The startup provides a platform that connects African students with lenders and universities to facilitate affordable college financing. By offering scholarship information, education loan gap financing, and mentorship, it addresses the financial barriers that exceptional students face when pursuing higher education at leading global institutions.
Funding
$3M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Many African students face significant financial hurdles when pursuing higher education at international universities, limiting their access to global opportunities. Traditional financing options often require co-signers or collateral, which are not readily available to these students. This lack of access creates a barrier for talented individuals seeking to advance their education and contribute to the global knowledge economy.
Solution
8B provides a fintech platform designed to connect African students with tailored financing solutions for studying abroad. The platform offers a streamlined application process, a scholarship database, and comparison tools to help students identify the best-fit private financing options. 8B partners with various lenders to provide loans that do not require a U.S.-based co-signer, assessing eligibility based on factors such as academic background and future earning potential. In addition to financing, 8B offers resources and a community to support students throughout their academic journey and prepare them for global careers.
Target Audience
The primary target audience is African students seeking financial assistance and resources to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies at universities abroad.
Features
- Scholarship database with filtering and refinement options to find relevant opportunities
- Loan inquiry form to match students with suitable financing programs
- Loan repayment calculator to estimate monthly payments and total repayment amount
- Admissions Bootcamp providing knowledge and tools for applying to global universities
- Curated resources and guides on admission essays, recommendation letters, and standardized tests
- Community platform for peer support, mentorship, and networking
- Job search platform and learning pathways to prepare for global careers