Utiva Joins Techstars to Build AI-Powered Workforce Infrastructure Beyond Talent Training
An AI-powered Global Talent Operating System, Utiva has been appointed into the 2026 Techstars Workforce Development Accelerator as it grows from a talent training platform into an AI-powered global workforce infrastructure.
This signifies a great moment for this Nigerian startup as it positions itself to scale globally and re-define how businesses access and manage skill talent.
Utiva was previously known for promoting and developing digital talent throughout Africa, the platform has now branded itself as an integrated operating system for promoting its workforce worldwide. With a well established single AI-powered system, businesses have the opportunity to hire, oversee compliance, and handle payroll for talent in new areas.
According to Eyitayo Ogunmola, Founder and CEO of Utiva, he stated that;
“The biggest challenge in global hiring isn’t talent—it’s infrastructure.”
This AI-powered platform will be utilized to match, deploy, and manage employees at scale in a global workforce infrastructure play that started out as an effort to up-skill African workers. The company's move is in line with the rising need for distributed teams and remote work choices, particularly as corporations increasingly search emerging markets for skilled workers.
Utiva's move into workforce development is a good fit for the Techstars Workforce Development Accelerator, which focuses on enterprises creating solutions at the nexus of education, employment, and economic mobility. Before the program's demo day in June 2026, the firm will improve its product, increase partnerships, and get equipped for investor engagement across a period of the next three months.
About Utiva
Utiva was founded in 2018 by Eyitayo Ogunmola, with the aim of solving Africa’s talent and employability gap.
The company started as a digital skills training platform, helping young Africans learn tech skills such as data analytics, product management, and software development. Over time, it expanded into a broader global talent and workforce infrastructure platform.