KENYA

Esoma Solutions among 12 Startups Selected by iHub for Mastercard Foundation's Edtech Fellowship

Julius Irungu
May 30, 2024
Esoma Solutions among 12 Startups

The iHub, in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, continues with the mission to drive innovation in education with the launch of the second cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship program in Kenya. This initiative stands as a beacon of progress, aiming to reshape the educational landscape by empowering promising EdTech startups.

After a rigorous vetting and selection process, Esoma Solutions emerged as one of the 12 trailblazing startups selected for this prestigious fellowship. This brings the total of startups admitted to the program to 24, after Cohort I was selected and accelerated in 2023. Spanning a spectrum of educational solutions, from interactive learning platforms to personalized content delivery systems, these startups epitomize innovation in the EdTech sector.

With the announcement of the second cohort on [insert date], the stage is set for these startups to embark on a transformative journey, harnessing technology to drive educational excellence and empower learners across Africa.

Cohort Fellows

  1. Esoma Solutions: Through Esoma Kids, the startup offers an online digital learning tool delivering foundational literacy and numeracy skills to children aged 6-10 in Sub-Saharan Africa through adaptive and personalized learning paths. The startup was founded by Julius Njuguna and Kelvin Munyambu.

  2. Nabu: NABU is solving the global literacy crisis so that every child can read and rise to their full potential. Their vision is to provide every child with equitable access to literacy by 2030. It was founded by Tanyella Allison, and Beryl Oywer.

  3. Kuze.ai: The startup empowers students in primary school to build on their strengths and shore up their weaknesses and supports teachers to reduce the achievement gap and saving them valuable administrative time.

  4. Dals Learning: A Learning Management System that utilizes the latest learning approaches and technologies to build an ecosystem of successful individuals

  5. Soma Siri Afrika: The startup, funded by Wabi Gitau, offers an innovative educational product that combines psychology, AI, and analytics to transform learning experiences for children and youth across Africa while preparing them for success in the 21st century.

  6. Mzizi: Mzizi school ERP manages school processes, where one can easily automate all regular school activities with a breeze! The startup is founded by Lewis Njoroge and Simon Kiarie.

  7. Somachat: This is a personalised learning and diagnostics platform on WhatsApp for accessible education.

  8. Uptyke Consulting: Uptyke develops relevant digital content for use by learners and teachers in the classroom and on the DLP devices. It is founded by Lilian Mutegi and Joan Muse.

  9. Kurasa: Kurasa offers a revolutionary way to implement and manage CBC online easily. CBC assessments can be filled in time by all teachers simultaneously and reports sent out to parents weekly. The startup is the brainchild of William Nguru and Daniel Warui.

  10. Recess: Recess simplifies school management, enhances student engagement, and bridges the communication gap between educators and families.

  11. Fundis: The startup is on a mission to enhance the productivity of Africa’s artisans. Through its comprehensive digital platform, Fundis enables artisans to document their work and portfolios, get assessed and graded, access continuous upskilling, and get certified/accredited for job-matching.

  12. eKitabu: The startup offers accessible digital content for inclusive and quality education. It is founded by Will Clurman and Georgine Auma. The startup develops early-grade reading materials in Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) to help learners build communication and language skills.

Program Benefits

Participating in the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship program offers a myriad of benefits for the selected startups. With access to $100,000 in equity-free funding throughout the accelerator program, these startups can fuel their growth and development without the burden of giving up ownership stakes. Moreover, the program provides invaluable opportunities for startups to leverage the expertise of multidisciplinary professionals in design, product development, and technology optimization, ensuring they reach their fullest potential. Startups gain the resources needed to scale their products and expand their impact by connecting with a network of investors. Additionally, through strategic partnerships, startups can access special deals from various tools and service providers, further enhancing their operational efficiency. Finally, with guidance from teams of experts, startups can refine their market strategies, ultimately achieving product-market fit and paving the way for sustainable success in the dynamic EdTech landscape.