The 2025 EdTech Fellowship Programme, a major initiative aimed at transforming digital education in Nigeria, has officially wrapped up with significant impact. Organised by Co-creation Hub (CcHUB) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the programme concluded with a dynamic Demo Day on December 2, 2025. The event united innovators, government officials, investors, and key partners dedicated to advancing learning through technology.
Showcasing Innovation and Reaching Thousands
The Demo Day served as a crucial platform for the twelve participating startups to present their products, demonstrate progress, and seek partnerships for growth. This year's cohort featured a diverse group of companies: AI Teacha, BlueSands Academy, Cloudnotte, Tespire, Kryptr, Smart Stewards, hiPrep, Varsityscape, Mavis Computel, FlexiSAF, I-Train Africa, and Sproutly.
Collectively, their efforts led to a remarkable achievement: they empowered more than 21,000 new learners. A detailed breakdown shows that children and youth constituted 90% of these learners, with a strong focus on gender inclusion as girls and young women made up 55% of the total. Beyond students, the startups engaged 7,000 educators and provided support to over 500 schools nationwide, including those in often-overlooked rural and semi-urban communities.
Collaboration and Ecosystem Growth
A defining characteristic of this third fellowship cohort was the move from working in isolation to embracing deep collaboration. This spirit was cemented during the Founders Connect event, where all 36 startups from the programme's three-year history gathered. The session fostered peer learning and co-creation, laying the groundwork for a structured alumni network to sustain momentum.
These collaborative relationships yielded tangible results. For instance, Varsityscape and I-Train Africa integrated their platforms to enhance how educational content is created and delivered. In another strategic move, Kryptr partnered with FlexiSAF during the 2025 Quizzathon 3.0, utilizing FlexiSAF's Distinction platform to dramatically expand scholarship access and student participation across the country.
Founders Reflect on Impact and Scale
Nissi Madu, Managing Partner at CcHUB, described the Demo Day as evidence of deliberate innovation and the rising ability of African entrepreneurs to build inclusive, scalable education tools. She emphasized technology's critical role in improving learning results and expressed confidence that these startups would impact millions more learners in the future.
The supported solutions address various educational challenges. Mavis Computel, for example, focuses on underserved communities. Founder Chiemezie Ucheaga stated the fellowship helped solidify the company's structure and mission. Their flagship product, the Mavis Talking Book, is designed for children in hard-to-reach areas, such as IDP camps, using a digital pen to read printed storybooks aloud in local languages.
Similarly, Cloudnotte founder Mary Matthew noted that the programme boosted her startup's capacity to grow and underscored the value of solutions designed in Africa for African learning contexts.
Now in its third year, the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship run by CcHUB has backed 36 African startups in their quest to widen access to digital learning tools. The partners reaffirm their dedication to strengthening the continent's EdTech landscape through innovation grounded in evidence, deeper collaborations, and the thoughtful integration of artificial intelligence in education.
