Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has selected 12 Nigerian startups for the fourth cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship.
The selected startups were chosen for the strength of their education technology solutions and their focus on addressing the needs of underserved learners.
According to CcHUB, the fourth cohort targets innovations designed for learners with disabilities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), underserved and rural communities, as well as initiatives that improve participation and learning outcomes for girls and women. The programme also supports solutions that strengthen education and workforce data systems.
The startups are grouped into four thematic areas.
For learners with disabilities, TrainDTrainer Ltd, Talktu, DAWN AI Study and Efiwe are developing solutions to improve accessibility, teacher capacity and inclusive learning experiences.
Addressing barriers faced by learners in underserved, rural and displacement-affected communities are Ileemore Technologies Limited, Skillup Africa and Lena, which focus on expanding access to quality education in low-resource environments.
Heels and Tech, NursePadi, Skilladder AI and Lalitah are developing solutions aimed at improving participation, skills development and economic opportunities for girls and young women.
In the education data systems category, Ribara Analytica is building data-driven platforms to support informed decision-making and strengthen pathways from education to employment.
Managing Partner at CcHUB, Nissi Madu, said the fourth cohort was designed around the belief that inclusion should be embedded at the earliest stages of innovation.
According to her, the selected founders are addressing some of the most persistent barriers to equitable education through solutions designed with inclusion at their core.
“Our role is to help them test, refine and generate evidence for their solutions while building sustainable businesses that can scale their impact. Through this support, we are working to ensure no learner is left behind and that these solutions contribute to more inclusive education systems and Africa’s long-term prosperity,” she said.
Each startup will participate in an 18-month programme that offers up to $100,000 in equity-free funding, technical support in product development, communications and business strategy, as well as access to CcHUB’s network of partners and a pilot framework for measuring impact.
The fellowship also provides media readiness and stakeholder engagement support to help participating startups increase their visibility and attract strategic partnerships.
Director of the Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) at the Mastercard Foundation, Wariko Waita, said the fellowship is helping to transform education through technology while promoting sustainable entrepreneurship across Africa.
“At its best, EdTech does not just digitise education; it redistributes opportunity. The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship sits at the intersection of education system transformation, inclusive technology-enabled solutions and sustainable EdTech entrepreneurship in Africa,” Waita said.
Since its launch, the fellowship has supported 72 companies across Africa, reaching more than 700,000 new learners, 89 per cent of whom are children and young people. Of the beneficiaries, 49 per cent are female and 51 per cent are male.
