The McTaba Marathon
26-Week Full-Stack Engineering Bootcamp in Nairobi
Build 8 production apps with M-Pesa, USSD, and WhatsApp. Graduate with a portfolio that proves you can ship software African businesses actually pay for.
What You Will Build
8 production-ready applications across payments, messaging, commerce, and automation.
Build the "African Stack"
Forget "To-Do Lists" and "Weather Apps". You will build 8 production-grade applications that solve real African business problems using Mobile Money, USSD, WhatsApp, and modern web tech.
M-Pesa Paylink & Receipt Mini-App
Send clients a payment link, trigger M-Pesa STK, and generate instant PDF receipts.
Core Features
WhatsApp Lead Capture CRM
Turn WhatsApp chats into structured leads with a web-based CRM dashboard.
Core Features
USSD Customer Self-Service App
Let customers dial a USSD code to check balances and request support.
Core Features
E-commerce Lite + WhatsApp Updates
A simple online store with payments and automatic WhatsApp order notifications.
Core Features
Chama Savings Platform
Manage group contributions, track balances, and send automated reminders.
Core Features
Booking & Appointments System
Salon/clinic bookings with M-Pesa deposits and SMS reminders.
Core Features
Multi-Channel Notification Hub
A unified API to send alerts via WhatsApp, SMS, or Email with failover logic.
Core Features
The African SME OS
A multi-tenant "operating system" for SMEs combining payments, USSD, WhatsApp, and CRM into one platform.
Core Features
Curriculum: 5 Phases, 26 Weeks
From web fundamentals to microservices and a capstone startup project.
Build with the African Stack
M-Pesa, USSD, and WhatsApp Engineering
You won't just learn "coding"; you will learn Revenue Engineering. Build systems that process payments, automate business via WhatsApp/USSD, and handle real-world traffic.
Weeks 1-6
Modern Web & API Fundamentals
- HTML5/CSS3 Semantic Web
- JavaScript ES6+ (Async/Await)
- HTTP Protocol & JSON
- Postman API Testing
- Git Workflows & PRs
Key Project
🛠️ M-Pesa Paylink & Receipt Mini-App
Weeks 7-13
Data, Logic & CRM Engineering
- MongoDB & Mongoose Schema
- JWT Auth & Security
- WhatsApp Business API
- USSD Engineering (Telco)
- Relational Data (PostgreSQL)
Key Project
🛠️ WhatsApp CRM & USSD Support
Weeks 14-22
Commerce & Fintech Mastery
- Next.js SSR & State Machines
- M-Pesa, Airtel & Stripe
- Webhook Security & Idempotency
- Telegram Bot API
- Automation with Cron Jobs
Key Project
🛠️ Chama Savings & E-commerce
Weeks 23-26
Production Engineering
- Queues (Redis/BullMQ)
- Microservices Architecture
- Docker & Containerization
- CI/CD (GitHub Actions)
- Failover Logic & SMS Gateways
Key Project
🛠️ Multi-Channel Notification Hub
Weeks 27-30
The Capstone Sprint
- The African SME OS
- Multi-tenant Architecture
- Custom Startup Project
- API Design & Scale
- Demo Day & Launch
Key Project
🚀 Build a Real-World Startup
Built for the next generation of African Tech Founders.
By the end of this marathon, you won't just have a CV. You will have a production-ready portfolio of 8 applications that address real African business problems using Mobile Money, USSD, and WhatsApp.
Intensity
4 Live Classes + 1 Peer Session
Project Count
8 Professional Apps
Integration
M-Pesa, Stripe, Airtel
Channels
USSD, WhatsApp, SMS
Who This Bootcamp Is For
This is for you if:
- You want to become a professional software engineer
- You are willing to commit 20+ hours per week for 4-6 months
- You want to build with M-Pesa, USSD, and WhatsApp (not just React to-do apps)
- You learn best with deadlines, peers, and live instruction
- You are based in Africa or targeting the African market
This is not for you if:
- xYou are looking for a self-paced course you can pause and restart
- xYou need a university-accredited degree
- xYou want to learn mobile app development (we focus on web)
- xYou cannot commit at least 20 hours per week
- xYou are looking for guaranteed job placement
Schedule and Format
Full-Time
Hybrid
- 4 months
- Monday–Thursday
- Mon–Thu, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Learners who can commit to an intensive daytime schedule
Part-Time
Fully Remote
- 6 months
- Monday–Thursday
- Mon–Thu, 7:00 PM–9:00 PM
Learners balancing work, university, or other commitments
Tuition: KES 120,000
Flexible payment plans. No interest. No hidden fees.
Pay Upfront
KES 120,000
one-time payment
Pay the full programme fee at once and you're done.
2 Installments
KES 60,000
upfront
Pay KES 60,000 to secure your place, then clear the balance by the end of Month 1.
- KES 60,000 upfront
- KES 60,000 by the end of Month 1
3 Installments
KES 40,000
deposit
Spread your investment across three payments.
- KES 40,000 deposit
- KES 40,000 next installment
- KES 40,000 by the end of Month 3
Pay via M-Pesa Paybill 880100, Account PAYMACTABA
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about McTaba Labs
No! We start from the absolute basics and build up. Many of the most successful students had zero coding experience before joining. What matters most is your motivation to learn and willingness to put in the work.
Still have questions?
Ready to Start Your Marathon?
Next cohort starts August 17, 2026. 10 seats available.