This startup just raised another N12.8 billion in funding

How does a company go from a tiny idea, where you gather people with next to no tech skills. Train them to world class standards, and raise $80 million while at it?

This is Andela.

The company just raised $40 million in Series C funding.

Originally founded by a team of six in 2014 — three Africans, including Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, two Americans and a Canadian. Now, their headquarters is in New York, and they have offices in San Francisco, Lagos, Kenya, and Uganda.

Since then, Andela is on ambitious mission to connect African software developers to demand in the United States, and other developed countries.

This is Andela’s argument.

Africa has an abundance of talent. What Africa lacks, unfortunately, is the abundance of opportunity.

“For Africa to be what we want her to be, Africans must commit to figuring out how to solve our own problems. We must invest in our people and equip them to contribute productively and creatively.”

That’s what Seni Sulayman, Andela Nigeria’s Country Director said.

So Andela is combing everywhere, searching for these really smart people, and arming them to take on the world of code.

The CEO of Andela, Jeremy Johnson, believes Andela offers “a very different model for unlocking human potential.”

We agree.

While Andela only admits a select few of its applicants, about 20,000 aspiring programmers have used Andela’s free online learning and training tools.

This is Andela’s method.

So imagine an aspiring software developer; let’s call her Sunshine. She applies to the Andela program. So she visits Andela’s website to learn how to join. She fills out the free application. Then she’ll have to download an intense home study kit. Then a technical assessment follows.

She’s one of the few that get’s selected, and joins another two-week long bootcamp. Only 3% of applicants get accepted, and she’s one of them;

“Welcome to the Andela Technical Leadership Program.”

Sunshine then gets a Macbook, accommodation, and free meals twice a day.

It’s a four-year program where the first 6 months is spent in training, and the rest, working for companies that need her skills.

And she gets to earn a pretty good salary while at it.

And so, what began as a team of six, has now become a very promising force. They currently have a clientele of about 122 businesses in 11 countries, including Mastercard Labs, GitHub, Viacom and SeatGeek.

Now, the revenue part. When a company needs Andela’s services, an Andela fellow is assigned, and the company pays a fee to to Andela.

This is what this new raise means for Andela.

Series C funding (after Series A & B obviously) is the coming-of-age funds that investors raise when they’re confident of the viability and long term success of the company.

Not only is it awesome that this round was raised by CRE Venture Capital, an African investor.

It’s the largest venture round raised by an African firm, said Pule Taukobong, a founding partner of CRE Venture Capital.

It is also a resounding vote of confidence. When you think of the long streak of positives, like investments from Spark Capital, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and GV (formerly Google Ventures). Andela has now raised a total of $80 million in funding.

When Mark Zuckerberg dropped by in Nigeria last year, he said at Andela’s office, “You are all part of something that’s really important.”

Talent has never really been a problem with young Nigerians. Opportunity again, is the real problem. Perhaps, this would inspire more people to find ways to bridge this gap across Africa, and push the continent forward.