Inaugural Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship selected 12 SA startups to provide holistic support

The first Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Programme, which provides selected businesses with access to funding and other types of support, has announced the 12 startups chosen for the program.

Injini, a member of the UVU Africa Group, was established in 2017 with the sole objective of enhancing educational outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is a registered non-profit organization. The Injini Think Tank, the only ed-tech-specific accelerator in Africa, supports its mission to improve the caliber, accessibility, and relevance of education in the area through its programs and research.

The fellowship program, which will offer qualified startups direct grant funding, product quality evaluation and certification, intensive skill development, coaching and mentorship, customized market research, and market access through Injini’s network of stakeholders across the education innovation landscape, was launched last month in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation.

Twelve startups—Afrika Tikkun Bambanani, Ambani Africa, BuzzKidz Buzz-in-a-Box, Click Learning, Code4Kids, Digify Africa, FunDza Literacy Trust, Matric Live, Reflective Learning, Resolute Education, Yenza, and Zaio—have now been chosen for the program’s first edition.

“We saw many promising applicants during the selection process for our Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Programme,” said Krista Davidson, executive director of Injini. “It was not easy to narrow down the applicants from hundreds to these 12 fellows, as many impressive ed-tech solutions are operating and making a real difference to learners across the country. We are confident that we will be able to work with each one individually to grow their impact and improve educational outcomes in South Africa.”