Daptio’s adaptive elearning system scoops international honours

Daptio, a Cape Town-born elearning startup, has been named as one of Africa’s top 10 most innovative companies for 2014, by international business publication Fast Company.

This follows its local award of top prize at Telkom’s Open Innovation Mega Challenge, just a few months after the company’s 2013 inception. Prize money of R120 000 and 24 months’ worth of free Internet connectivity was awarded to the start-up, for a brilliant and innovative approach to solving the pressing issue of education in Africa.

Daptio’s adaptive online education system, powered by the cloud and use of artificial intelligence, shrewdly adjusts to the learner’s aptitude level, negating the need for restrictive fixed courses. This, not only encourages growth and confidence within the learner, but allows for a “self-directed learning environment that gives the student a better chance of passing,” co-founder Tabitha Bailey says in a press release.

“We believe that the one-size-fits all model of education that is currently being used by educational facilities and other online offerings is no longer relevant, especially as we can leverage technology in new ways. Content can and should be tailored to suit the individual needs of every student – and with Daptio that is now possible,” she adds.

The elearning sector is currently booming, especially in Africa, with Fast Company claiming that the continent’s elearning market will top $530 million by 2017. On the back of this, African start-ups are currently seeing a large injection of investment from both local and foreign entities. Daptio has previously received funding from the Western Cape’s Department of Social Development fund, Ikhamva Labantu, as well as Cape Town funders Playlogix – the company’s technical co-founders.

“We’re excited about the future for Daptio and the impact it’s going to have on Africa,” says Roger Norton, CEO of Playlogix.

“The world-class technology behind Daptio ensures that it’s powerful while still being suited to run on mobile phones; which research shows is the backbone of all innovative solutions to emerging economies,” he adds.

Daptio looks to become Africa’s primary elearning platform, competing against the likes of Get Smarter, Funda and ReThink, in an ever competitive and growing sector.