Mastercard Foundation & EdVentures Launch EdTech Fellowship

EdVentures, the investment arm of Nahdet Misr Group, has signed a five-year agreement with the Mastercard Foundation to launch the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship in Egypt.

This project aims to revolutionize the African EdTech sector through digital innovation, inclusivity, and youth empowerment. It holds great potential to have a significant impact on Egypt’s IT, educational, and economic settings. has declared a five-year agreement to start the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship in Egypt in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation. This initiative seeks to revolutionize the African EdTech sector through digital innovation, inclusivity, and youth empowerment, with significant implications for Egypt’s educational, IT, and economic landscapes.

The 2024 program selection process evaluated over 210 EdTech startup applications from various Egyptian governorates. After a rigorous selection procedure, the program selected 12 companies for an eight-month program that offers specialized training, mentorship, workshops, networking opportunities, and course access. Each firm will receive a total of $60,000 in equity-free cash. The fellowship will help 36 EdTech companies over the course of the following three years, bringing about constructive change in the education industry.

“We are honored to collaborate with the Mastercard Foundation, a testament to our impact in Egypt’s EdTech sector,” stated Dalia Ibrahim, Founder and CEO of EdVentures. “This collaboration is pivotal for the EdTech industry, aligning with our mission to foster innovation and empower young entrepreneurs. Together, we will continue to shape a robust EdTech ecosystem in Egypt, redefining learning experiences. We eagerly anticipate the forthcoming cycles, each contributing to our shared vision of a brighter future for education.”

“Through our partnership with EdVentures, we are enhancing access to quality learning for Egypt’s and Africa’s underserved learners through local technological solutions. In 2023, our EdTech Fellowship cohorts in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya reached 2.6 million learners. We expect an even greater impact this year,” said Joseph Nsengimana, Director of the Mastercard Foundation Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning.

The inaugural Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship cohort are:

1. 5 Quarters: a dental student learning application
2. Armstrong: an interactive STEM e-learning platform.
3. Business بالعربي: an Arabic self-development and business skills podcast.
4. Career 180: career development and job placement solutions for youth.
5. Deaf Gain: consulting services for the deaf and hard of hearing.
6. Fednee: platform for networking, career development, mentoring, and collaboration.
7. iSchool: Teaching AI and coding for kids ages 6–17.
8. Mharet Tefl: a speech therapy program for children.
9. Nafham by Tayro: an online learning application.
10. OTO Courses: online one-on-one English and other courses.
11. Science Street: promotes science literacy.
12. Bayt Alkhyata: fosters social development for women and their communities.