Talenvo wants to give you the work experience required for your next tech role

When was the last time you read or wrote a job posting without “X years of experience” as one of the qualifications?

The requirement for specific years of experience has been a point of contention, with studies suggesting it's not always the best predictor of success. Regardless of your stance, most agree that experience holds value, but its weight can vary depending on the role and industry.

Experience often matters more in well-regulated industries, such as finance and medicine and less in entry-level roles or for roles that can be learned on the job.

This is where Talenvo comes in. Earlier this year, Temidayo Adefioye and his team at Talenvo set out to build a platform that provides tech professionals with an opportunity to get verifiable, relevant work experience.  

“We’re solving three major problems for the ecosystem with Talenvo,” Adefioye said. “A significant portion of skilled individuals struggle to translate their knowledge into demonstrable work experience. Second, securing validation for their skills through real-world applications has been a hurdle for many. Finally, companies often require immediate project contributions from new hires.”

Across Africa, millions of young people with valuable skills struggle to find work due to a lack of experience. While African universities produce graduates with strong skills and educational backgrounds, a lack of relevant work experience can make them less competitive for the limited job openings. Recruiters often prioritise experience, leaving these graduates overlooked.

"We noticed a surprising situation: many open positions, yet recruitment is slow. Our data suggests a skills gap might be hindering recruitment," said Tosin Adimula, head of product at Talenvo. 

The company validated its problem statement through beta testing and a private gathering of about 30 stakeholders, including community builders from DevCarrier and Google Developer Groups. This has informed the way its platform is built.

The Talenvo approach

Upon joining Talenvo, users take a skills assessment to gauge their expertise and ensure they're matched with appropriate challenges. These challenges come in various formats, including solo projects and collaborative endeavours, allowing users to showcase their skills in different settings.

In-depth feedback from industry experts on completed projects provides participants with actionable insights into real-world work practices. This allows them to refine their strengths and address weaknesses, continuously learning and growing throughout their Talenvo journey.

By incorporating gamification, Talenvo motivates users to actively participate. Completing challenges earns users points, which act as a visible indicator of their activity and progress on the platform. Recruiters seeking talent can easily identify individuals who have demonstrably honed their skills through challenge completion.

In May 2024, Emmanuel Sasare, a self-taught software developer heard about Talenvo through a friend and decided to try it. Sasare alongside a designer and product manager worked on a website for an NGO which was completed in 2 weeks. 

For Sasare who’s used to working alone, this experience was an eye-opener.

“I had to learn to work with them, schedule meetings and seek input. I had to follow the design pattern created,” Sasare said. “This experience sharpened my technical and soft skills.”

Looking ahead, Talenvo plans to expand its reach by partnering with established communities like DevCareer, Ingressive for Good, Product Hunt, and others. These collaborations will provide Talenvo with access to a wider pool of diverse tech talent, fostering a richer talent ecosystem.

“For us, we believe that the potential should not be held back by a lack of work experience” Joke Akintara, Head of Growth at Talenvo, said.