Nick Miller, the founder and CEO of Teach Me 2, is celebrating a pretty epic nod. The TIME Top 100 EdTech list just dropped, and the proudly South African company made the list!
South Africa (13 August 2026) – We love a good win, so getting the news of the recent inclusion of Teach Me 2 in TIME’s World’s Top EdTech Companies 2026 is something worth celebrating! Seeing businesses succeed on the global stage is not only a win for the founders and stakeholders, but for South Africa as a whole.
The win for the local startup demonstrates that a technology company built in South Africa can compete alongside some of the world’s leading education platforms.
Nick Miller founded the company to provide high-quality tutoring to South Africans. Starting at Grade 1 and providing guidance all the way to the university level, the aim was to meet pupils and students at whichever level they are at.
The listing, for Nick, showcases that there is so much promise here in the South African landscape.
“We have exceptional people in this country who can solve difficult problems, build enduring businesses and compete internationally. The environment isn’t always easy, but globally relevant education technology can absolutely be built from South Africa.”
Looking back, Nick believes two decisions fundamentally changed the trajectory of Teach Me 2. Firstly, around 2017, the business invested heavily in technology that could improve matching of tutors and learners, support customers, enhance learning outcomes and scale the business without sacrificing quality.
The second decision was to start building online tutoring capabilities years before the pandemic made it essential. When COVID-19 did bring face-to-face tutoring to a rapid halt, Teach Me 2 already had the foundations to pivot online and ultimately expand into more than 50 countries.
Nick made the move to the ultimate tech space, Silicon Valley. Here he has learned several lessons. One very important one can help any South African fit into that space too.
“The biggest lesson is not to mistake pedigree for capability, or confidence for competence. When I relocated to Silicon Valley, I was struck by how confidently American founders presented themselves and their businesses. As South Africans, we can be inclined to understate our strengths and assume that somebody with a degree from Stanford, MIT or Harvard must be operating at a level beyond us. Over time, I have learnt that this simply isn’t true. South African talent can compete with the best in the world.”
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“Building a company in South Africa develops unusual resilience,” Nick continues. “Our founders have learnt to operate through electricity shortages, infrastructure problems, currency volatility and economic uncertainty. Those conditions are difficult, but they develop resourcefulness and adaptability that travel extremely well. My advice to new founders is to have enough confidence to compete globally, but enough humility to enter each market ready to listen and learn.”
This listing has left Nick feeling incredibly proud of the work his team have done. What started as a South African business is now growing at an international level. We too are proud to see the team’s hard work on the international stage. Well done, Nick and well done, Teach Me 2.
“I am incredibly proud of our team, and grateful for the tireless work that has built Teach Me 2 into a sustainable, global business. We feel that being recognised by TIME is an extraordinary milestone, but it doesn’t feel like a finish line. As a team, we are excited about using everything we have learnt to build the next generation of Teach Me 2.”
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