MCF-EdTech-Demo-Day-2024-photo courtesy
iHUB, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is calling for applications for the third cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship in Kenya after the successful completion of the second entrepreneurship acceleration program.
The EdTech Fellowship is transforming education in Kenyan and African communities by fostering the development and accessibility of educational technologies.
“Over the past six months, these start-ups have dedicated themselves to refining their solutions with a clear focus on enhancing learning experiences and driving improved learning outcomes. Through active engagement with key stakeholders, they’ve gathered invaluable feedback to fine-tune their offerings. We are thrilled to see them present their upgraded solutions during Demo Day and are confident in the transformative impact these innovations will have in the months and years ahead,” said Nissi Madu, Managing Partner, Co-creation, HUB/iHUB.
The fellowship aims to provide growth-stage companies with business development support, financial support, and the latest insights into the science of learning to help them scale their products to drive inclusive access to education.
The 2024 cohort collectively reached 63,571 new learners, 91 percent of whom are young people. The demo day was on November 28 in Nairobi where the 2024 Corhot got to highlight their innovative solutions and remarkable progress in developing innovative educational technologies and growing impact on the country’s learning outcomes. The event also fostered connections between potential investors, partners, and ecosystem stakeholders.
“The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship has been very timely as we are now set for scaling up our product, Kurasa. We have benefited immensely from product development, distribution, and investment sessions all in a bid to align our go-to-market strategy. So blessed to have been part of the cohort,” said William Nguru, CEO of Kurasa Africa and one of the beneficiaries in the 2024 cohort.
Another participant Njuguna Irungu, Co-founder and CEO, of Esoma Solutions stated “The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship catalyzed our journey. It has helped us supercharge our product development, accelerate business growth, and open doors to unimaginable possibilities for the future of foundational learning in the country,” said
Following the success, iHUB has opened applications for its third cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship for 2025. High-potential EdTech ventures across Kenya are encouraged to apply for this opportunity to revolutionize the education landscape.
Speaking about the Fellowship, Rodwell Mangisi, Acting Director of the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, said, “The testimonies by the Fellows are the reason why we are intentional about supporting the development of demand-driven EdTech innovations that close the gap in access and quality to education and provide relevant learning for the most underserved. So far, 140 EdTech companies have been accelerated since the Fellowship kicked off in 2020. Through our ongoing partnership with iHUB, we hope that the next iteration will prioritize relevance access to education, and sustainability for greater impact. While technology makes life easier for us all, it makes everything possible for those without access and opens pathways for them to learn and prosper.”
Interested applicants for the third cohort can apply by visiting futureoflearning.ihub.co.ke before the application deadline of 30 January 2025.
