adei Elevate supports high-potential startups and talent through entrepreneurship mentorship and the 9-month Data Science Fellowship program. Adei Connect links the ecosystem through a global network of mentors and subject matter experts. The organization operates the Adei Technology Hub in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, and collaborates with Google on the SSA Machine Learning Bootcamp.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adei Educate Educational program that delivers basic technical skills training in collaboration with schools, advanced practical training for industry professionals, and digital transformation support for entrepreneurs and businesses, for students, professionals, and aspiring tech workers in Côte d'Ivoire.
• Adei Elevate Program that elevates high-potential startups, talent, and ideas by providing entrepreneurship training and mentorship aimed at improving access to capital, and includes the 9-month Data Science Fellowship and other technology fellowships for African tech entrepreneurs and professionals.
• Adei Connect Network initiative that connects entrepreneurs, talent, innovators, and investors across the regional and international tech ecosystem through a curated community of 50+ world-class mentors and subject matter experts.
• Adei Technology Hub Development and innovation center located in Cocody, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, offering co-working spaces, computer labs, and training facilities where tech entrepreneurs and tech professionals can learn, connect, grow, and innovate.
• Data Science Fellowship 9-month specialized data science and machine learning training fellowship program for African tech talent that delivers Google Engineering Education content, real-world experience through industry-relevant projects, and professional skills preparation for career success.
• Google SSA Machine Learning Bootcamp 4-month machine learning training program for potential and current ML developers (0-5 years experience) in sub-Saharan Africa, co-delivered with Google Developers Africa where Adei Institute runs the Tech & Career Talk portion and mentors participants toward potential employer matches.
• Adei Engage Mentorship opportunity program connecting experienced business professionals, subject matter experts, and technologists with African tech startups and talent for social impact, providing access to an international network of mentors and experts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 59 tech startups supported through programs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Google Developers AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Collaboration with Google Developers Africa for the SSA Machine Learning Bootcamp. Adei Institute supports the Tech & Career Talk portion, providing participants opportunity to engage with industry experts. Participants study ML theories and are matched with potential employers.
• Creative ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Network of start-up incubators based in France, founded 10 years ago. Creative Valley provides mentorship support for Adei Educate programs and facilitates international exchange programs. Founder Yann Gozlan met with Adei leadership in Paris to strengthen collaboration.
• Seedstars AbidjancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Part of the global Seedstars group with activities in 80+ emerging ecosystems. Focuses on positively impacting lives through technology and entrepreneurship. Seedstars Abidjan provides access to their acceleration programs, events, and network in Côte d'Ivoire.
• Impact Hub AbidjancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Catalyst for fostering social innovation in Côte d'Ivoire. Provides a community of entrepreneurs with support and creative space. Works to develop entrepreneurial spirit and create impact through collaboration.
• Angel Fair AfricaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Annual investors x African startups deal-making event. Partnership allows up to 2 Adei program startups to join the investor event. Africa Virtual Accelerator (AVA) powered by Adei Institute delivers training to prepare cohort for pitch event. Has facilitated $23M in investments over prior 7 editions.
• Lycée Sainte Marie de CocodycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Girls-only public high school classified as High School of Excellence. Adei Technology Hub trained 21 teachers in technical digital skills through a 12-week program, funded by the US Embassy in Côte d'Ivoire. Teachers then educated 1400 girls and 190 staff members.
• Google Engineering EducationcoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle Engineers develop technical content for the 9-month Data Science Fellowship program. Content includes machine learning fundamentals, data investigation, ML techniques, and responsible AI principles.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Impact Hub Abidjan: Local Ivorian innovation hub providing co-working, incubation, and community programs. Listed as an Adei strategic partner with overlapping entrepreneur support services in the same Abidjan market.
• Seedstars: Global emerging-markets accelerator operating in 80+ ecosystems including Seedstars Abidjan, which is a core Adei partner. Both run structured startup training culminating in investor pitch events with comparable target founders.
• Creative Valley: French incubator network providing mentorship support for Adei Educate programs and facilitating international exchange. Operates overlapping startup acceleration services with comparable francophone-international orientation.
• MEST Africa: MEST (Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology) trains African software entrepreneurs through year-long fellowship programs with investor pipelines, closely paralleling Adei's Data Science Fellowship and entrepreneur accelerators.
• Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB): Nigerian-founded pan-African innovation hub running accelerator programs, talent development, and investment support for tech founders across Africa. Comparable operating model but at much larger scale and Anglophone focus.

Regional players

• Flat6Labs: MENA/Africa-focused seed-stage accelerator providing funding and mentorship to early-stage tech startups. Comparable in accelerator and investor-readiness focus but primarily serves different regional markets.
• Africa Leadership University: Pan-African higher-education institution developing African talent through practical, tech-enabled programs. Comparable mission in African talent development but focuses on degree pathways rather than short-form accelerators.
• Sinapis: Faith-based entrepreneurship accelerator operating across East Africa, providing training, mentorship, and seed capital to SMEs. Comparable entrepreneur-training model but serves a different African region.

Broad incumbents

• Tony Elumelu Foundation: Large-scale African entrepreneurship program providing training, mentorship, and seed capital to entrepreneurs across the continent. Overlaps in entrepreneurship training and capital-access mission but operates as a much larger pan-African foundation.
• Andela: Africa-focused technology talent company that trains and places software engineers globally. Overlaps with Adei's Data Science Fellowship and technical-talent development mission but operates at much greater scale across multiple African countries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adei-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Adei Foundation