DirectEd Development

Training the top 0.1% tech and founder talent in Africa 🇰🇪🇪🇹 🤝 Talent is everywhere, Opportunity is not. Need Talent? Check out ❤️

[DirectEd Development @DirectEdDev]

Dive into an inspiring testimony from Mrs. Gladys Ondoro, an incredible teacher at Mang’u High School, one of Kenya's top-performing Boys National School!

🏫 In this video, she sheds light on how our DirectEd Development Foundation program has not only transformed the academic landscape but has also propelled alumni to become champions in the tech space.

Mrs. Gladys shares tales of success, highlighting our coding program that has nurtured talent and empowered Mang'u High School alumni to shine brightly in the world of technology. 🌐💻 Their journey from students to tech champions is a testament to the enduring impact of education.

Let's celebrate these achievements and the limitless possibilities education opens up! ✨ Join us in shaping futures and fostering innovation. 🌍💡

#DirectEdSuccess #ManguHighSchool #TechChampions #CodingForChange

[Kenya AI Challenge @KenyaAIHack]

📢 Kenya AI Challenge kicks off today 🎉
Join the first session:

📅 May 20, ⏰ 7:00 PM EAT, 🌐 Zoom

We’ll cover the challenge structure and key AI fundamentals.

Register: https://t.co/qsTmJlG04x

Workshop calendar: https://t.co/fXnm5cgewI

@DirectEdDev @AiKenya1 @MC_AgriFin

[Kenya AI Challenge @KenyaAIHack]

500+ builders have applied to the Kenya AI Challenge 🌍

Top participants advance to the final sprint on June 27–28.

Refer accepted builders → earn official merch 👀
👕 2 referrals = T-shirt
☕ 4+ referrals = Mug

⏳ Apply by May 15

@DirectEdDev , @AiKenya1 , @MC_AgriFin

[Simon S @SimonSallstrom]

As AI commoditizes average talent, the premium on exceptional talent compounds — and we, @directeddev, the only ones with the infrastructure to find and develop it at scale in Africa

p.s. creds to Boardy who replied with this line as feedback to my newsletter update

[Simon S @SimonSallstrom]

SaaS << custom software

Only infra has a future

A. Physical capital
B. Human capital (top 0.1% only), ie @DirectEdDev

0.1% person?

1. High agency & ambition: proactively finds and understands problems
2. Defines what to build
3. AI+good taste/judgement
4. Communicates!!

[DirectEd Development @DirectEdDev]

@cats_summit @wada_org @BeyondtheCodeAI @LidoNation @__prismaevents @BCentreNBO @Cardano_CF @CardanoSummit @RareEvo We’re grateful for the highlight! Thank you so much

[Cardano Africa Tech Summit @cats_summit]

We are proud to feature DirectEd as a Community Project for #CATS26!

@DirectEdDev is ensuring Africa’s youth are ready to lead. They provide world-class, upfront tech training and paid international internships to high-potential students, turning raw talent into global tech leaders.

From intensive bootcamps to hands-on experience in AI and Web3, DirectEd is breaking down the barriers to elite education and high-quality jobs. They aren't just teaching code; they are creating pathways for students to realize their full potential in the global digital economy.

Join us to see how they are empowering the next generation of African innovators!

#CATS26 #TechTalent #CardanoAfrica #Nairobi2026 #Web3Education #Empowerment

[Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA) @ChainforGood]

Two days. One Forum. History made.

The BGA is proud to have led the first ever global convention focused on #BlockchainForGood. The #BlockchainImpactForum in Copenhagen marked a turning point, where blockchain moved from promise to proof, from pilots to policy-ready solutions, from niche to necessity.

🌍 What We Achieved:
• Convened UN agencies, government officials, Web3 pioneers, and impact builders
• Showcased 35+ real-world blockchain solutions across financial inclusion, climate resilience, and digital identity
• Launched partnerships spanning continents
• Proved that when policy, capital, and technology converge, blockchain becomes infrastructure for inclusive development

📊 The Evidence:
• 50+ pilots deployed globally through SDG Blockchain Accelerator
• 300+ applications from UNDP country offices
• Real impact: Using blockchain for humanitarian aid delivery in Malawi, $6 million+ financed to thousands of farmers globally, 1M+ trees planted through Cardano, and much more.

💡 The Message:
This wasn't about speculation. It was about solutions.
This wasn't about hype. It was about humanity.
This wasn't about getting rich. It was about doing good.

🙏 Gratitude to All Our Sponsors & Partners:

🌍 Hosted by: BGA and UNDP AltFinLab

🏆 Sponsors: @BybitEU | @burnt_xion | @adbc_ae | @vechainofficial | @foundation_gsr | @Mantle_Official | @flock_io | @hetu_protocol | @MasChainMY

📰 Media Partner: @Cointelegraph

🤝 Community Partners: @nordicblock | @Cardano_CF | @StellarOrg | @MalaysiaBCW | @activ8lab | @blockchain_abc | @NapulETH | @MoodServices | @BCNLfoundation | @gbweekofficial | @WiBTalks | UKUS Crypto Alliance | ThinkX | Global Growth Ensemble @AdamFlinter | @ChainRctnGlobal | @499_DAO | @DirectEdDev | @AfBlockChamp | @vitalismorg | @mmerge_io | @BlackVogel_ | @EuCInitiative | @SustainableADA | @Impact_Web3 | @AsiaWeb3Ai | @partisiampc | @INATBA_org | @BlockchainforEU | @bundesblock

And to every speaker, panelist, moderator, project team, and attendee who traveled to make this possible, you are the changemakers!

2026? We're scaling this movement. Bigger stages. Bolder partnerships. Broader impact.

The future of blockchain isn't just being built, it's being measured in lives changed.

See you at #BGAwards 2026. 🚀

#BlockchainImpactForum #ChainForGood #ChainsofChange #SDGs #BlockchainForGood

[DirectEd Development @DirectEdDev]

Day 2: #BGAwards at T13 Nordhavn

Public expo including SDG Blockchain Accelerator Showcase, live pitches, networking and awards celebrating blockchain for good.

🎫 register here: https://t.co/I5sAMd0Phk

[DirectEd Development @DirectEdDev]

🌍 We are proud to be a Community Partner for the Blockchain Impact Forum, hosted by Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA) @chainforgood and @UNDPAltFinLab in Copenhagen, Denmark, Nov 4-5, 2025!

👉 For more info and registration to attend: https://t.co/hR4cz38AWk

[Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA) @ChainforGood]

We are proud to announce the 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦: A pivotal global event uniting leaders to advance #blockchainforgood 🌍

Hosted in #Copenhagen, Denmark, on November 4-5 2025, co-organised by @UNDP AltFinLab, the two day Forum isn't just another #web3 event; it's a coalition of the world's leaders pushing for real-world change through #blockchain, matching builders with institutional demand for groundbreaking solutions.

The invite-only Day 1 features impactful sessions with policy makers, @UN officials and blockchain pioneers. Panels, fireside chats, and deep discussions will form the foundation of BGA's inaugural Impact Report on the state of blockchain for good.

Join us for the annual #BGAwards on Day 2 at T13 Nordhavn, a public convention featuring the top SDG-aligned projects from the BGA incubation programme and SDG Blockchain Accelerator, with live pitches, networking, and a spotlight awards ceremony honoring the top innovators for good in 2025.

As @benbybit, CEO of @Bybit_Official and BGA's Initiator, says: "Blockchain for Good is not just an idea; it's a systems-level shift building bridges between technologists, governments, and communities to achieve the #SDGs."

Join us this November to collaborate on a #sustainable blockchain ecosystem. Let's make real impact!

👉 For more information and registration: https://t.co/VZAVmdJb3p

[DirectEd Development @DirectEdDev]

Day 1: Chains of Change – Exclusive panels and chats with UN officials, government leaders, and blockchain pioneers, showcasing the SDG Blockchain Accelerator.

[Draper University @draper_u]

Cardano x DraperU Founder Residency - Pitch Day Lookbook - PART 2/4

@crashr_io - Trade anything for anything.

Unlike conventional platforms that often restrict trades to specific asset pairs, Crashr's protocol allows users to trade any combination of digital assets—be it NFTs, stablecoins, or cryptocurrencies—in a single transaction. This flexibility is achieved through their advanced smart contract system, which consolidates listing and offer functionalities, simplifying user interactions and enhancing the trading experience.

@Cur8Labs - A home for everything you own on-chain.

Cur8 unifies over 1,200+ NFT projects across hundreds of protocols into one cross-chain platform—giving users a single place to discover, collect, and showcase digital assets. It’s also a launchpad for artists of all kinds to share and monetize their work, no matter where it lives on-chain.

@DeltaDeFi - Enabling high-frequency trading on-chain.

High-frequency trading (HFT) accounts for 50% of daily trade volume for equities markets. But crypto remains at less than 20%. Why? Latency, gas fees, and slow finality

DeltaDeFi is changing that. Built on Cardano Hydra, it enables HFT with off-chain order management, programmatic access, and zero cost until execution, bringing speed and scale to decentralized markets.

@DirectEdDev - Funding education for developing nations

DirectEd connects donors and investors to students in underserved regions through blockchain-powered Income Sharing Agreements. Students receive funding upfront and repay only when earning. Smart contracts ensure funds go directly to education—bringing transparency, accountability, and long-term impact to global learning.

@FluidTokens - Don’t Sell Your Assets— HODL & Leverage

FluidTokens is a Cardano-native DeFi platform unlocking liquidity from non-traditional assets—NFTs, native tokens, and real-world representations—without selling them. Users can borrow, lend, and pool capital using idle on-chain assets as collateral, expanding what’s possible in DeFi on eUTxO chains.

Excited to meet some of the startups on Demo Day? DM to apply for more details. Invite only.

[Simon S @SimonSallstrom]

Demo day on Monday 👀

[Simon S @SimonSallstrom]

The AI startup whose AI raised $8M for them (!) today, we had https://t.co/B9RnweSq2D’s “Human in Loop” Nick Lebesis share his journey with our DraperU cohort! What surprised me was just how fast Creandum decided to invest after the entire team (internally) had decided to use

[DirectEd Development @DirectEdDev]

In SF tonight?

Come over to meet our CEO @SimonSallstrom and other founders part of the current @TimDraper @draper_u x Cardano cohort!

[zkFold @zkFold]

Hey! In collaboration with @draper_u and other Cardano startups, we are hosting an event in San Francisco tonight. Come to join us, gonna be fun:
https://t.co/FHSEWQiSzc

[Simon S @SimonSallstrom]

The Why and What of @DirectEdDev at @draper_u (p.s. Japanese speakers: how's my pronunciation?)

[DirectEd Development @DirectEdDev]

@draper_u @GeroWallet @clarity_dao @xbeefi @crashr_io @claymates @txpipe_tools @AGROT_SP Incredibly excited to pick up our web3 journey 👏🏽

[The African Blockchain Championship @AfBlockChamp]

How to Rapidly Build a MVP Using AI

Are you a founder, innovator, or blockchain enthusiast looking to quickly turn your idea into a product?

Join us for a high-impact virtual workshop and discover how AI can accelerate your MVP development with Yash Goyal, our Head of Mentorship.

📅 Date: Tuesday, 25th of March 2025
🕒 Time: 5:30 GMT +3
📍 Platform: Zoom https://t.co/yvFuQqLx6x

🎓 What to Expect:

-Proven strategies to build MVPs using AI
-Live demo of powerful AI tools
-Interactive Q&A with Yash Goyal

#AfricanBlockchainChampionship #MVPWorkshop #AIInnovation #TechLeadership #BuildFasterWithAI #StartupAfrica #BlockchainInnovation #DigitalAfrica

[DirectEd Development @DirectEdDev]

Great panel where our CEO @SimonSallstrom had the opportunity to highlight the increasing importance of soft skills and leverage of talent in light of AI

[Inclusive FinTech Forum @inclusIFF]

𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬

"The future of skills isn’t just about technology anymore; it’s about leveraging technology to enhance personal growth. Today, there should be a shift in the development of soft skills." ~@Ley_Rwagasana, FinTech Secretariat Lead @Kigali_IFC

[Project Catalyst @Catalyst_onX]

Finally, Simon Sallstrom, with DirectED (@DirectEdDev) from Kenya/United Kingdom.

[The African Blockchain Championship @AfBlockChamp]

We're excited to welcome Joseph Kibur as a judge.

He is an Ethiopian-born Canadian entrepreneur and AI researcher. He co-founded NetNation in 1996, Canada's largest web hosting company. He is also the first Ethiopian to have a Nasdaq listed company.

April-May🏆