CcHUB and Mastercard Foundation Launch Third EdTech Fellowship Cohort, Emphasizing Gender Diversity and Educational Innovation in Nigeria

CcHUB Launches Third Cohort of Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, Championing Gender Diversity and Educational Innovation in Nigeria

On May 27, 2025, Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, announced the third cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship. This initiative aims to support innovative educational technology startups in Nigeria, focusing on enhancing learning outcomes and expanding access to quality education across the continent.

Highlights of the 2025 Cohort

• Gender Inclusion: For the first time, the cohort features an equal representation of male and female founders, with 50% of the selected startups led by women. This milestone underscores the program's commitment to promoting gender diversity within Africa's tech ecosystem.
• Innovative Solutions: The twelve selected startups are developing a range of educational tools, including AI-powered learning platforms, digital financial literacy applications, and virtual science labs designed to reach rural classrooms without internet access. These solutions aim to address critical gaps in Africa's education system.
• Startup Roster: The 2025 cohort includes:

1.     Ai Teacha

2.     Blue Sands Academy

3.     Cloudnotte

4.     FlexiSAF Edusoft Limited

5.     HiPrep Online

6.     I-Train Africa

7.     Kryptr

8.     Mavis Education

9.     Smart Stewards

10. Tespire LLC

11. Sproutly

12. Lingawa

Impact and Support

Since its inception, the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship has reached over 676,000 learners in Nigeria, with 84% being children and youth. Notably, 53% of these beneficiaries are female, reflecting the program's dedication to gender inclusion in education.

Participants in the fellowship receive:

• Up to $100,000 in equity-free funding
• Access to a network of investors
• Mentorship from experienced founders and experts
• Advisory support in areas such as learning science, product development, marketing, sales, and talent management
• Opportunities to test products within a community of practice
• Networking with other innovative EdTech founders

Leadership Perspective

Nissi Madu, Managing Partner at CcHUB, expressed enthusiasm about the new cohort:

"As we welcome our third cohort, we are especially excited by the innovative, high-impact solutions these startups are bringing to the table. This year, the process was more competitive than ever, as we were intentional about identifying ventures that address critical gaps in Africa’s education ecosystem. Our goal is to equip young people with the skills they need to thrive and lead in a rapidly changing world."

For more information on the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship and to learn about the participating startups, visit CcHUB's official announcement.(Co-Creation Hub Africa (CcHUB))