The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship has officially opened applications for its third cohort in Kenya.
Partnering with iHUB, the program invites African EdTech ventures to join this entrepreneurship acceleration initiative, aiming to transform education through innovative technologies.
Applications close on 3 February 2025.
Impact of the Second Cohort
The second cohort of the Fellowship demonstrated notable achievements. Collectively, the participants reached 63,571 new learners, 91% of whom were young learners.
This aligns with the Fellowship’s objective of providing young people with access to quality education.
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Since its inception, the Fellowship has supported over 20 tech startups working to enhance learning outcomes through innovative solutions.
Reflecting on their progress, Nissi Madu, Managing Partner at Co-creation, noted that these startups have successfully refined their offerings through feedback from diverse stakeholders, including government officials, educators, students, and parents.
“Through today’s Demo Day, we are excited to see these upgraded solutions and their potential to impact millions of learners across Kenya,” she said.
Advancing EdTech in Kenya
The EdTech Fellowship has catalyzed significant transformation in Kenya’s education sector by fostering the growth and accessibility of educational technologies.
The program provides participants with business development support, financial assistance, and insights into the science of learning.
This helps scale EdTech solutions, promoting inclusive education for underserved communities.
Demo Day for the second cohort offered a platform for entrepreneurs to present their innovations and connect with investors and partners.
Julius Njuguna Irungu, Co-founder of Esoma Solutions, emphasized the program’s impact, stating, “The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship catalyzed our journey. It has helped us supercharge product development, accelerate business growth, and open doors to unimaginable possibilities for foundational learning.”
A Commitment to Education
Rodwell Mangisi, Acting Director at the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, highlighted the Fellowship’s commitment to addressing gaps in education.
“The testimonies by the Fellows are why we remain intentional about supporting demand-driven EdTech innovations that close the gap in access and quality of education for the most underserved,” he said.
Since 2020, the Fellowship has accelerated 140 EdTech companies. The partnership with iHUB aims to prioritize relevance, accessibility, and sustainability in education.
Mangisi added, “While technology makes life easier for us all, it opens pathways for those without access to learn and prosper.”
How to Apply
Interested applicants can visit futureoflearning.ihub.co.ke to apply before 3 February 2025.
About the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship
The Fellowship is designed to support African EdTech startups through business development support, financial assistance, and insights into learning science.
Launched in 2019, the program aims to work with 12 Tech Hubs, supporting over 250 companies and reaching at least 1.8 million young people by 2025.
About iHUB
iHUB, based in Nairobi, serves as a hub for innovation, connecting technologists, entrepreneurs, investors, and tech companies in East Africa.
About the Mastercard Foundation
One of the largest foundations globally, the Mastercard Foundation collaborates with organizations to advance education and financial inclusion.
Its mission is to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work.
