The Mastercard Foundation, in collaboration with the Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), is excited to announce the 2025 EdTech Fellowship Program, designed to accelerate the growth and impact of African educational technology (EdTech) startups. This initiative aims to empower innovative entrepreneurs to revolutionize education across the continent, providing them with the tools, funding, and resources to create meaningful change in learning outcomes and access to quality education.
Program Overview
The CcHub-Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship is a groundbreaking partnership that seeks to transform the educational landscape in Africa by nurturing scalable EdTech solutions. Through this program, selected startups receive the support they need to address critical challenges in education, such as access to quality learning, improved teaching effectiveness, and innovative school management tools.
Program Benefits
Participants in the fellowship program gain access to a robust suite of benefits that enable them to scale their solutions effectively and sustainably. These include:
- Equity-Free Funding: A generous financial grant of $100,000 to support the development and scaling of EdTech solutions without equity dilution.
- Expert Mentoring: Access to multidisciplinary professionals in design, technology, and product optimization, providing critical insights to refine solutions.
- Investor Exposure: Networking opportunities with prominent investors to secure additional funding and strategic partnerships.
- Resource Support: Special deals and discounts on tools, technologies, and services that enhance operational efficiency.
- Marketing Strategy Development: Tailored guidance to achieve product-market fit and effectively engage target audiences.
Eligibility Criteria
Startups applying for the fellowship must meet the following requirements:
- Africa-Focused Solutions: The startup must primarily address educational challenges within Africa and be incorporated in Nigeria.
- Educational Impact: The solution should tackle issues in key areas such as:
- K-12 education
- Tertiary education
- Vocational skills training
- Verifiable Impact: The solution must demonstrate measurable results and user engagement, ensuring alignment with the program’s focus on improving:
- Educational access
- Student learning outcomes
- School administration
- Teacher/trainer effectiveness
- Strong Team Composition: Teams should comprise passionate and balanced members, with a strong emphasis on diverse representation, especially female founders.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be assessed based on the following:
- The alignment of the EdTech solution with the program’s focus areas.
- Proven impact and active user engagement of the solution.
- The expertise and dedication of the team, with a focus on education-driven passion.
- Potential for scalability and innovation in addressing educational challenges.
Timeline and Application Process
- Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
- Country of Focus: Nigeria
- Program Type: Fellowship
- Eligibility: Open to men and women entrepreneurs
- Sponsor: Mastercard Foundation
Interested startups are encouraged to submit their applications promptly by visiting the official application page on Typeform. For detailed information about the program, visit the Mastercard Foundation website.
About the Mastercard Foundation
Founded in 2006 by Mastercard, the Mastercard Foundation is a globally recognized non-governmental organization focused on creating opportunities for inclusive development. In 2018, the foundation prioritized Africa through its Young Africa Works strategy, aimed at fostering economic growth by reducing inequality, improving access to education, and expanding job opportunities.
This fellowship represents a transformative opportunity for African EdTech innovators to not only contribute to the future of education but also scale their solutions to new heights with the backing of a world-class initiative.
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