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Rwanda Opens Applications for a New EdTech Fellowship to Scale Inclusive Learning Solutions
By Admin
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Feb 20, 2026
The Fellowship, led by the Rwanda ICT Chamber in p...
Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship
The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship is an entrepreneurship acceleration program designed to support promising, African EdTech companies. Implemented in partnership with innovation hubs and EdTech accelerators across Africa, the Fellowship provides select EdTech companies with critical business and financial support, as well as insight into the science of learning, preparing them for scale, sustainability, and impact. The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship was launched in 2019 by the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning with the goal of providing access to technology-enabled, inclusive, quality education to all, especially young people, underserved, under-resourced and marginalized communities.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship
The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Program is a six-month, equity-free acceleration program for high-impact companies using technology and innovation to address challenges in Rwandan education.
Through a structured acceleration process, the program will enhance EdTech adoption, equip EdTech Companies with financial and technical support, and strengthen edtech policy alignment to reach at least 40,000 learners through participating EdTech Fellows’ solutions. The initiative will take a market systems approach, ensuring that public-private partnerships, government engagement, and a strong post-acceleration pipeline contribute to long-term sustainability for the sector.
Program Overview
The Fellowship supports growth stage EdTech Companies operating in Rwanda or with a strong Rwanda focus. EdTech Companies receive structured support that strengthens product readiness, implementation excellence, partnerships, business resilience, and learning outcomes measurement. The goal is a responsible scale that expands access to quality learning, especially for underserved communities.
Inclusive product and delivery design
Evidence-driven learning impact
Partnership readiness with schools and systems actors
Sustainable and affordable business models
Why this Fellowship matters in Rwanda
Rwanda's education ecosystem needs solutions that work in real classrooms and real communities. The Fellowship prioritizes EdTech that design for constraints and complexity, including low connectivity environments, under resourced schools, and displacement settings.
- ✓ Overcrowded classrooms and limited resources
- ✓ Teacher support and training gaps
- ✓ Skills pathways and school-to-work transitions
- ✓ Unequal access for refugees and learners with disabilities
Program Process
(Dec 2025 - Mar 2026)
Pre-Acceleration
8 high-potential EdTech companies in Rwanda are competitively selected and onboarded into the program. During this phase, the Fellowship conducts a structured diagnostic to deeply understand each startup’s unique context, solution’s inclusiveness, challenges, and growth needs.
(Throughout Apr 2026)
Tailored Support Setup
Based on the outcomes of the needs assessment, a customized support plan is finalized for each participating EdTech company. This plan brings together a blend of internal and external experts, carefully matched to the company’s priority gaps and strategic goals.
(Apr 2026 - Oct 2026)
Acceleration Program
Through targeted and hands-on support, the Fellowship assists each EdTech company to strengthen impact measurement, expand access to local and regional markets, enhance investment readiness, as well as build inclusive, resilient and financially sustainable business models.
(Nov 2026 - Nov 2027)
Post-Acceleration
Fellows gain ongoing access to curated networking and ecosystem engagement opportunities. They also receive structured monitoring and evaluation support to track progress and impact, alongside two additional grant disbursements that are performance-based and linked to timely reporting and milestone achievement.
Eligibility Criteria
We are looking for locally founded and locally led, growth stage EdTech Companies delivering inclusive solutions in Rwanda.
The EdTech company must be
✓
Rwandan-founded and led, Leadership and decision-making are based in Rwanda
✓
Scale potential, Demonstrates the ability to reach at least 5,000 learners within 12 months.
✓
Growth-stage Company, Operational EdTech product with demonstrated traction (users, customers, or partnerships).
✓
Learning impact, Solution improves learning outcomes or strengthens teaching and learning.
✓
Inclusive design, Intentionally serves underserved learners, including low-income and rural communities, women, refugees and people with disabilities.
✓
Having an EdTech Trust Seal is an advantage
End Goal
The program will accelerate 8 growth-stage EdTech Companies, equipping them with the expertise, resources, and market access needed to scale their solutions sustainably. Each Company is expected to reach at least 5,000 learners over 12 months. Special emphasis will help Promote Inclusivity by ensuring that these solutions benefit:
- ✓ Young women
- ✓ educational access in refugee camps
- ✓ Persons with disabilities
- ✓ Youth in underserved regions
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By Admin
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Feb 20, 2026
FAQs
Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship – Rwanda [FAQs]
What is the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship in Rwanda?
The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship in Rwanda is a growth-stage acceleration program designed to support Rwandan EdTech Companies to scale high-quality, inclusive, and impactful education solutions. The Fellowship strengthens companies, institutions, and the broader ecosystem to expand access to quality learning — especially for young women, youth with disabilities, refugees, and underserved communities
Who runs the EdTech Fellowship in Rwanda?
The Fellowship is implemented by the Rwanda ICT Chamber, with technical acceleration support from Injini and learning-science expertise from Carnegie Mellon University’s Learning Sciences for Innovators (LSFI) program. This partnership combines local leadership, African EdTech acceleration experience, and global research-backed pedagogy.
Who should apply to the Fellowship?
The Fellowship is designed for growth-stage EdTech Companies that:
- ✓ Are founded or led in Rwanda
- ✓ Have a working product beyond pilot stage
- ✓ Demonstrate early market traction
- ✓ Have strong potential to scale nationally or regionally
- ✓ Are committed to improving learning outcomes, not just user growth
- ✓ Intentionally serve underserved learners and communities
How many EdTech Companies are selected per cohort?
Each cohort supports 8 high-potential EdTech Companies, selected through a competitive, impact-driven process focused on scalability, learning quality, inclusion, and sustainability.
How long does the Fellowship run?
The Fellowship includes:
- ✓ 6 months of intensive acceleration, and
- ✓ 12 months of post-program support, including mentorship, reporting, ecosystem access, and continued venture support tied to milestones.
What support do selected EdTech Companies receive?
Selected Fellows receive:
- ✓ Structured business and growth support
- ✓ Market access and partnership facilitation
- ✓ Product and pedagogy support grounded in learning science
- ✓ Investment readiness and compliance guidance
- ✓ One-on-one mentorship from local and global experts
- ✓ Access to ecosystem events, demo days, and policy dialogues
- ✓ USD 50,000 in equity-free venture support, disbursed in tranches based on agreed milestones
Does the Fellowship take equity in participating companies?
No. The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship is 100% equity-free. Funding is milestone-based and linked to progress, learner reach, and impact — not ownership.
What is expected of an EdTech Company once selected?
Once selected, EdTech Companies are expected to:
- ✓ Actively participate in all required Fellowship activities
- ✓ Assign a committed leadership team member to the program
- ✓ Work toward agreed business, product, and impact milestones
- ✓ Track and report learner reach and learning outcomes
- ✓ Commit to inclusion and charitable access for agreed beneficiary groups
- ✓ Engage openly in mentorship, feedback, and learning
- ✓ Participate in ecosystem and policy engagement activities
How does the Fellowship ensure learning quality and impact?
Through collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University (LSFI), Fellows receive support to:
- ✓ Apply evidence-based learning principles
- ✓ Improve instructional design and assessment
- ✓ Use data to refine products and learner engagement
- ✓ Measure and demonstrate learning outcomes This ensures EdTech solutions are effective, not just scalable.
How does the Fellowship support inclusion and equity?
Inclusion is a core design principle. The Fellowship:
- ✓ Targets at least 30% women-led EdTech Companies
- ✓ Prioritizes solutions serving young women, refugees, and youth with disabilities
- ✓ Encourages inclusive and accessible product design
- ✓ Requires Fellows to provide free or discounted access to agreed charitable beneficiaries
What impact is the Fellowship expected to achieve?
By the end of the program, the Fellowship aims to:
- ✓ Accelerate 8 scalable EdTech Companies
- ✓ Reach at least 40,000 learners across Rwanda
- ✓ Strengthen national EdTech coordination and data
- ✓ Position the Rwanda ICT Chamber as a long-term driver of EdTech growth
How does the Fellowship strengthen Rwanda’s EdTech ecosystem?
Beyond company acceleration, the program:
- ✓ Establishes national EdTech coordination mechanisms
- ✓ Develops an EdTech ecosystem dashboard
- ✓ Publishes market and investment insights
- ✓ Hosts regular policy and ecosystem dialogues
What happens after the Fellowship ends?
Graduating Fellows become part of the EdTech Fellowship alumni network, with continued access to mentorship, ecosystem opportunities, and ICT Chamber initiatives. The Rwanda ICT Chamber continues running future EdTech acceleration programs, ensuring local ownership and continuity.
How can EdTech Companies apply or stay informed?
Application calls and updates are shared through:
- ✓ www.edtech.rw
- ✓ Rwanda ICT Chamber communication channels
- ✓ EdTech ecosystem events and outreach platforms
- ✓ 6 KG 565 St, Kigali, Rwanda