Craydel
Founded
2021 in Kenya.
Craydel was co‑founded by Manish Sardana, John Nguru, and Shayne Aman Premji.
Founder & CEO
Manish Sardana — Co‑Founder & CEO leading strategy, product development, and Pan‑African expansion.
Location
Nairobi, Kenya, with operations and market presence in multiple African countries.
Industry
EdTech (Education Technology) — focusing on university admissions guidance, international education access, and career matching tools.
Overview
Craydel is a technology‑enabled education platform designed to help African students explore, compare, and apply to universities both locally and abroad. The company’s platform simplifies the traditional, fragmented process of international admissions by offering credible information, career guidance, and AI‑assisted university matches. It aims to democratize access to higher education opportunities for students across the continent.
Craydel has adopted a pan‑African expansion strategy, establishing a presence in multiple countries including Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Burundi, and Tanzania — making it one of the first Kenyan edtech startups to scale across the continent.
Core Features & Capabilities
AI‑Powered University Matchmaker: Matches students with suitable universities based on goals, academic performance, budget, and preferences.
Study Abroad Guidance: Tools and content that help students explore career pathways, course options, and application requirements.
Commission‑Based Revenue Model: Students access services for free, while partner institutions pay commissions on successful enrollments.
Localized Support & Counselors: Educational counselors based in key markets to assist students and tailor guidance.
Target Market
Students and learners across Africa seeking access to global higher education opportunities.
Secondary schools and learners needing structured guidance for career and degree choices.
Universities and colleges worldwide looking to expand their recruitment footprint into Africa.
Value Proposition
Democratized Access to Opportunities: Offers students free, unbiased access to information and tools for discovering and applying to universities abroad.
AI‑Enhanced Decision Support: Proprietary tools provide personalized, transparent recommendations, reducing reliance on fragmented or biased recruitment agents.
Pan‑African Scale: Unlike many EdTech platforms focused on individual markets, Craydel is building a continental footprint to serve learners from different regions and backgrounds.
Institutional Partnerships: Creates value for partner universities by streamlining recruitment and widening access to qualified candidates from across Africa.
Funding & Funding Stage
Capital Raised
Total Funding: Over USD 2.5 million raised from venture investors.
Key Backers: Includes Enza Capital, Angaza Capital, and others supporting early growth and market expansion.
Funding Stage
Growth Stage (Post‑Seed/Early Expansion)
While Craydel began with early rounds including pre‑seed and seed funding, its continued capital mobilization and significant expansion across multiple countries position it in the growth stage of funding — progressing toward larger institutional rounds as it scales operations and partnerships.
Strategic Context & Growth
Craydel’s aggressive expansion — entering multiple African markets within a short timeframe — reflects rising demand for accessible, tech‑driven education guidance among students facing complex global admissions landscapes. The company estimates the broader African edtech market at around $30 billion annually, underpinned by strong youth demographics and increasing aspirations for international education.