Craydel, a Kenyan edtech platform transforming how African students apply to universities abroad, has made significant strides by expanding into Burundi and Tanzania. This marks the platform’s sixth and seventh markets across Africa, solidifying its position as the first Kenyan education startup to create a continental presence.

The latest expansion is part of Craydel’s rapid growth, following its previous market entries in Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe. As demand for international education continues to grow, Craydel is tapping into a burgeoning market—estimated at 400,000 African students studying abroad each year—that remains underserved by traditional educational agents.

Craydel’s platform has been designed to address the lack of reliable and accessible advice African students face when choosing universities abroad. At the heart of Craydel’s solution is its AI-powered university matchmaker tool, which helps students find universities that align with their career aspirations, making the application process more personalized and seamless.

A Game Changer for African Students

Speaking with TechCabal, Craydel’s co-founder and CEO, Manish Sardana, emphasized the challenges students across Africa face: “Limited, biased advice from a fragmented agent system.” Craydel is challenging this model by placing control in the hands of students. “We’re putting control back in learners’ hands with seamless access to the tech to search, match, and apply to their best-fit universities,” Sardana added. The platform’s mission is simple—empower students with the tools to make informed decisions about their education.

Since launching, Craydel has grown rapidly, expanding into new markets with established playbooks for market penetration. Following its entry into Rwanda earlier this year, Sardana pointed out that the company is now in its growth phase and continuing to expand through strategic partnerships with overseas institutions, broadening the options available to African students exploring career pathways globally.

Funding and Future Growth

Craydel was founded in 2021 by Sardana, John Nguru, and Shayne Aman Premji. The platform has raised over $2.5 million in venture capital, with key investors including Enza Capital and Angaza Capital. The platform operates on a unique business model, allowing students to register for free, while universities and colleges listed on Craydel’s site pay commissions for each student enrollment they secure.

Despite competition from international giants such as Canada’s ApplyBoard and Australia’s IDP Education—both of which dominate the global student recruitment market—Craydel remains confident that its locally-rooted, pan-African approach gives it an edge. The company believes that understanding the African market, combined with tailored solutions, allows it to build stronger trust with students, helping it scale faster across diverse and fragmented education markets.

“Our expansion to Burundi and Tanzania is part of our journey to deploy the Craydel platform across Africa,” Sardana stated. “Our model is locally rooted, and it’s what makes us stand out in this competitive space.”

A Bright Future for EdTech in Africa

Craydel’s founders are keenly aware of Africa’s vast potential in the edtech space. The company estimates that Africa’s edtech market is worth approximately $30 billion annually, driven by the continent’s youth demographics and an increasing demand for global education pathways. As the company expands, it has indicated that more markets are on the horizon, signaling further launches as it aims to move toward profitability.

Craydel’s innovative approach has already captured attention, and its rapid growth shows no signs of slowing down. With more markets on the horizon, Craydel is positioning itself as a key player in the African education space, helping students access opportunities that can shape their futures in an increasingly globalized world.

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