Lingawa (Formerly TopSet)

A startup dedicated to preserving African languages has secured new funding. Lingawa, an AI-driven edtech platform founded in 2022, secured $1.1 million in funding to preserve African languages through interactive online lessons, inspired by its founders’ challenges learning Yoruba. Read more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gQxAqbc7 #AFROTECH

Lingawa (Formerly TopSet), a Techstars-backed edtech startup, has raised $1.1 million in pre-seed funding to launch a gamified language learning app tailored for the African diaspora. With plans to expand its offerings to languages like Swahili and Arabic, and a framework to support native tutors, the initiative seeks to preserve indigenous languages and empower educators. Backed by investors such as Voltron Capital, Zrosk Investment Management, and Kaleo Ventures, Lingawa demonstrates a commitment to preserving African cultural heritage. https://lnkd.in/eTkTsauC #EdTech

We are quite pleased to announce our most recent investment in Lingawa (Formerly TopSet) an edtech startup that leverages the use of cutting edge technology and teaching techniques to deliver language learning modules. Formerly known as Topset, the company’s vision is now hinged on driving learning and mastery of native languages that inspires and promotes connection, and empowerment, making languages accessible for everyone. Lingawa has an ambitious plan to develop an African language learning AI model that would reach a million learners in the long term. It also aims to house 100,000 tutors and launch more languages like Swahili, Zulu, Arabic by 2025. We are quite pleased to have participated in this round of investment as the company secured a sum of $1.1M of pre-seed funding. We are excited to support team Lingawa in achieving their vision. Welcome to our community Lingawa!🎉 #Zrosk #ZroskInvestmentManagement #InvestmentCompany #AlternativeInvestment #InvestmentSolutions #PrivateCredit #PreSeed #Lingawa #Topset #PreSeedFunding Samson Esemuede, CFA Roselyn Ehi-Uzenabor, ACCA,CPA Adedolapo Okelana Favour T. Obijole Mubarak A. Ajenipa Oladayo Olatunde Opeolu Adeyemi Brave Publicity

“This funding and our rebranding to Lingawa are powerful steps forward in ensuring that African heritage is not only preserved but celebrated worldwide. This is a win for every learner reconnecting with their roots and every family discovering the beauty of our shared culture.” Read This Day Live’s recent article to learn more about Lingawa: https://lnkd.in/dsnn3RAZ

I'm proud to share that we've raised $1.1m in pre-seed funding and rebranded to Lingawa (Formerly TopSet)!! 🚀 As Nigerians growing up in the UK, my sister Yvonne W and I always felt a deep connection to our heritage—but also an uncomfortable distance. We struggled to speak our native tongue, Yoruba, fluently, and with that came a sense of loss and even shame. There’s an unspoken belief that understanding your language is tied to understanding yourself, your culture, and your place in the world. It was a feeling we carried with us for years. As we grew older, we realised that this experience wasn’t unique to us. Millions of Africans, Asians, and others in the diaspora feel this same disconnect—wanting to embrace their roots but facing the very real challenge of language barriers. We knew we had to do something to help others like us reconnect with their languages and cultures. This shared experience became the foundation for Lingawa, our edtech platform leveraging AI to make learning African and global languages accessible and engaging for adults and kids everywhere. I’m thrilled to share that we’ve raised $1.1M in pre-seed funding to expand this vision. We’ve also embarked on an exciting new chapter: we’ve rebranded from TopSet to Lingawa to reflect our renewed focus on language learning as a bridge to culture, connection, and identity. Please check out the video below for more context on this transformation. This journey has been possible thanks to so many incredible people. My wife, Simi Williams, has been my rock—thank you for your constant support and encouragement. My co-founders, Yvonne W and Uche Azinge have been tireless in bringing this vision to life. To the Lingawa team, you inspire me every day with your talent and dedication. I’m also deeply grateful to our investors and financial backers: Zrosk Investment Management, WEAV (Women's Enterprise Acceleration Vehicle), Kaleo Ventures, Voltron Capital, Phoenix Fund, Metis Capital Partners, Techstars, Google for Startups, Mastercard Foundation, Dara Treseder and our other incredible angel investors. Your belief in Lingawa’s mission has been transformational. Lingawa is more than a platform—it’s a movement to preserve and celebrate the languages that shape who we are. If you’ve ever struggled to connect with your culture or language, know that you’re not alone. It’s never too late to learn, reconnect, and take pride in your heritage. Here’s to building a future where our languages and cultures thrive. 🌍 #Lingawa #LanguageLearning #AfricanDiaspora #AfricanLanguages #EdTech #AI

But why the name change to Lingawa? 🤔 What’s the story behind it? What does Lingawa even mean? And what’s next for Lingawa? Our CEO and founder, Frank Akinwande Williams shares it all in a candid sit down—diving into the heart of our new identity and the exciting journey ahead. 🚀🧡 #lingawa

“With its recent rebranding and successful funding round, Lingawa is well-positioned to redefine cultural education and ensure the rich tapestry of African heritage continues to thrive in the digital age.” Read to learn more about Lingawa in The Morning Star’s recent article: https://lnkd.in/d9gwqFZc

🚀 #FundingAlert — Lingawa (Formerly TopSet), a Nigerian #EdTech startup, has raised $1.1 million from investors including Voltron Capital, Zrosk Investment Management, WEAV (Women's Enterprise Acceleration Vehicle), Kaleo Ventures, and Mastercard Foundation. The company champions the preservation of African languages amid the threats of globalization and cultural assimilation. Founded in 2022 by Frank Akinwande Williams, #Lingawa connects learners worldwide with 100+ native-speaking tutors to foster fluency and cultural pride 📢 This investment aims to enhance the platform while also addressing a gap in teaching skills by training native speakers to deliver engaging, world-class lessons. For more information, check out the news: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gVmBBj3r ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ #AfricanLanguages #LanguagePreservation #Culture #VoltronCapital #MasterCardFoundation #CulturalHeritage #Globalization #UNESCO #StartupInnovation

“To take a share of the market, the startup raised $1.1 million from a coterie of investors including Voltron Capital, Weav Capital, Kaleo Ventures, Mastercard Foundation, and other angel investors.” 🚀Read our latest feature on TechCabal here: https://lnkd.in/dc_tZXN8 #edtech #africanlanguages #lingawa

“There are over 2,000 languages in Africa, but roughly 12% of these languages are at risk of extinction.”⏳ What’s being done to preserve Africa’s rich linguistic heritage? Find out how Lingawa is stepping up to this in Techpoint Africa‘s latest article📰. #lingawa #africanlanguages