Mastercard Foundation awards $40k grant funding to 12 African ed-tech startups
Summary
Run by the foundation’s Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning in Information, Communications, and Technology (ICT), the fellows were selected after an Africa-wide request for proposals late last year. The programme was seeking innovators with solutions that enhance and increase accessibility and affordability of professional development for in-service teachers, and create and deliver enriched learning content. They will each receive a comprehensive package over the next year that includes customised mentorship, financial support, the opportunity to test, validate and scale their business, and a US$40,000 grant to aid in the development of their solutions. Four of the selected companies are Kenyan, namely mobile learning platforms M-Shule, Kytabu and Eneza Education, and mobile-first data management solution Litemore. Bringing together these talented entrepreneurs and supporting them as they innovate to drive excellence in teaching and learning offers new opportunities with great potential to raise the bar in African education and benefit tens of millions of students,” said Peter Materu, chief programme officer at the Mastercard Foundation.