In a landmark initiative set to revolutionize the education sector, SAHARA Consult and the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship have selected 10 homegrown startups for the inaugural cohort of their acceleration program.
The Fellowship, an innovative partnership between SAHARA Consult and the Mastercard Foundation, aims to support promising African EdTech ventures through mentorship, business, and financial assistance. This collaboration marks the beginning of a strategic effort to enhance educational opportunities using technology.
Nancy Kiondo, Managing Director of SAHARA Consult, highlighted the significance of this initiative. "Over the next eight months, our inaugural cohort of growth-stage EdTech companies will benefit from our mentorship, business, and financial support. This marks the beginning of a new journey in innovation. Working with the Mastercard Foundation will allow us to increase educational opportunities through technology," Ms. Kiondo stated.
The selected startups for the 2024 Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship include Shuleyetu Innovations Limited, Mtabe, Smartdarasa Company Limited, Infotaaluma Company Limited, ShuleSoft, Smartcore Enterprise Limited, Kilimanjaro Planetarium (part of Rada 360 Ltd), MITz Group Company Limited, Fiqra Technologies, and Taifa Technovation Hub.
Joseph Nsengimana, Director of the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, emphasized the program's broader goals. "We aim to increase access to quality, relevant, and accessible learning for Tanzania's and Africa's underserved learners through locally developed, technology-enabled solutions. We look forward to an even greater impact this year," he said.
The Fellowship will provide these startups with up to $70,000 in equity-free funding, alongside post-programme support for up to one year. This initiative builds on the success of previous cohorts in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya, which reached 2.6 million learners last year.
SAHARA Consult is a comprehensive management consulting firm that collaborates with industry experts to deliver unparalleled solutions leveraging innovation and digital entrepreneurship. The Mastercard Foundation, a registered Canadian charity, is one of the largest foundations in the world, dedicated to advancing education and financial inclusion globally.
This partnership is a significant step towards fostering technological innovation in education, with the potential to impact millions of learners across Tanzania and beyond.