Andela, one of the world’s largest tech talent marketplaces, has acquired Woven, a human-powered technical assessment platform designed to simulate real engineering work and future-proof hiring in the age of AI.
The acquisition marks a major step in Andela’s evolving AI-native talent strategy, strengthening its ability to assess, upskill, and deploy enterprise-ready engineering teams globally.
The company noted that the deal builds on its strong foundation in technical assessments and learning, positioning it to better evaluate both engineering fundamentals and AI fluency at scale.
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Speaking on the acquisition, Carrol Chang, CEO of Andela said,
“To power the AI ecosystem at scale, the world needs AI-native, enterprise-ready engineering talent en masse. Andela plus Woven equals the best technical assessment engine in the world to ensure AI fluency and real-world job success.”
Echoing this view, Barun Singh, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Andela, explained that Woven allows Andela to leapfrog traditional hiring tests by applying scenario-based assessments that closely mirror real engineering work. From day one, these scenarios will be used across Andela’s talent network to benchmark skills more accurately and ensure stronger matches between talent and client needs.
Founded with the mission to eliminate the gap between talent and opportunity, Woven brings significant strategic value to Andela.
Through the acquisition, Andela gains the following:
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A comprehensive library of best-in-class, real-world engineering scenarios aligned to specific job functions, alongside AI-assisted generation of new scenarios
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AI-driven scoring systems that deliver accurate, consistent, and scalable evaluations based on proven assessment rubrics refined over years of performance data
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Deep expertise from Woven’s founding team to accelerate Andela’s long-term assessments roadmap
This acquisition builds on Andela’s earlier investments in AI-driven talent infrastructure, including the launch of Andela Talent Cloud in October 2023. As part of the deal, Woven’s founder and CEO, Wes Winham Winler, will join Andela to lead the development of next-generation assessments aimed at predicting success in AI-assisted software development and AI system creation.
Founded in 2014 by Jeremy Johnson, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Nadayar Enegesi, Brice Nkengsa, Ian Carnevale, and Christina Sass, Andela has grown from a single hub in Lagos, Nigeria into a remote-first global marketplace spanning more than 135 countries. The company has played a pivotal role in nurturing tech ecosystems in underserved regions such as Africa and Latin America, connecting technologists to long-term international opportunities and competitive compensation.
In 2021, Andela reached unicorn status, achieving a valuation of $1.5 billion following a $200 million Series E funding round led by SoftBank, with participation from Whale Rock, Generation Investment Management, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
At its core, Andela exists to ensure technologists have equal access to opportunity regardless of location. Its model enables companies to build diverse, distributed teams faster and more cost-effectively, while empowering skilled professionals in emerging markets to work with the world’s leading brands.
Outlook
With the acquisition of Woven, Andela is positioning itself at the forefront of AI-era hiring, where traditional coding tests are no longer sufficient. As AI becomes deeply embedded in software development, demand will continue to rise for engineers who can collaborate effectively with AI systems, not just write code.
By combining AI-driven assessments, real-world simulations, and a globally distributed talent pool, Andela is likely to strengthen its appeal to large enterprises seeking reliable, scalable, and future-ready engineering teams.