Breni, a fast-rising Nigerian edtech startup recently launched, is actively seeking investor commitments for its pre-seed funding round as it pursues an ambitious vision: to become the “Duolingo for everything.” In just three months, the company claims to have achieved rapid global traction—without spending a single dollar on marketing.
Founded by Abubakar Sadiq Umar and Bilal Abdullahi, Breni is an AI-powered learning platform built on the science of how the brain learns best. Its mission is to make education fun, engaging, and accessible for a new generation of learners worldwide. The app uses AI-driven personalization to break lessons into short, bite-sized modules that improve retention and make learning enjoyable.
Since its launch, Breni has attracted over 3,000 users from more than 20 countries, with nearly 90% of its user base outside Nigeria. Surprisingly, Nepal leads the adoption curve, accounting for over 40% of total users, followed by Russia and Nigeria. Other active markets include Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, the UAE, South Africa, Canada, the US, and the UK.
Much of this traction came organically through user referrals, while the founders leveraged international networks to expand reach across continents.
Breni operates on a freemium model:
- Free tier: Supported by ads.
- Premium subscription: Offers unlimited lessons, priced regionally to reflect purchasing power—$1 in Nigeria and up to $5 in other markets.
In its first 37 days, Breni generated ₦200,000 ($137) in revenue, signaling early monetization potential.
The global edtech sector has seen mixed fortunes. In Nigeria, the market is valued at $400 million, up 48% from 2024, but challenges persist:
- Edukoya, which raised $3.5 million in Africa’s largest edtech pre-seed round, shut down in February 2025.
- uLesson slashed subscription fees by half in 2024 to retain users.
Despite setbacks, niche-focused startups like Lingawa—teaching African languages to the diaspora—have found success.
Africa’s online learning market was worth $3.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to hit $19.7 billion by 2034. Nigeria leads the continent, driven by innovative startups. According to HolonIQ’s Africa EdTech 50 Report (2024), Nigerian companies accounted for 34% of Africa’s top 50 edtech firms, underscoring the country’s dominance in the sector.
Breni’s bold vision, early traction, and AI-driven approach position it as a potential game-changer in Africa’s edtech landscape. The question now is whether it can sustain growth and secure the funding needed to scale globally.
