South Africa’s EdTech Startups: Trends, Challenges & Growth

Education in South Africa is impressive and inadequate, depending on where one looks. The country is home to several top-ranking universities and a multitude of private primary and high schools. However, not everyone has access to quality education. Many underserved areas still lack proper infrastructure and are falling further behind in the digital age.

One promising way to bridge this gap is through the growth of educational startups—commonly known as EdTech.

What is EdTech?

Education technology or EdTech, refers to the use of information and communication technology (ICT) tools in learning environments to create more engaging, inclusive, and personalised educational experiences. EdTech companies leverage both software and hardware to enhance how learners are taught and how educators teach. 

As the EdTech sector continues to grow, many South Africans will soon gain access to digital tools that enhance teaching and learning across all levels of education. 

In this article, we explore the South African EdTech landscape—highlighting government policy, regulatory challenges, and the startups driving innovation.

Government Support for Digital Education

South Africa’s Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has developed the National Digital and Future Skills Strategy, which aims to develop digital skills for economic growth, social development and cultural enrichment. This strategy encompasses various elements such as basic and intermediate digital skills, building advanced digital skills, industry 4.0, and addressing the digital skills divide.

Furthermore, the strategy highlights the need for continuous collaboration among the government, private sector and educational institutions, to achieve the goal of a digitally skilled South Africa.

Key objectives of the National Digital and Future Skills Strategy:

Cultivate digital skills development: The strategy aims to address the demand for mechanisms to promote digital skills development across the country, with an emphasis on acquiring and deploying digital skills in an evolving digital economy.

Developing advanced digital skills: There is a focus on advancing digital skills beyond basic and intermediate levels, strengthening research and innovation capacities in higher learning institutions, incubators, research entities and various sectors.

Addressing the digital skills divide: The strategy seeks to close the digital skills gap by ensuring all South Africans benefit from enhanced digital skills, contributing to an improved overall quality of life, education and economic growth. Additionally, the strategy puts an emphasis on the significance of digital skills for creating modern jobs and combining digital competencies with critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Collaboration efforts among stakeholders: Highlighted in the strategy is the need for continuous collaboration between government, private sector and educational institutions to achieve a digitally skilled South African workforce. It (strategy) accents the importance of structured consultation, collaboration and coordination involving all stakeholders.

Legal Requirements for EdTech Startups

Like any other business in South Africa, EdTech startups must operate within a defined legal framework. This includes decisions on business structure, tax obligations, and governance, which influence their operational viability.

Key legal considerations:

• Company registration: Startups must register with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and with the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
• Intellectual property (IP) protection: As many EdTechs develop proprietary platforms and content, safeguarding intellectual assets is critical.
• POPIA compliance: EdTech platforms often collect sensitive data from learners and educators. Compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) is mandatory.
• Curriculum alignment: Educational content offered via EdTech platforms should align with the national curriculum where relevant. Partnerships with accredited institutions may require authorisation from the Department of Education and other regulatory bodies.

Establishing a robust legal foundation is essential for protecting data, intellectual property, and company assets—while building trust with users.

The Digital Divide in South African Schools

South Africa’s digital divide has created a stark contrast in access to educational technology. On one side affluent and resourceful schools with seamless integration of tech tools; on the other are under-resourced institutions where even basic access to computers and internet connectivity remains a challenge.

This divide extends beyond hardware to include disparities in digital literacy, availability of quality digital content, and trained educators.

The impact of the digital divide means that students lacking access to technology tools are disadvantaged when it comes to information and digital-age skills. Similarly, educators in underserved areas who lack digital literacy further deepens the problem, further limiting the benefits of EdTech solutions.

How to Make EdTech More Inclusive

Bridging the digital divide requires a holistic and coordinated approach. Some promising strategies include:

Robust infrastructure development: Putting in place initiatives to provide consistent internet access and connectivity and digital devices in all South African schools.

Teacher training: Provide training for teachers on how to integrate technology into their teaching methods and on how to use digital tools.

Curriculum remodelling: Government needs to modernise the national curriculum to include digital literacy and critical digital skills and knowledge.

Public-private partnerships: There needs to be more collaboration between government, private sector and NGOs for shared resources, expertise and innovative solutions.

Top EdTech Startups in South Africa

South Africa is home to over 290 EdTech startups. These startups are tackling challenges ranging from high school exam prep to coding bootcamps and workplace learning.

Here are some of the most impactful players:

Matric Live

Matric Live is an education platform and app designed to help high school students in Grades 10-12 prepare for their final exams and improve their studies. The platform offers interactive lessons, personalised feedback, adaptive assessments, and artificial intelligence (AI) powered support.

Matric Live is funded by Injini and the Mastercard Foundation.

SPARK Schools

SPARK Schools is a network of private schools offering tech-led education. The organisation which has campuses in Gauteng and the Western Cape, focuses on individualised learning, combining direct classroom instruction with technology-based learning.

Currently, SPARKS has received funding from various investors including Creadev, Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation and The ELMA Foundation.

HyperionDev

Specialising in coding bootcamps, HyperionDev offers both online and in-person programmes in software development and web design. The startup has raised over R500 million from private investors.

ALX

ALX is a technology training provider focused on providing young Africans with the skills needed to thrive in a digital economy. The organisation offers free programmes in data science, data analytics, AI, graphic design and cloud computing amongst many others.

ALX operates in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.  

WeThinkCode

WeThinkCode is a local software development academy that offers a 16-month tuition-free programme for individuals looking to learn how to code and become developers. WeThinkCode offers training in computer science, information technology, software development and computer programming.

Go1

Recognised as South Africa’s first unicorn startup, Go1 is an EdTech that provides a platform for organisations to access a library of learning content from various providers. Go1 users get access to over 100k learning resources through the Go1 catalogue.

Go1 has various investors including Salesforce Ventures, AirTree Ventures and the SoftBank Vision Fund 2. 

South Africa’s EdTech sector is a growing force in reshaping the education landscape. While regulatory hurdles, infrastructure challenges, and the digital divide persist, the rise of local startups and supportive government strategies provide hope.

With sustained collaboration and investment, EdTech has the potential to make high-quality education more accessible and equitable across the country—paving the way for a digitally empowered generation.