Founder story: Zaio

Zaio, founded by Mvelo Hlophe, is an online platform that teaches people how to code and become developers. The company was started with the aim of bridging the gap between what the industry wanted and what universities were teaching.

The inspiration for Zaio came from Hlophe's friend, who, post-university, was looking for a developer internship but couldn't find one due to a lack of experience. Hlophe saw an opportunity to create a platform that would equip people with the necessary skills to succeed in future jobs. Today, Zaio has become a social enterprise that has created many part-time jobs, has over 10,000 sign-ups, and seen 200 users placed in developer jobs with Sanlam, the World Bank, Standard Bank and more.

The courses are designed to equip learners with the skills and knowledge needed for them to succeed in the industry. Emphasis is made on practical learning, ensuring learners have an impressive portfolio by the end of the course, allowing them to demonstrate their abilities and stand out with potential employers. Zaio is confident enough to guarantee a first job interview upon completion of the course with their recruitment partner companies. To ensure Zaio has the highest completion rates in the industry, they provide a 24/7 tutor support from their team of expert tutor and the Zaio AI tutor that is always online.

Zaio is currently focused on teaching people how to code, but they plan to offer more digital skills, including data science, in the future. Over the years, the company has also secured funding that will help them expand their services across Africa.

In the next few years, Zaio aims to further expand its operations across the continent and into regions such as Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt. They want to become a fully-fledged journey for learners to pick up skills and launch their careers anywhere in the world.

Zaio's founders believe that everyone should have access to opportunities, and their mission is to unlock the potential of untapped talent through education. They have seen a growing need for people to equip themselves with digital skills for future jobs, and they are working to democratise access to learning essential technical skills.

Zaio has been selected for a number of incubation and acceleration programs over the years, including Injini’s EdTech Fellowship Program, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. These various programs connects Zaio to a network of experts in education, tech, business development, and EdTech entrepreneurship. The founders see Zaio as an EdTech solution first and are working to make their learning journey more robust and accredited.

Zaio is an excellent example of how startups can have a positive impact on society by providing easy access to tools that equip young people with the skills they need for the future of work. If you're interested in learning how to code or want to equip yourself with essential digital skills, Zaio is the platform for you.

Zaio, founded by Mvelo Hlophe, is an online platform that teaches people how to code and become developers. The company was started with the aim of bridging the gap between what the industry wanted and what universities were teaching.

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