Inside 12 Startups Shaping the Future of Learning in Africa

Seven inspiring female founders are among the 12 innovators selected for the third cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, announced by iHUB Kenya.

This is the first time this milestone has been achieved since the Fellowship was kicked off by iHUB in 2023, demonstrating the fellowship’s intentions regarding gender inclusion. This reflects iHUB’s commitment to quality education through equitable access to enhance learning outcomes and support lifelong learning.

Through a combination of equity-free funding, mentorship, and strategic support, the program has empowered EdTech startups to develop scalable, impactful solutions that expand learning opportunities to learners, especially young people in Kenya and beyond.

“The innovative solutions of these startups are shaping the future of learning in Africa. This year’s selection process was more competitive than ever, as we intentionally sought ventures with not only strong potential but also embraced gender diversity,” said Nissi Madu, Managing Partner at iHUB Kenya.

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Leveraging its expertise in product development, learning science, branding and marketing, and investment readiness, iHUB has helped build a robust foundation for Kenya’s and African EdTech growth. Collectively, the first two cohorts to the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship have reached over 470,341 new learners with Cohort 1 accounting for 279,700 learners (59.5%) and Cohort 2 engaging 190,641 learners (40.5%). Notably, 95% of the learners impacted are young people, highlighting the Fellowship’s focus on shaping Africa’s next generation through technology-enabled education.

Beyond reaching learners directly, the Fellowship has also strengthened institutional infrastructure, onboarding 1,537 new schools to innovative learning platforms. Of these, 1,171 schools (76.2%) were engaged by Cohort 1, while 366 schools (23.8%) joined through Cohort 2, signaling growing trust among educational institutions in tech-enabled learning models.

Startups from previous cohorts credit the fellowship with unlocking new avenues for growth, scale, and partnerships.

“Loho Learning had a vision to revolutionise education in Africa, and the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship made that vision a reality. Access to world-class mentors, investors, and a vibrant community of entrepreneurs allowed us to scale our platform, reach more students, and secure strategic partnerships that accelerated our growth,” says James Ong’ang’a, Founder, Loho Learning (2023 Cohort 1).

“Participating in the Fellowship was instrumental in developing my leadership abilities and unlocking new avenues for impact. I felt validated, and this boosted my confidence, which resulted in closing more deals and partnerships for Uptyke,” notes Lillian Mutegi (2024 Cohort 2).

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iHUB will support the third cohort of 12 fellows, providing solutions ranging from K-12 education, post-secondary education, career readiness, and after-school learning programs which are all critical areas for Kenya’s learning ecosystem.

The 2025 Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship cohort 3 at iHUB are:

1. LeadNow by Dignitas a professional development platform designed to equip teachers and school leaders with the skills they need to drive better learning outcomes for students while combining data-driven insights with individualised, competency-based coaching.
2. Cloud School System a scalable, all-in-one online platform that automates school management, enhances learning outcomes, and simplifies payment processes for educational institutions.
3. Elimu Shop, an education innovation company that develops interactive, game-based learning resources to make math and science fun and interactive for learners.
4. iFunza is an AI education platform tackling educational access and management challenges in Africa with personalized learning, school financing tools, and curriculum support for underserved students, teachers, and parents.
5. Infoney Solutions Limited that blends innovation with education—offering curriculum-aligned digital content, smart devices, and tailored training that transform traditional classrooms into future-ready learning hubs.
6. M-Lugha Technologies, an online and offline multilingual, multicultural and interactive mobile App that helps young, adult and out of school youth acquire basic literacy and numeracy by using their respective indigenous language.
7. Nyansapo AI, a leader in transforming foundational learning in Africa by doubling reading and math outcomes through AI-powered assessments aimed at reaching  two million children by 2030.
8. Bigbrainz Solutions Limited has developed DigiSkool that streamlines school operations while equipping students with coding and robotics skills through DigiSTEM, bridging efficient school management with future-ready STEM education.
9. Verb Education develops practical digital tools like the CBC App, that simplifies record-keeping and reporting for teachers and school leaders, reducing administrative burdens and enabling data-driven instruction, stronger leadership, and improved learning outcomes
10. AHAINNOVATE  focused on bridging the digital divide in underserved communities through  delivery of smart, solar-powered offline learning systems equipped with interactive educational content tailored for children aged 5 – 13.
11. Zydii a Business-to-Business SAAS workforce skilling solution providing Tiktok style, bite sized, micro-learning content via WhatsApp, Web and other channels.
12. Digifunzi is equipping schools with everything they need to integrate Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Coding into their curriculum aimed at empowering learners with the skills to thrive in the digital economy.

Rodwell Mangisi, the Acting Director at the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, emphasised the need to “accelerate solutions that serve even those out-of-school young people who are constantly left out of the education ecosystem.”  He said when “we design with the end user in mind the business case for the solution is more scalable, sustainable and impactful.”

Over the six-month acceleration period, EdTech companies  will work to strengthen their products, grow their market presence, and deepen their impact across Kenya’s  education systems. In addition, they will receive up to USD100,000 in equity-free funding and post-program advisory support for up to 12 months, ensuring sustained growth beyond the Fellowship’s core programming.

Through the Fellowship, the Mastercard Foundation and iHUB are working to transform the future of learning through accelerating innovations that will make learning more inclusive and accessible across the country.

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