12 Kenyan EdTech Startups Secure $1.2 Million Mastercard Foundation Boost

Twelve Kenyan education technology (EdTech) startups have secured funding through the fourth cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship at iHub.

The funding provides fresh momentum for digital learning innovations designed to improve access to quality education for underserved communities.

Each startup will receive $100,000 (Sh12.9 million) in equity-free funding and take part in an 18-month programme offering business advisory support, mentorship, investor connections and opportunities to pilot their innovations with governments, schools and development partners.

The support comes as education technology businesses across Africa continue working to expand digital learning despite limited access to private investment.

Focus shifts to learners who have been left behind

Speaking during the launch of the fourth fellowship cohort in Nairobi, iHub Managing Partner Nissi Madu said the programme is centred on supporting innovators whose solutions improve learning outcomes while widening access to quality education.

“The EdTech Fellowship Programme is focused on supporting innovators building solutions that drive access to quality education and improve learning outcomes for young learners across Kenya and across Africa,” Madu said.

She said the fellowship has supported 36 startups through its first three cohorts, with the businesses collectively reaching more than 700,000 learners across the continent.

According to Madu, this year’s cohort places greater emphasis on ensuring technology reaches learners who have traditionally been excluded from digital education.

“We realised that when we are talking about Africa’s prosperity and improving learning outcomes, we need to make sure that we are leaving no learners behind,” she said.

The selected startups are developing solutions targeting learners living with disabilities, refugees and displaced populations, learners in rural and underserved communities, young girls and women, as well as education and skills data.

“These represent areas where learners have historically been excluded from EdTech solutions. Inclusion has to be at the centre of innovation, not an afterthought,” she stated.

Helping innovators build sustainable education businesses

Beyond providing financial support, Madu said the fellowship is designed to help education technology companies demonstrate the effectiveness of their innovations while building sustainable business models.

“Historically, EdTech has received very little investment compared to other sectors. Part of what the 18-month programme does is help founders generate evidence that their solutions improve learning outcomes while building sustainable business models that investors, governments and schools can support,” she said.

She added that collaboration will be key to expanding the reach of digital learning across Kenya and Africa.

“We’re talking about millions of learners who need these solutions. The startups cannot do it alone, and neither can iHub. We need partnerships that will help pilot, adopt and scale these innovations,” she said.

Technology opens learning opportunities for deaf learners

Among the selected startups is Deaf Outreach Programme, whose founder Anne Njoki is developing a digital library that translates Kenya’s school curriculum into Kenyan Sign Language for deaf learners.

Njoki said the initiative grew from years of working with deaf children and recognising the barriers many faced in accessing learning materials.

“We realised the children were in class, but they were not learning. Most learning materials are presented in text or voice, but not in sign language. So children are being taught in a language they cannot fully understand. We cannot expect better performance without providing accessible learning materials,” she said.

The organisation has created the Deaf Digital Library, which is available both online and offline, enabling schools without internet connectivity to access curriculum content translated into sign language.

Through the fellowship, Njoki hopes to secure accreditation for the content through the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), supporting wider adoption in schools.

“Quality education means more than placing a child in the classroom. It also means ensuring that while they are there, they are actually learning,” she said.

Digital platform empowers women through skills and employment

Another startup selected for the fellowship is Gwiji for Women, which is using technology to connect domestic cleaners in informal settlements with employment opportunities while providing skills development and professional training.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Mwangi said she launched the platform after witnessing the employment challenges experienced by women in low-income communities.

“I saw women sitting outside every day waiting for work, yet many potential clients didn’t know where to find them,” she said.

The platform combines digital job matching with skills training, professional certification and safety measures aimed at improving workers’ incomes and service quality.

Mwangi said many women previously relied on experience gained through trial and error because they had limited access to formal training.

“When clients pay for a service, they expect value. We therefore train the women so they become more confident, more professional and are able to attract repeat customers,” she said.

The application also incorporates emergency alerts, worker vetting and guarantees a minimum pay rate for jobs secured through the platform.

Mwangi said the fellowship will help the company digitise its training programmes and extend its reach to more women.

“Without technology, we can only train a limited number of women physically. Through the fellowship, we’ll be able to transition fully to an EdTech platform and empower many more women.”