The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship is a three-year entrepreneurship acceleration program designed to support African EdTech companies. In Ethiopia, the program looks to scale inclusive educational technology (EdTech) solutions and strengthening the emerging ecosystem.
Reach for Change is searching for EdTech Fellows with the potential to address the needs of underserved communities, including girls, out-of-school learners, young people with disabilities, and those who are internally displaced. In the first cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, we will support 12 Ethiopian EdTech enterprises to scale their impact.
These Fellows will enjoy the following benefits:
● Coaching and investor advisory from key industry experts.
● Group-based peer learning sessions with fellow EdTech entrepreneurs.
● Visibility for your work through impactful storytelling.
● Access to the science of learning courses from Carnegie Mellon University.
● Equity-free funding of up to USD 60,000 for each enterprise.
Who should apply?
You can apply if you are a growth-stage EdTech enterprise:
● Owned or co-owned by an entrepreneur of Ethiopian nationality, incorporated in Ethiopia. A variety of legal forms will be considered: from non-profits to profitable companies.
● Offering a tested tech-based educational solution for children and young people (3-35 years), that has been implemented with the primary target for at least two years.
● With the ambition to scale and the potential to reach 8,000 direct learners within one year of the Fellowship.
● With the ability to generate revenue, and on track to identify a sustainable business model and be financially sustainable.
● Led by a diverse team that understands the local context to influence policy and accelerate systems change.
All applicants will undergo a three-stage selection process, including shortlisting based on the application form, due diligence, and a pitch before a Final Jury. The 12 selected EdTech Fellows will be announced on May 21st.
The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship represents a collaborative effort to harnessthe potential of technology and entrepreneurship to drive positive change in Ethiopia's education sector. By investing in inclusive and scalable EdTech solutions, Reach for Change and the Mastercard Foundation are laying the foundation for a brighter future for Ethiopia's young people.
For more information, email us at: [email protected]
About Reach for Change
Reach for Change runs capacity development programs supporting social entrepreneurs at all stages of development and also works to improve wider ecosystems for social entrepreneurship. Founded in Sweden in 2010, Reach for Change has since supported 2,000 Change Leaders in 18 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia, who in turn have reached 4.7 million children and youth. Our partnership with the Mastercard Foundation marks a significant milestone in creating a new inclusive path for young learners in Ethiopia. Through this collaboration, we are committed to supporting innovative EdTech solutions that address the diverse needs of children and youth and contribute to the country's social and economic development.
About the Mastercard Foundation
The Mastercard Foundation is a registered Canadian charity and one of the largest foundations in the world. It works with visionary organizations to advance education and financial inclusion to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. Established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company, the Foundation is an independent organization separate from the company, with offices in Toronto, Kigali, Accra, Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Dakar, and Addis Ababa. Its policies, operations, and program decisions are determined by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and leadership. For more information on the Foundation, please visit www.mastercardfdn.org.
The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship
The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship is an entrepreneurship acceleration program designed to support promising African EdTech companies. Implemented in partnership with innovation hubs and EdTech accelerators across Africa, the Fellowship provides select EdTech companies with critical business and financial support, as well as insight into the science of learning, preparing them for scale, sustainability, and impact. The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship was launched in 2019 by the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning and supported 12 African EdTech companies from seven countries in its first year, reaching over 800,000 learners. The goal of the Centre is to partner with 12 Tech Hubs to support over 250 EdTech companies and reach at least 1.8 million young people by 2025. For more information on the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, contact: [email protected]
