Tunisia-based edtech startup Shape has received funding from The Oman Technology Fund as part of its initiative to invest in African startups.
Shape, a Tunisian edtech, has received funding from The Oman Technology Fund (OTF). Shape aims to offer professionals a continuous learning platform and has 1,000 active users.
OTF has invested USD 50,000. OTF has previously invested in Tunisian startups SgharToon, Wattnow, Avidea, and Seemba.
Shape’s digital platform
Founded in 2021 by Rahma Abid, Shape has developed a digital platform that allows professionals to access continuous learning training. Users can develop a personalized training plan that meets their career goals.
“I started with a simple story on my Instagram account on September 29, 2021. I launched the first cohort in October 2021 with 12 candidates. I generated revenue from the first cohort. The first cohort was with Google Meet, Slack and Teachable. I had a lot of technical and logistical problems, I spent a lot of time with the candidates, I got sick, and I had COVID for 20 days. The program stopped for 20 days because without me the program doesn’t exist, I did the whole process by myself,” Rahma Abid said, about her startup journey.
Shape’s development
“Then I developed the idea and automated the whole process so that it works without me. And again, I had new problems because I didn’t have enough resources to have a good product, so I applied to the Flywheel AIR 1 program in March 2022, but I got a rejection in May 2022. But I didn’t give up, I applied again in September with the new version of Shape. I launched the coaching program for future employees in October and received more than 400 candidates but unfortunately, I could only accept 20 candidates. The first cohort was in partnership with Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program. On November 8, 2022, I applied for a startup label (a few hours before the deadline, and to my surprise I found a technical problem with SMT but I applied). I was awarded the startup label from Startup Tunisia, via Smart Capital on December 1, 2022,” she added.
According to Abid, by the end of 2022, Shape currently has three Cohorts in the Shape your Future program. 20 people have been recruited by partners. Shape has 30 partners, including two universities. There is one cohort of 20 candidates in the Highlight Your Skills program and 350 candidates in line for future cohorts. Abid also has partners in France and Canada.
The rise of edtech
Edtech is on the rise across the MENA region, with Kuwaiti company BAIMS and Morocco’s SmartProf recently raising funds.