Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship
Fellowship
Discover how to join
Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship
including requirements, application process, and compensation and explore other programs to join!
Fellowship
The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship is a pan-African entrepreneurship acceleration program supporting early-stage education technology companies addressing learning challenges across the continent. Launched in 2020, the fellowship combines equity-free grant funding, specialized business support, and access to learning science expertise to accelerate EdTech ventures toward sustainability and impact at scale. The program prepares African EdTech companies for scale, sustainability, and measurable learning impact by providing financial resources, strategic guidance, and connection to a continent-wide ecosystem of education innovators.
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The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship aims to support early-stage education technology companies in Africa by providing them with the necessary resources to scale sustainably and create measurable learning impacts. The program focuses on addressing learning challenges in K-12 and higher education, emphasizing the importance of founder diversity and underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Applications are open annually, with cohorts launching quarterly across implementing hubs. Eligible companies are seed to growth-stage EdTech startups based in or serving African markets.
The fellowship offers equity-free grant funding ranging from $60,000 to $100,000, preserving founder control with a zero equity structure.
There is no cost to participate in the fellowship, as it provides equity-free funding.
Cohorts launch quarterly, culminating in Demo Days in major African cities to showcase progress and connect with investors.
The time commitment for participants may vary, but it typically involves active engagement in mentorship, coursework, and networking opportunities.
The fellowship operates across multiple African countries and tech hubs, combining remote and in-person elements for support and networking.
Applicants should focus on demonstrating their impact on learning outcomes and how their solutions address specific educational challenges in African markets.
Q: Who can apply for the fellowship? A: Early-stage EdTech companies based in or serving African markets can apply. Q: What kind of funding is provided? A: The fellowship offers equity-free grant funding between $60,000 and $100,000.
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