DRC-based startup Itot Africa is providing customised digital content, coding, programming, training and e-learning to businesses, SMEs and entrepreneurs in Africa and the United States.
Itot Africa, an ed-tech startup based in Lubumbashi and launched in 2017, recently received EUR54,000 (US$59,000) in matching funds from the Catalytic Africa initiative, supporting an investment made into the startup by DRC Impact Angels.
The startup’s flagship product Okademy is an online learning, on-demand training and career tracking platform. Meanwhile, with its network of affiliated and trained students, Itot Africa also supports the digitisation process of its clients by creating technology solutions.
“We cater to three primary categories of individuals – those seeking knowledge to fill a personal gap or follow technological trends, those aiming to meet recruitment requirements or find employment, and professionals looking to reinforce their skills,” co-founder Samy Mwamba told Disrupt Africa.
“Our comprehensive services extend beyond training to include recruitment and software development, supporting businesses in their digital transformation journey. We engage our alumni to provide apt solutions based on specific corporate demands. Additionally, companies seeking human resources turn to us for recruitment and placement services, benefiting from our robust database of skilled professionals.”
At the inception of Itot Africa, Mwamba said the team had identified a critical gap in the Democratic Republic of Congo – a profound lack of digital culture, skills, and opportunities, in a nation where 70 per cent of the population are unemployed, including 65 per cent of the young population.
“This divide extended to disparities in knowledge, employment, and open dialogue between various stakeholders in the IT field,” he said.
“Our unique response to this challenge led to the creation of Itot Africa, with the core mission of bridging this gap. As pioneers in this space, we faced minimal competition within the country. While our innovative approach inspired several similar initiatives, the overall competition in the nation remains unremarkable.”
Self-funded until the recent investment, the startup has already trained more than 7,000 individuals, of whom over 60 per cent are women, and executed over 300 projects. It has also created more than 100 jobs within the DRC, establishing its presence in the four principal cities of Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma and Kolwezi.
“These achievements resonate with our commitment to fostering digital culture and inclusivity, contributing to the socio-economic development of our nation,” Mwamba said.
“Our company has earned trust and recognition both on a domestic and international scale. We’ve worked with a variety of local clients, as well as international clients from Canada, France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, receiving positive media coverage and feedback from our beneficiaries.”
Itot Africa, which monetises via billing for services rendered and commissions on job placements, is in the process of expanding into other African countries such as Rwanda, Kenya and Senegal, thanks to what Mwamba calls its “restaurant-for-the-brain” franchise model.
“The favourable reception of our training and IT services, not only within our established markets but also from potential customers elsewhere, underlines the viability of our model,” he said.
“This success has inspired us to plan our expansion into other cities and countries across Africa. We are actively exploring growth opportunities, both geographically and by diversifying our services and products, reinforcing our commitment to bridging the digital skills gap on the continent.”
