Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), Africa's largest innovation hub, has announced the selection of 12 startups for its inaugural edtech Fellowship Program, supported by the Mastercard Foundation. The three-month application and selection process aimed to boost funding in the African edtech sector, which accounted for only 0.72% of total venture capital on the continent in 2022. CcHUB had previously launched a $15 million fund with plans to invest in 72 Nigerian and Kenyan edtech startups over the next three years.
The chosen startups will receive up to $100,000 in equity-free funding with the potential for follow-on investment, reducing risk for seed or Series A investors. Additionally, CcHUB's in-house research team will collaborate with portfolio startups to test their products from launch to scale. The hub will provide expert support in areas such as product development, government relations, pedagogy and learning science, portfolio management, communication, instructional design, and community building.
The program commenced in Lagos with a six-month accelerator phase led by the CcHUB team, followed by ongoing advisory support for an additional 12 months. The selected startups cover diverse areas, including digital content, learning management platforms, workforce and skill development, STEAM education support, tutoring and testing, and online learning content.
CcHUB and the Mastercard Foundation prioritized gender balance and inclusivity in the selection process, resulting in nine out of the 12 startups being led by female founders or management personnel. These 12 startups will join CcHUB's network of over 1,100 startups that have benefited from the hub's innovation-focused programs and interventions. Collectively, CcHUB's portfolio companies have generated more than 7,300 direct and over 35,000 indirect jobs through their value chains.
The selected startups include EduTAM, 9ijakids, Gradely, Money Africa, NKENNE, Davtonlearn, Qataloog, SabiTeach, Schoolinka, Go2Course, Kunda Kids Ltd., and Schoola. They offer solutions such as cloud-based school management systems, interactive learning experiences, personalized exam preparation, financial literacy education, African language learning, corporate learning management systems, curriculum curation, online tutoring, teacher upskilling, and virtual school platforms for creators and students.
Overall, this initiative by CcHUB and the Mastercard Foundation aims to foster innovation and advancement in the African edtech sector while promoting quality education and empowering startups to make a positive impact in the region.
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