South Africa Corporate Learning Platform TTRO Expands to Saudi Arabia

STARTUP VENTURE CAPITALMay 20, 2025 at 10:23 AM UTC

TLDR

South African edtech firm TTRO has opened a new office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of its expansion into the Gulf region
The move is supported by AstroLabs, a platform that helps international companies establish operations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
TTRO’s addition reflects the growing interest of African firms in the Gulf region’s digital economy and education reforms

South African edtech firm TTRO has opened a new office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of its expansion into the Gulf region. The move is supported by AstroLabs, a platform that helps international companies establish operations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Founded in 2008, TTRO provides digital learning and corporate training solutions. The company works with governments, businesses, and academic institutions to develop workforce skills through technology-enabled learning. It has offices in the UAE, New Zealand, and the UK.

The Saudi office marks TTRO’s formal entry into a market where it has previously delivered projects. TTRO plans to focus on building local leadership and AI-driven learning programs in partnership with local firms like EnergyTech.

AstroLabs has played a role in supporting more than 500 companies entering the Saudi market, and TTRO’s addition reflects the growing interest of African firms in the Gulf region’s digital economy and education reforms. Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in upskilling initiatives to transition its economy from oil dependence and improve employment among its youth population.

Key Takeaways

TTRO’s expansion into Saudi Arabia reflects a broader trend of cross-regional collaboration between Africa and the Gulf, especially in the education and technology sectors. As part of its Vision 2030 strategy, Saudi Arabia is working to build a knowledge-based economy by developing human capital through large-scale training and education reforms. The Human Capability Development Program, one of the Vision 2030 initiatives, aims to prepare Saudi citizens for the future labor market through partnerships with local and international learning providers. TTRO’s presence adds to a growing list of global edtech firms positioning themselves to benefit from these long-term investments. For South African companies like TTRO, the Gulf represents a fast-growing market with demand for scalable learning and AI-based workforce development solutions. As regulatory environments become more favorable and local partnerships more accessible through platforms like AstroLabs, more African technology firms may follow suit and expand into GCC economies.

Startups

South Africa

Expansion

TTRO

Saudi Arabia

EdTech