Kenyan edtech Craydel expands to Rwanda, taps Nigerian talent in Pan-African push

Craydel, a Kenyan edtech that helps students apply to universities abroad, has launched in Rwanda and is expanding its Nigerian team as part of its ambitious pan-African expansion drive. Rwanda’s entry brings Craydel’s total footprint to five countries, joining Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

Craydel Co-founder Manish Sardana told TechCabal that the startup is now in its growth stage and expanding operations through partnerships with more overseas educational institutions as it broadens options for African students exploring various career options. Craydel platform matches students with their best-fit universities using its university matchmaker tool.

“Our study abroad tech allows us to scale seamlessly and rapidly across markets,” Sardana told TechCabal. “ Rwanda is now our 5th market in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the reception for Craydel from some of the top high schools in Rwanda has been phenomenal.”

Craydel’s latest expansion makes it the first Kenyan edtech startup to expand across the continent. While most edtechs remain focused on single markets, the startup took the pan-African route, offering students in East, West, and now Central Africa a unified platform to explore, compare, and apply to universities and colleges.

To meet growing demand, the company is also hiring education counselors across its teams in Nigeria and Kenya, a move Sardana attributes to rising demand for its tech-driven guidance platform. The company employs over 100 people, with Kenya and Nigeria remaining its largest and fastest-growing markets.

Founded in 2021 by Sardana, John Nguru, and Shayne Aman Premji, Craydel has raised over $2.5 million in venture funding, with backing from Enza Capital, Angaza Capital, and other investors. Learners register for free, while the company earns revenue through commissions paid by institutions listed on the platform for each enrollment they receive. Its main competitors include IDP Education and Applyboard.

“Craydel is building the digital rails for higher education choice and access across Africa, “ said Mike Mompi, Enza Capital managing partner. “Their rapid expansion into Rwanda and new high school partnerships is a testament to both the power of their technology and the strong market pull given the urgency of the problem they’re solving.”

With an estimated 400,000 African students studying abroad each year, Craydel’s pan-African expansion positions it to tap into this growing market as it scales to achieve profitability. The startup estimates that the African edtech market is valued at about $30 billion annually.