Supporting Promising EdTech Companies: The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Opens Applications for the Second Cohort in Tanzania

Kiswahili

December 13, 2024. Dar es Salaam: Sahara Consult, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has opened a call for applications for the second cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship following the successful completion of the first cohort of the program in Tanzania.

Designed to support promising African EdTech companies, the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, implemented in partnership with innovation hubs and EdTech accelerators across Africa, provides selected EdTech companies with critical business and financial support as well as insights into the science of learning, preparing them for scale, sustainability, and impact.

For the second cohort, the Fellowship will identify growth-stage EdTech start-ups whose solutions address Tanzania’s most pressing education challenges. Applications can be made here.

Sahara Consult opened the call for new applications at the Demo Day event, which showcased the first cohort’s solutions. After six months of acceleration, the 10 Fellows selected in 2024 presented their innovations to investors, government stakeholders, educators, learners, and development partners to seek buy-in for the adoption of locally designed solutions to improve learning outcomes in the country.

The solutions included STEM kits, online and offline learning platforms and school management systems. During the period of the 2024 EdTech Fellowship, the Tanzanian companies – Taifa Tek, MITzKITS, Kilimanjaro Planetarium, Smartdarasa, Shule Yetu, Smartcore, ShuleSoft, Fiqra Academy, Infotaaluma and Mtabe – reached about 50,000 new learners.

Speaking at the Demo Day event, Sahara Consult Chief Executive Officer Jumanne Mtambalike said, “In this era, it is crucial to integrate emerging digital technologies and innovation in our education systems if we are keen on addressing some of the most pressing challenges in our education system. These EdTech companies have demonstrated the power of harnessing technology to improve the quality of education. As we open applications for the second cohort, I encourage young people in innovation and tech space who are keen on making an impact in education to apply.”

EdTech companies eligible for application must have a legally registered EdTech company in Tanzania focused on solving educational challenges utilizing technology and innovation. The company should also be at a growth stage with proven traction. Lastly, the EdTech company must comprise a diverse, inclusive team with strong growth potential.

Rodwell Mangisi, the Acting Director at the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, added, “The opportunities for growth in Tanzania’s EdTech sector are limitless. As we continue our partnership with Sahara Consult, our hope is that the next cohort will prioritize relevance and access for impact. While technology makes life easier for us all, it makes everything possible for those without access and opens pathways for them to learn and prosper. Tanzania’s innovators should harness the opportunity in developing solutions for education.”

Through the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, companies gain business mentorship, free access to the science of learning courses to enhance their solutions, government stakeholder networking, and equity-free funding to support their scalability impact.

About Sahara Consult:

Sahara Consult is a comprehensive management consulting firm that collaborates closely with industry experts to deliver unparalleled solutions that leverage innovation and digital entrepreneurship. Our partners come from diverse sectors, including public entities, the private sector, academia, and development partners.

Our collaborative efforts aim to use innovation and technology to drive transformative change and empower organizations, start-ups and SMEs to thrive in today’s dynamic landscape. The company has three wings: Impact, technology, and innovation consulting.

For more information on Sahara Consult, please visit – consult.saharaventures.com

Media Contact: martha@saharaventures.com

About The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship

The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship is an entrepreneurship acceleration program designed to support promising African EdTech ventures. 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 for scale, sustainability, and impact. The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship was launched in 2019 by the Mastercard Foundation through its Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning with the goal to partner with 12 Tech Hubs to support over 250 EdTech companies and reach at least 1.8 million young people by 2025.

Media Contact: jbiira@mastercardfdn.org

About the Mastercard Foundation

The Mastercard Foundation is a registered Canadian charity and one of the largest foundations in the world. It works with visionary organizations to advance education and financial inclusion to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. Established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company, the Foundation is an independent organization separate from the company, with offices in Toronto, Kigali, Accra, Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Dakar, and Addis Ababa. Its policies, operations, and program decisions are determined by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and leadership.

Kampuni za Elimu na Teknolojia Kuwezeshwa: Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship yatoa wito wa kutuma maombi kwenye awamu ya pili ya mradi Tanzania

Dar es Salaam, Ijumaa, Disemba 13, 2024 – Sahara Consult, kwa kushirikiana na Mastercard Foundation imetoa wito wa kutuma maombi kwenye awamu ya pili ya mradi, nchini Tanzania. Wito huo umetolewa kwa wajasiriamali chipukizi wanaotumia teknolojia kutengeneza suluhisho kwenye elimu. Wito huo umetangazwa baada ya kukamilika kwa awamu ya kwanza ya mradi wa ‘Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship’.

Mradi huo ambao umetengenezwa kuwezesha kampuni changa zinazojihusisha na teknolojia na elimu barani Afrika, unatekelezwa kwa kushirikiana na vituo vya ubunifu pamoja na wadau wanaojikita kwenye kukuza kampuni changa za teknolojia na elimu, unatoa fursa ya mafunzo ya kibiashara na ufadhili wa kifedha pamoja ujuzi juu ya nadharia ya science ya kujifunza, huku ukiwaandaa kukuza biashara zao kuwa uendelevu na zenye kuleta matokeo chanya.

Kupitia awamu ya pili ya mradi huo, kampuni changa za teknolojia na elimu ambazo ziko kwenye hatua ya ukuaji na zilizobuni suluhisho zinazotatua changamoto za elimu Tanzania zitachaguliwa. Tuma maombi hapa.

Sahara Consult ilitoa wito huo wa kutuma maombi wakati wa shughuli ya ‘Demo Day’ ambapo washiriki 10 wa awamu ya kwanza ya mradi wa Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship walipata nafasi ya kuwasilisha suluhisho zao zinazotatua changamoto mbalimbali za elimu. Baada ya miezi sita ya mafunzo, washiriki hao waliochaguliwa mwaka 2024 waliweza kuwasilisha suluhisho zao za elimu za kibunifu kwa wawekezaji, wadau wa serikali, watoa elimu, wanafunzi na wadau wa maendeleo, ikiwa ni namna ya kutafuta fursa ya kuwezesha suluhisho zao kutumiwa nchini ili kupata matokeo chanya kwenye maswala ya elimu.

Suluhisho hizo ni pamoja na mikebe ya vifaa vya masomo ya sayansi, majukwaa ya kujifunza mtandaoni na pasipo kutumia mtandao, pamoja na mifumo ya kusimamia uendeshaji shule. Kwa kipindi cha mwaka 2024 cha utekelezaji wa mradi, kampuni changa kumi za kitanzania ambazo ni; Taifa Tek, MITzKITS, Kilimanjaro Planetarium, Smartdarasa, Shule Yetu, Smartcore, ShuleSoft, Fiqra Academy, Infotaaluma na na Mtabe kwa pamoja zilifanikiwa kufikia wanafunzi 50,000.

Akizungumza siku ya ‘Demo Day’ Mtendaji Mkuu wa Sahara Consult, Jumanne Mtambalike alisema, “kwenye nyakati hizi, ni muhimu kujumuisha teknolojia za kisasa na ubunifu kwenye mifumo yetu ya elimu, kama tuna shauku ya kutatua baadhi ya changamoto kwenye mfumo wetu wa elimu. Kampuni hizi chipukizi zilizojikita kutatua changamoto za elimu, zimeweza kutumia nguvu ya teknolojia kuboresha elimu. Tunapotoa wito wa kutuma maombi ya kushiriki kwenye awamu ya pili ya mradi huu, nahimiza vijana kwenye sekta ya ubunifu na teknolojia na wenye shauku ya kuletea matokeo chanya, kutuma maombi yao.”

Vigezo vya kampuni chipukizi kutuma maombi ni pamoja na kusajiliwa Tanzania, ziwe zimejikita kwenye kutengeneza suluhisho za changamoto za elimu kwa kutumia teknolojia na ubunifu. Vile vile kampuni iwe kwenye hatua ya kukua na uthibitisho wa kuweza kuvutia watumiaji, pamoja na hayo, kampuni hizo zinatakiwa ziwe na timu jumuishi ya watendaji na uwezekano mkubwa wa kukua.

Rodwell Mangisi, Kaimu Mtendaji Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, aliongeza, “nafasi ya kukua kwa sekta ya elimu ya teknolojia haina mwisho. Tunavyoendelea kushirikiana na Sahara Consult, tumaini letu ni kwamba awamu ijayo tutajikita kwenye umuhimu na upatikanaji wa matokeo chanya. Wakati teknolojia inaturahisishia maisha sisi sote, inaleta fursa kwa wale wasio na nafasi na kuwafungulia milango ya kujifunza na kufanikiwa. Wavumbuzi wa Tanzania wana haja ya kutumia fursa kutengeneza suluhisho kwa ajili ya elimu.”

Kupitia Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, kampuni zinapata ushauri wa kibiashara, nafasi ya kupata mafunzo ya nadharia ya sayansi ya elimu kuboresha suluhisho zao, kukutanishwa na wadau wa serikali, na ufadhili wa kifedha utakaowawezesha kukua na kuleta matokeo chanya.

Learn More about the Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning