iHUB Kenya launched the third cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship on May 23, 2025, marking a significant milestone. For the first time, women led the majority of enterprises in the program, with women leading 75 per cent of the 12 chosen firms. In Kenya’s EdTech industry, this marks a new era of gender inclusion.
Empowering female Innovators in Kenya’s EdTech scene
The 2025 cohort features 12 innovative startups, seven of which are spearheaded by female founders. Over the six-month acceleration period, these entrepreneurs will receive up to USD 100,000 in equity-free capital, mentorship, and advisory support to develop their products and improve Kenya’s education system.
Nissi Madu, Managing Partner at iHUB Kenya, emphasized the significance of this development: “Welcoming our third cohort is a proud moment for us. The innovative solutions of these startups are shaping the future of learning in Africa. This year’s selection was more competitive than ever, as we intentionally sought ventures with strong potential and embraced gender diversity”.
The fellowship supports ventures that use technology to improve access to quality education, focusing on young learners across Kenya. Since its inception in 2023, the program has supported 24 startups, reaching over 470,000 new learners and onboarding more than 1,500 schools to innovative learning platforms.
Driving Inclusive Education through Technology
The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship is designed to accelerate growth-stage EdTech companies by providing business development resources, financial support, and insights into learning science. The goal is to help these startups scale their solutions to make education more inclusive and accessible across Kenya and Africa.
The previous 2024 cohort collectively reached over 63,500 new learners, of whom 91% were young people. This aligns with the fellowship’s mission to provide quality educational resources to underserved communities.
During the recent Demo Day event in Nairobi, startups showcased their progress and innovations, attracting interest from investors, partners, and education stakeholders. Madu noted, “These startups have dedicated themselves to refining their solutions with a clear focus on enhancing learning experiences and improving outcomes. We are confident in the transformative impact these innovations will have in the months and years ahead”.
iHUB Kenya, a leading innovation hub based in Nairobi, has supported over 1,000 startups in Africa over 14 years. Through this fellowship, iHUB continues to foster a thriving ecosystem for education technology that addresses learning challenges from K-12 to vocational training and out-of-school learning.
The launch of the third cohort signals a growing commitment to leveraging technology for equitable education and highlights the increasing role of women entrepreneurs in shaping Kenya’s EdTech future.
