Across Africa, learners experience neurodivergent conditions such as dyslexia, ADHD, or autism. Yet, millions remain undiagnosed and unsupported due to limited specialists, poor awareness, and a lack of accessible diagnostic tools. DAWN AI STUDY, a Nigerian startup, wants to close this gap.
In this edition of Techparley’s DRIVE100, where we spotlight Africa’s most impactful startups, we detail how DAWN AI STUDY, founded by Victor Ogunbiyi, is reimagining how Africa identifies and supports neurodivergent learners.
Through innovation, empathy, and cutting-edge artificial intelligence, Ogunbiyi says DAWN AI STUDY is creating an inclusive education ecosystem that ensures no child is left behind due to learning differences.
“DAWN solves this by creating Africa’s first AI-powered neuro-inclusion platform that helps parents, teachers, and specialists identify and support neurodivergent learners early,” Ogunbiyi told Techparley.
How DAWN AI STUDY Works
At the heart of DAWN’s innovation is AIDA (AI Diagnostic Assistant), which is a flagship tool that uses voice, text, and behavioural cues to screen learners and generate personalised neuroprofiles in minutes.
Its key features include:
- AI-based screening for dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and learning delays
- Personalised learning plans and inclusive classroom strategies
- Role-based dashboards for parents, teachers, specialists, and government bodies
- A marketplace for neuro-supportive tools and learning kits
- Offline and low-bandwidth accessibility through PWA and WhatsApp versions
The benefits, according to Ogunbiyi, includes early detection and intervention, better classroom inclusion, empowered teachers, informed parents, and supported learners. For regions with unreliable internet, DAWN’s offline capability ensures accessibility even in low-resource environments.
“Our flagship tool, AIDA (AI Diagnostic Assistant), uses voice, text, and behavioral cues to screen and generate a learner’s neuroprofile in minutes,” Ogunbiyi said.
A Unique Focus on Neuro-Inclusion
While most EdTech platforms in Africa focus on content delivery or standardised learning, DAWN AI STUDY takes a different path. It is building a platform centred on neuro-inclusion and diagnostic equity, empowering education systems to understand and support cognitive diversity.
Its closest global comparators include CogniAble and Akili Interactive, yet DAWN’s localisation sets it apart. It is combining AI diagnostics, inclusive pedagogy, and assistive learning tools, all accessible offline and in local languages.
Ogunbiyi says this integration represents not just a technological innovation, but a cultural one, designed for Africa’s classrooms, teachers, and learners.
Progress, Partnerships, and Milestones
DAWN AI STUDY’s progress is as inspiring as its mission. The startup has:
- Been selected among the Top 10 in META’s LLaMA Impact Accelerator (out of 100+ startups)
- Received an Eleven Labs Voice AI Grant
- Piloted operations in five schools and two ministries
- Screened over 10,000 K–12 learners
- Partnered with the Hands-On Foundation, supporting 2,000 neurodivergent learners
- Built a working MVP of AIDA alongside teacher and parent dashboards ready for demo
These milestones reflect not just traction, but validation from global and local partners who believe in DAWN’s mission of inclusion through technology.
The People Behind the Mission
Leading this vision is Victor Ogunbiyi, Founder and CEO, with over seven years of experience in youth inclusion and AI literacy. His leadership blends scientific understanding with human-centred design.
He is joined by Joel Danjuma, the CTO and AI/ML Engineer overseeing AIDA’s neurodiagnostic engine, ensuring ethical and data-safe AI operations.
Also on the team is Oluwabukola Dada, Chief Learning Specialist and neuropsychologist, who advises on psychometric assessments and inclusion strategies.
Together, Ogunbiyi says this trio combines deep expertise across neuroscience, education design, and machine learning, the perfect mix to pioneer neuro-inclusion at scale.
Challenges and How DAWN Overcomes Them
Like every pioneering startup, DAWN has faced challenges. Low awareness about neurodiversity remains a major obstacle. Many African classrooms lack the training or vocabulary to discuss neurodivergence.
To counter this, DAWN organises teacher bootcamps and parent sensitisation campaigns, equipping communities with the knowledge to recognise and support learners.
Funding constraints also pose hurdles, particularly for inclusion-focused ventures. DAWN tackles this by engaging with accelerators like META, while pursuing partnerships with UNICEF, 500 Global, and Antler.
Data infrastructure is another limitation, particularly in rural communities. DAWN’s response is an offline-capable, WhatsApp-based AIDA tool, which demonstrates its commitment to accessibility, ensuring that even low-resource communities can benefit from early screening.
Vision for the Future
Over the next 6–12 months, DAWN plans to deploy AIDA in 100 schools and 20 NGOs, launch the DAWN Marketplace for inclusion kits, and expand into Kenya, and Ghana.
In the next 2–3 years, the goal is to reach 100,000 learners, launch government dashboards for inclusion data, and partner with Ministries of Education for national adoption.
In five years, Ogunbiyi envisions DAWN becoming the default operating system for inclusive education in Africa, screening millions of learners annually and empowering policymakers to embed neuro-inclusion at the heart of education.
The global EdTech market is projected to exceed US$400 billion by 2030. Experts say DAWN AI STUDY is entering this gap at a critical time, positioning itself as both a social impact pioneer and a first-mover in an emerging billion-dollar inclusion market.
Talking Points
It is remarkable that DAWN AI STUDY is building Africa’s AI-powered neuro-inclusion platform, tackling an often-overlooked dimension of education, which is cognitive diversity.
By focusing on AI-based early detection, inclusive pedagogy, and local accessibility, DAWN bridges a critical gap in the continent’s EdTech ecosystem. This isn’t just an education tool; it’s a social innovation reshaping how Africa understands learning.
At Techparley, we see DAWN as a potential catalyst for systemic inclusion, empowering teachers with insights, parents with clarity, and learners with confidence. Its ability to function offline, localise in native languages, and integrate role-based dashboards makes it both technically adaptive and culturally relevant.
If successfully scaled, DAWN could redefine what inclusive learning means in Africa, transforming classrooms, empowering neurodivergent learners, and proving that intelligence has many forms, all deserving of recognition and support.
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