Ten South African startups have been selected for the third edition of the Injini Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship in South Africa, which offers companies access to funding and other types of support.
Founded in 2017, Injini, which is a member of the UVU Africa Group, is a registered non-profit company that exists for the sole purpose of improving educational outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa. The only ed-tech specialised accelerator in Africa, its programmes and research via the Injini Think Tank contribute towards its mission to increase the quality, accessibility, and relevance of education in the region.
Disrupt Africa reported in 2023 Injini had partnered the Mastercard Foundation to launch the EdTech Fellowship for South Africa-based startups. The initiative empowers eligible startups with direct grant funding, product quality evaluation, intensive skill development, coaching, mentorship, bespoke market research, and market access.
After a rigorous process, Injini has selected its fourth cohort of ventures, which will participate in a specialised six-month acceleration programme designed to scale their impact and improve educational outcomes for all learners.
The cohort includes online learning platform AdvantageLearn, WhatsApp-based AI tutoring service Buddy Learning, e-learning and monitoring platform Dalza, educational resources provider IncludEDU, and literacy and numeracy software Inclusive Solutions.
Video-based learning service Khanyisa Developmental Centre, game-based learning platform Tangible, AI-powered assessment tool The Marking App, assessment platform ThinkShift, and AI-powered career guidance service Young Aspiring Thinkers (YAT) complete the cohort.
“As we enter our fourth year of this fellowship, we are intentionally deepening our commitment to equity in education,” said Krista Davidson, executive director at Injini. “This cohort represents a powerful shift toward ensuring that no learner is left behind. By supporting entrepreneurs who are specifically addressing accessibility, whether through assistive technologies for learners with disabilities or inclusive platforms for marginalised communities, we are working to build an education ecosystem that serves every child in South Africa and on the continent.”
The 2026 programme delivered by Injini will offer various forms of support, including mentorship from experts, global quality assurance via formal pedagogical evaluation and certification, specialised market insights from Injini’s team of education researchers, and ZAR1 million (US$61,000) in funding.
