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 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: luma.com/dok5xgu0 Workshop calendar: luma.com/kenyaaichallenge @DirectEdDev @AiKenya1 @MC_AgriFin

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

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

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!!

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

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

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.

Demo day on Monday 👀

The AI startup whose AI raised $8M for them (!) today, we had Boardy.ai’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

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

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

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 us06web.zoom.us/j/8530706632… 🎓 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

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

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

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🏆

We’re excited to announce @yash_goyal_dev as the Head of Mentorship!🎊 Yash is currently a contributor at the Ethereum Foundation’s Privacy & Scaling Explorations (PSE) and comes in with 20 hackathon titles, including EthLondon, Berkeley ZKP, and Monad Madness. April-May🏆

The applications are now open for the African Blockchain Championship @AfBlockChamp, proudly supported by @zkPass and others. 🔗apply.africanblockchamp.com/ This premier pan-African competition trains and equips emerging African devs to create solutions for real-world challenges.