The third Latitude59 Kenya edition showed that it is no longer just a one-off event. The goal is to stay, dig deeper, learn more, and continue bridging the gap between Estonian and African ecosystems while testing the limits of what’s possible.
We’re proud to see more and more Estonian companies joining us on that journey. This year, //kood, an Estonian-born peer-to-peer programming school, joined us all the way from Estonia to connect with Kenya’s tech and education community and explore opportunities for long-term collaboration. What //kood discovered was a hands-on, community-driven ecosystem with a strong appetite for accessible, skills-based tech education. Conversations quickly moved from introductions to concrete next steps, reinforcing the relevance of the //kood model and supporting plans to establish a local presence in Kenya.
About //kood
//kood is a modern top-tier international programming school designed for adults of all ages seeking opportunities for learning, self-development, upskilling, or career change. Their mission is to effectively address the software developers shortage and make IT education accessible to everyone interested.
About kood/Nairobi
The aim of kood/Nairobi is to offer learners in Kenya access to Estonia’s educational innovation and a modern learning experience inspired by the //kood model. Their programme is a coding education based on self-directed and group-based learning methodologies, designed to ensure that learners become competitive in the job market and gain skills that meet the needs of employers.
Learners who successfully complete the sprint will have the opportunity to join the 12-month core //kood programme. The core curriculum can be completed remotely (from Kenya), as the studies are conducted on //kood’s innovative cloud-based learning platform.
Why did kood/Nairobi attend Latitude59 Kenya?
Our Estonian team came to Nairobi for two reasons: to finalize our partnership agreement for our first African campus (more info coming soon), and to connect with Kenya’s tech community at Latitude59. The timing aligned well, and we made the most of both.
What set Latitude59 apart was the concentration of people actively building in tech. Not just attendees looking for content, but founders, educators, and community leaders genuinely exploring ways to collaborate. Conversations moved quickly from “What do you do?” to “How can we work together?”
How did people at Latitude59 respond to the kood/Nairobi mission and study programme?
The response was overwhelmingly positive. People were drawn to the peer-to-peer, project-based model – once we explained how it actually works, the follow-up question was almost always “how do I apply?” The fact that the programme is free and accessible resonated strongly, especially with those who’ve seen traditional education fall short or remain out of reach. Interest spanned the full spectrum: high school educators, women in tech advocates, entrepreneurs looking for talent pipelines, and individuals wanting to join the programme themselves. Many weren’t just asking for themselves, they wanted to bring the opportunity back to their communities.
Was there a conversation or a moment that stood out to you?
Having our first students man the booth alongside was a highlight. These are students who went through our entry bootcamp Selection Sprint in Kenya, got selected, and are now studying virtually with our Estonian cohort – and holding their own. Watching them talk about the programme to visitors with genuine conviction was a proud moment. They’re living proof of what we’re building.
What are the similarities and differences between Estonian and Kenyan tech and/or education ecosystems?
Both ecosystems punch above their weight and share a certain scrappiness: a willingness to build with limited resources and figure things out. Kenya has a thriving mobile-first tech culture and strong entrepreneurial energy; Estonia has deep digital infrastructure and a mature startup support system. The appetite for practical, skills-based education exists in both places, but in Kenya there’s an especially urgent demand for accessible pathways into tech careers. That’s exactly the gap we’re here to address.
If you’re an organization, employer, or community working at the intersection of tech and education in Kenya or beyond, kood/Nairobi is open to collaboration. Reach out to explore partnership opportunities at nairobi@kood.tech.
