The TechSkills Marketplace Program creates pathways to opportunity by inspiring and nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset among CMU-Africa students. The program connects students with startups actively seeking tech talent, allowing them to explore entrepreneurship as a viable career pathway by contributing their skills in a startup environment. Through hands-on tech projects and mentorship from startup teams and founders during a 3-months internship, students gain valuable experience that enhances their technical skills and entrepreneurial mindset, enabling them to make a real impact on the startups. This immersive experience not only improves prospects for student employment but also equips them with the learning and the confidence required to launch and run their own ventures.
Objectives
- To cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset and career-readiness in CMU-Africa students by providing hands-on experience in a startup environment, where they can actively contribute their technical skills and gain mentorship from startup teams and founders
- To support startups in accessing skilled tech talent by connecting them with capable CMU-Africa students who can contribute meaningfully to projects, helping these ventures grow, scale, and innovate through the students' technical expertise and fresh perspectives
The challenge
Many talented students possess advanced technical skills but lack the real-world entrepreneurial experience needed to apply these skills meaningfully in dynamic startup environments. This gap limits both students' career readiness and startups' ability to access innovative technical talent that can help them scale, pivot, or refine their offerings.
The TechSkills Marketplace Program directly addresses this challenge by creating a bridge between technical know-how and practical entrepreneurial application. Through immersive internships with startups, students gain hands-on experience in applying their skills within fast-paced, impactful projects, while startups benefit from fresh perspectives and cutting-edge technical expertise. This collaborative platform not only supports students in developing an entrepreneurial mindset but also equips startups with the resources they need to grow and innovate, fostering a mutually beneficial ecosystem for skill-building and venture success.
Startup partners
Testimonial
"By leveraging the expertise of CMU-Africa interns, we are not only enhancing digital literacy in rural Kenya, but also providing these young professionals with invaluable experience." -Michael Odongo, President/CEO of Angaza Center
Learn more about the Angaza Center's experience with CMU-Africa students
Become a startup partner
The TechSkills Marketplace Program offers startups an exceptional opportunity to connect with CMU-Africa's top tech talent, bringing in skilled, motivated interns ready to make a meaningful impact. By partnering with the program, startups gain access to students trained in advanced technical skills and equipped with an entrepreneurial mindset, enabling them to contribute fresh ideas and innovative solutions to real projects. This partnership is a unique chance for startups to accelerate growth, expand technical capabilities, and even identify potential future hires who are already aligned with the startup's tech and needs. Contact the IIL to learn more about becoming a partner.
Program outcomes
The TechSkills Marketplace Program has demonstrated remarkable growth and impact since its inception in 2023. The table below highlights key milestones achieved in recent years, showcasing the increasing participation of students and startups as well as the program's success in preparing students for high-demand roles in the tech industry. These outcomes reflect the program's commitment to bridging the gap between academic excellence and industry needs, fostering innovation, and driving professional growth for all stakeholders involved.
| Year | Number of students | Number of startups | Key highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 31 | 27 | Successful placements in roles like software engineering, AI, and data analytics. |
| 2024 | 53 | 31 | Expanded to 5 new countries: Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda. |
TechSkills Leads across the Afretec Network
The TechSkills Marketplace Program is scaled across the African Engineering and Technology Network. One of the key aims of the TechSkills Marketplace program is to promote job growth and create long-term employment opportunities for students. The Afretec Network expands this vision across the entire African continent.
Antonio Fabio Da Silva
Agostinho Neto University
Judice Cumbunga
Agostinho Neto University
Mustafa ET-Toualy
Al Akhawayn University
Amine Amar
Al Akhawayn University
Patricia Musiime
Carnegie Mellon University Africa
Amandine Kayizari
Carnegie Mellon University Africa
Stanley Mukasa
Carnegie Mellon University Africa
Ahmed Saeed Abdelsamea
The American University in Cairo
Hatem Yousry Elsayed
The American University in Cairo
Doudou FALL
Université Cheikh Anta Diop
Djim Mouhamadou Lamine DIONGUE
Université Cheikh Anta Diop
Agunsoye Johnson Olumuyiwa
University of Lagos
Idowu Toluwanimi Adedamola
University of Lagos
Faith Barasa
University of Nairobi
Peter Okech
University of Nairobi
Abaho Guershome
University of Rwanda
Munezero Joselyne
University of Rwanda
Tshegofatso Mogaladi
University of the Witwatersrand
Neo Tiamo
University of the Witwatersrand