Improving access to quality education for learners who have traditionally been left behind is the focus of the latest Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship in Kenya. Implemented by iHUB in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the programme has selected 12 early-stage startups that are developing technology solutions to make learning more accessible for learners with disabilities, girls and young women, refugees, displaced people and other underserved communities.
The fourth cohort represents a shift in the Fellowship’s approach. While previous cohorts focused on growth-stage companies over eight months, Cohort 4 targets earlier-stage businesses and provides them with an 18-month support programme designed to help them refine their products, generate evidence of impact and build sustainable businesses capable of reaching more learners.
Each selected startup will receive up to US$100,000 in equity-free funding, alongside technical support in product development, business strategy, communications and pilot implementation. The founders will also gain access to iHUB’s extensive innovation network, strategic partnerships, media support and investment opportunities that will help position their solutions for long-term growth.
The initiative reflects a growing recognition that educational technology can play a major role in closing learning gaps when it is designed around the needs of those who face the greatest barriers.
“As innovation has the greatest impact when it begins with the learners who have historically been excluded, these founders are developing solutions with inclusion at their core,” said Nissi Madu, Managing Partner at iHUB. She added that over the next 18 months, iHUB will work closely with the startups to help them test, improve and validate their products while building businesses that can scale across Africa. According to Madu, the ultimate goal is to ensure that no learner is left behind while contributing to stronger education systems and the continent’s long-term prosperity.
Supporting Innovation That Solves Real Education Challenges
The selected startups cover a broad range of education challenges, demonstrating that inclusive learning extends beyond classrooms to healthcare, digital literacy, workforce development and accessible technology.
DEAFHEALTH is working to improve communication between healthcare workers and Deaf patients by providing medical sign language training. Through its programmes, the startup equips healthcare professionals with the skills needed to communicate effectively with Deaf people, helping ensure they receive quality healthcare while improving understanding between healthcare providers and the Deaf community.
AssistiveMath is making mathematics more accessible for learners with visual impairments. Using assistive technologies and artificial intelligence, the company has developed a web-based platform that supports learners, teachers and examination centres. Its tools enable visually impaired students to participate more fully in mathematics education while helping teachers create more inclusive classrooms.
Signvrse is using artificial intelligence, computer vision and large language models to break communication barriers between Deaf and hearing communities. Its technology translates spoken language into sign language and sign language back into speech in real time, making communication more accessible while promoting ethical AI that respects Deaf culture.
Deaf Outreach Program (DEAFOP) is focused on improving access to education and reproductive health information through sign language-accessible technology. The organisation believes that improving access unlocks opportunities for the Deaf community and is using digital tools to strengthen both educational outcomes and health awareness.
SmartSteamMinds EdTech has developed TutorBot AI, Kenya’s first AI-powered cloud school platform built specifically for the country’s education system. The platform delivers personalised learning that supports the Competency-Based Education curriculum, the 8-4-4 system and Cambridge programmes. By providing every learner with access to an AI tutor at any time, the company hopes to make quality education available regardless of where students live or their financial circumstances.
ChipuRobo is introducing learners to artificial intelligence and robotics through locally manufactured learning kits. Its practical approach combines classroom instruction with hands-on experience using accessible tools, including Braille and Kenyan Sign Language-ready equipment. Working alongside partners such as Microsoft ADC, Raspberry Pi and CEMASTEA, ChipuRobo is also promoting digital fabrication and environmental sustainability through recycled materials used in classroom learning.
Neurollect is combining artificial intelligence and extended reality technologies to make learning more engaging and accessible. The company works with teachers, parents and education partners to create personalised learning experiences while supporting educators through professional development and collaborative curriculum design. Its goal is to make learning more enjoyable while improving educational outcomes.
Juza AI is helping teachers reduce administrative work through artificial intelligence so they can spend more time supporting learners directly. Its offline “AI in a Box” solution has been designed for schools with limited internet connectivity and works on low-cost devices, making it suitable for remote communities that often struggle to access digital learning tools.
Ubuntu Universe Limited is taking a different approach by using educational games to teach important concepts and develop practical skills. Its flagship game, Soraha, combines learning with interactive storytelling, demonstrating how digital games can become effective educational tools while inspiring creativity among young learners.
RYEH CBO, through its HerPath platform, is supporting refugee and displaced girls across East Africa with offline digital training programmes. Built specifically for environments with limited internet access, the platform focuses on practical digital skills that prepare learners for remote work opportunities and immediate income generation.
Gwiji for Women addresses economic inclusion by connecting women working as domestic cleaners with households seeking trusted services. Many women living in Nairobi’s informal settlements struggle to find stable employment because of limited education opportunities. By using technology to connect workers with clients, Gwiji helps women build sustainable livelihoods while improving access to work.
Tausi App is empowering beauticians by helping them grow their businesses through technology. The BeautyTech platform enables service providers to manage bookings, connect with clients and expand beyond physical salon locations. While operating in the beauty industry, Tausi is creating new opportunities for entrepreneurship and digital business growth among women and young professionals.
The Fellowship’s broader impact is already becoming evident through previous cohorts. Since launching in Kenya in 2023, the programme has supported 36 EdTech companies that have collectively reached more than 700,000 learners, empowered over 11,000 educators, partnered with more than 2,100 schools and expanded learning opportunities for more than 6,000 learners with hearing and visual disabilities.
That impact is reflected in the experience of Abdinoor Ali Mahdi, founder of M-Lugha and a member of the 2025 Fellowship cohort. He said the programme provided the support, networks and resources needed to strengthen the company’s technology while expanding meaningful learning opportunities for more than 14,000 learners across 35 Kenyan counties, particularly in underserved communities. Today, M-Lugha has users in 130 countries, demonstrating how local innovations can grow into global solutions when founders receive the right support.
Building Stronger Businesses to Strengthen Education
Beyond financial support, the Fellowship is designed to help founders build businesses that can survive, attract investment and create lasting impact. Through mentorship, evidence generation, pilot projects and ecosystem partnerships, startups will be better positioned to scale their solutions both within Kenya and across Africa.
According to Wariko Waita, Director of the Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning at the Mastercard Foundation, educational technology has the potential to do much more than digitise classrooms.
“At its best, EdTech does not just digitize education; it redistributes opportunity,” he said, noting that the Fellowship brings together education system transformation, inclusive technology and sustainable entrepreneurship. By investing in local innovators who understand Africa’s education challenges, the programme is helping develop solutions that are both practical and scalable.
The work being undertaken through Cohort 4 highlights a growing shift in Africa’s innovation ecosystem. Rather than developing technology for its own sake, these founders are building solutions that respond directly to challenges affecting learners and educators every day. Their innovations demonstrate how technology can improve communication for Deaf communities, expand access for visually impaired learners, support teachers, prepare refugees for employment and create new opportunities for women and underserved communities.
