Here are the 12 startups in the first cohort of CcHub Mastercard Foundation Ed-Tech Fellowship Program in Nigeria

Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB) has revealed the selection of 12 startups to form the inaugural cohort of the Mastercard Foundation Ed-Tech Fellowship Program in Nigeria. The program, initially announced in February 2023, has undergone a meticulous three-month-long selection process to identify startups that fulfill the rigorous criteria set by the Mastercard Foundation and CcHUB.

Here are the startups:

• EduTAM – A multi-tenant cloud-based school management system for basic and tertiary schools with a focus on API-based connectivity and interoperability of learners’ data for large education systems.
• 9ijakids – An online platform creating exciting learning experiences to help children fall in love with learning using games.
• Gradely – A solution that empowers parents and schools with a toolbox to provide personalized learning of the standard exams curriculum through interactive videos, an extensive practice test bank, and live tutoring.
• Money Africa – A platform that provides financial literacy education for adults and children through digital content, personalized advisory, and an online community.
• NKENNE – An African language learning app for Africans on the continent and in the diaspora with a focus on the context of African culture, tonality, and building social communities.
• Davtonlearn – A SaaS learning management system for corporate organizations to onboard and train their staff in line with each company’s corporate objectives and workforce goals.
• Qataloog – An online curator of curriculum-relevant content for learners across various levels and disciplines in K-12, tertiary, and TVET education.
• SabiTeach – An online learning platform that seamlessly connects learners with qualified teachers for private sessions while also providing tutoring services for special needs children.
• Schoolinka – A digital platform improving the pipeline of quality educators by upskilling teachers and accelerating top teaching talent to improve the standard of education in Africa.
• Go2Course – An ed-tech solution that provides a comprehensive virtual school platform for creators and students to connect and learn.
• Kunda Kids Ltd – An Edtech App that provides a collection of African-inspired stories and language learning content for children
• Schoola  – A learning platform for K-12 schools that offers gamification and tools for fun, engaging, and interactive lesson preparation.

The Mastercard Foundation, through its Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, established the fellowship as part of its wider objective to foster the growth of a transformative EdTech ecosystem in Africa. The goal is to encourage innovation and advance effective practices in utilizing technology for learning and teaching, ultimately benefiting learners, educators, and EdTech innovators across the continent. The selection process for the cohort was meticulously designed to ensure a diverse range of solutions addressing key issues in the EdTech space. Among the 12 chosen startups, various areas are covered, including digital content, learning management platforms, workforce development, STEAM education support, tutoring and testing, and online learning materials.

CcHUB and the Mastercard Foundation were committed to promoting inclusivity and gender balance throughout the selection process. This deliberate effort led to the inclusion of nine startups with female founders and management personnel out of the 12 selected. All the chosen startups will receive funding and advisory services to scale their operations and increase their impact in Nigeria and beyond. The program, which commenced today in Lagos, encompasses a six-month accelerator phase conducted by the CcHUB team, followed by an additional 12 months of advisory support.

This partnership is part of the broader Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Program, which aims to support EdTech companies across Africa addressing learning challenges in K-12 education, tertiary education, and vocational training. The program anticipates that these solutions will play a vital role in tackling longstanding issues in African education, such as enrollment, quality, and the availability of effective educational options for the continent’s young population.