Applications for the 2024 Injini Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship are open!

• After the resounding success of the inaugural cohort, Injini has opened applications for the 2024 iteration of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship.
• Growth-stage, impact-driven EdTech companies working to improve educational outcomes in South Africa are invited to apply before 13 February 2024.
• Selected start-ups must be prepared to participate in a rigorous six-month program, beginning in early April.

Cape Town, 22 January 2024: Last year, Injini and the Mastercard Foundation launched the EdTech Fellowship for South Africa-based start-ups. This initiative empowers eligible start-ups with direct grant funding, product quality evaluation, intensive skill development, coaching, mentorship, bespoke market research, and market access. With the resounding success of the 2023 Fellowship, Injini is thrilled to open applications for the 2024 program.

The South African cohort of start-ups that participated in the 2023 Fellowship surpassed expectations in their outreach, reaching over 1.9 million new learners during the acceleration period. The program set the Fellows up for notable sales growth, profit, and funding opportunities. Collaboration proved to be a cornerstone in the Fellowship, with strategic partnerships cultivated, new relationships facilitated by the Mastercard Foundation, and meaningful cooperation fostered among Fellows. Crucially, significant impact was observed on specific demographic groups, including persons with disabilities, young people, women and girls, and rural communities.

Krista Davidson, Executive Director of Injini, commented on the program's success, saying that "Injini's distinct approach and extensive experience in delivering EdTech acceleration support have been integral to the success of our 2023 EdTech Fellowship, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. Our dedication to cultivating collaboration, facilitating continuous learning, and promoting knowledge-sharing within the educational innovation ecosystem has shown positive results. This success has provided us with valuable insights that are shaping our strategy as we gear up to welcome applications for the 2024 program."

The 2024 program will offer:

• Dedicated support from specialists in education innovation, fundraising, impact M&E, commerce, and more.
• Pedagogical evaluation and certification by EdTech Impact and Education Alliance Finland.
• Customised market research support from Injini’s team of education innovation researchers.
• "Sponsored Skills" to rapidly meet team needs, produce targeted outputs, and bolster your long-term business success with external consultants.
• Networking, knowledge-sharing, and learning opportunities with key ecosystem contributors and industry experts.
• Access to a selection of courses and office hours from the Human-Computer Interaction Institute faculty members at Carnegie Mellon University - a world leader in education technology and applied learning sciences.
• The chance to contribute to a growing body of evidence documenting "what works" in African EdTech.
• Equity-free venture funding exceeding R1,000,000.

Joseph Nsengimana, Director of the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning said, “We are committed to supporting the growth and development of the education sector in Africa, so this fellowship is an excellent opportunity for South Africa EdTech companies to access mentorship, networks and other resources to facilitate product improvement and scaling of their solutions.”

EdTech companies eligible are encouraged to apply here. Applications close on February 13, 2024. Click here for further information. For additional inquiries about the Fellowship, consider joining our virtual Q&A sessions on January 26 and February 6. Joining links will be shared via Injini’s social media channels on LinkedIn, Facebook and X, as well as via our mailing list.

Here are some testimonials from Injini’s 2023 cohort of EdTech Fellows:

Ambani Africa: "Participating in the Program has been a game-changer for us. The mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities have accelerated our growth and provided invaluable insights. If you're an EdTech company looking to scale and thrive, I highly recommend applying. It's a transformative experience that will take your business to new heights!"

Reflective Learning: "The Mastercard [Foundation] EdTech Fellowship program run by Injini has been terrific! We have been exposed to so many opportunities for learning and business development. I would highly recommend startups to consider the program for 2024."

Resolute Education: "This isn't your typical acceleration. It's a full dive into legitimate growth of your business, connection with like-minded EdTechs and a plethora of opportunities to grow in various skill sets."

About Injini:

Injini is a registered Non-Profit Company that exists for the sole purpose of improving educational outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. The company was founded in 2017 and remains the only EdTech specialised accelerator in Africa. Injini’s various programmes and research contribute towards its mission to increase the quality, accessibility, and relevance of education in the region.

For more information on Injini, please visit www.injini.africa.

About the Mastercard Foundation:

The Mastercard Foundation is a registered Canadian charity and one of the largest foundations in the world. It works with visionary organizations to advance education and financial inclusion to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. Established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company, the Foundation is an independent organization separate from the company, with offices in Toronto, Kigali, Accra, Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Dakar, and Addis Ababa. Its policies, operations, and program decisions are determined by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and leadership.

For more information on the Foundation, please visit www.mastercardfdn.org.

About the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Program:

The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship is an entrepreneurship acceleration program designed to support promising, African EdTech ventures. Implemented in partnership with innovation hubs and EdTech accelerators across Africa, the Fellowship provides select EdTech companies with critical business and financial support, as well as insight into the science of learning, preparing them for scale, sustainability, and impact. The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship was launched in 2019 by the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning and supported 12 African EdTech companies from seven countries in its first year, reaching over 800,000 learners. The goal of the Centre is to partner with 12 Tech Hubs to support over 250 EdTech companies and reach at least 1.8 million young people by 2025.

For more information on the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, contact: jbiira@mastercardfdn.org.

‍