Twelve Kenyan startups have been selected to join Cohort 4 of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, marking a new chapter for the programme as it shifts its focus towards supporting early-stage innovators developing inclusive education technologies.
Launched in Nairobi on July 23, 2026, the fellowship, implemented by iHub, has introduced a new 18-month programme designed specifically for early-stage startups. Unlike previous cohorts that focused on scaling established EdTech companies over eight months, the latest cohort aims to help founders validate innovative ideas before expanding them.
This year’s selection focused on four underserved areas within Kenya’s education ecosystem: learners with disabilities, refugees and underserved communities, girls and young women, and education data systems. Six startups were selected for their work in developing assistive technologies and inclusive learning platforms for learners with disabilities, while four are creating multilingual and offline learning solutions for refugee, displaced and rural communities. The remaining two startups are focused on empowering girls and young women through digital skills, vocational training and entrepreneurship.
Each startup will receive up to USD 100,000 in equity-free funding, alongside technical support covering product development, business strategy and communications. The programme will also provide founders with opportunities to test and refine their solutions through pilot implementations before scaling to wider markets.
Since launching in Kenya in 2023, the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship has supported 36 startups, reaching more than 700,000 learners, training over 11,000 educators and partnering with more than 2,100 schools. The programme has also expanded access to digital learning for more than 6,000 learners with hearing and visual disabilities, reinforcing its commitment to building a more inclusive education ecosystem across Kenya.
