Nigerian edtech startup AltSchool Africa is taking its innovative approach to education to Europe, starting with Malta. This is part of the company’s strategic plan as it seeks to diversify its revenue streams and accelerate growth.
AltSchool’s entry into Malta comes after participation in a government-sponsored growth accelerator program. The company is now hiring across various departments, including business development, marketing, and content production, to support its European operations.
Founded in 2021 as a virtual platform offering diplomas in engineering, data, and business analytics, AltSchool has seen its learner base grow far beyond Nigeria. The startup now operates in Kenya, where it expanded in January 2024, as well as the US and Rwanda, where it opened an office at Kigali’s Norrsken Hub in 2023.
Europe represents AltSchool’s third-largest market, with learners from over 12 countries already engaging with its online platform. In Malta, AltSchool will offer its full curriculum—spanning business, data, engineering, media, and the creative economy—while adding new modules in artificial intelligence and data analytics.
The first cohort of Maltese learners is expected by 2025.
CEO Adewale Yusuf mentioned that the company is nearing profitability and views this expansion as crucial for boosting revenue. “Europe has been a growing market for us, and we are excited to bring our services closer to learners there,” he said.
AltSchool will also introduce a hybrid learning model in Europe, combining online and in-person sessions at its new Malta campus. “Because we’re an alternative school, there are some elements of traditional schools that work, and we want to take the best of both sides,” said Rachael Onoja, head of innovation and market expansion.
AltSchool will explore partnerships with European businesses to curate training programs for employees. “We’ve seen companies request support for workforce development, and we want to scale that into enterprise licensing,” Onoja explained.
AltSchool plans to differentiate itself in the competitive European edtech space, which includes players like Bloomtech, by pushing its personalized learning and a strong sense of community. While the subscription-based pricing will remain, AltSchool will adjust costs for the European market.
To date, the startup has supported 100,000 learners across eight African and 12 European countries. “It takes a village,” Onoja remarked, referring to all the collaborative efforts with universities, businesses, and governments to make their vision a reality.
