Nairobi-based incubator iHub has unveiled the 12 startups chosen for the second edition of the Kenyan leg of the inaugural Mastercard Foundation Ed-Tech Fellowship Programme, which grants selected companies access to funding and various types of support.
In February last year, Tec reported that Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), the parent organization of iHub, had forged a new partnership with the Mastercard Foundation as part of the Mastercard Foundation Ed-Tech Fellowship Programme to launch a US$15 million ed-tech accelerator initiative in Kenya and Nigeria. Injini is spearheading a similar program in South Africa.
While twelve startups were selected for the initial Kenyan program, subsequent editions are already underway in Nigeria and South Africa. iHub has now revealed the latest cohort of 12 ed-tech ventures participating in the Mastercard Foundation Ed-Tech Fellowship.
These include Dals Learning, a digital platform providing learners access to interactive, engaging, comprehensive, and approved digital educational content; Fundis, which empowers artisans to document their work and portfolios, undergo assessment and grading, access continuous upskilling, and obtain certification/accreditation for job-matching; Soma Siri Afrika, offering an innovative educational product that merges psychology, AI, and analytics to revolutionize learning experiences; and Uptyke, delivering a diverse range of accessible educational digital content for K-12 learners.
Also among the selected startups are eKitabu, a digital content solution developing early-grade reading materials in Kenyan Sign Language (KSL); Kuze.ai, an AI-enabled platform providing learners with personalized learning experiences; Ultratude Tech, a school management system; SomaChat, a digital learning platform transforming the learning experience for Kenyan students with its suite of AI-powered educational tools; and NABU, a digital content solution offering culturally relevant mother-tongue and curriculum-aligned learning resources.
Read also: Mastercard Foundation Fellowship selects 12 Nigerian EdTech ventures.
Rounding out the cohort are Esoma Solutions, an online learning platform providing teachers and learners with digital learning materials to foster Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) through adaptive and personalized learning paths; Kurasa, which enhances the teaching and learning experience in K-12 education through innovative tools; and Recess, which innovates school management through personalized educational content, fostering student engagement, and facilitating transparent communication between educators and parents.
“We are enthusiastic about the potential of the selected startups to reshape the landscape of ed-tech in the region. Following the success of cohort one in 2023, we are excited about the second cohort’s potential to contribute to improved education outcomes for learners in Kenya,” said Nissi Madu, managing partner at iHub Kenya.
