Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Uganda Cohort 2: Equity Free Grants and Business Support for EdTech Ventures

Applications are open for the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Uganda Cohort 2, a growth and business acceleration programme supporting education technology ventures developing inclusive learning solutions in Uganda. Implemented by Hive Colab in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the fellowship aims to help established EdTech businesses strengthen their products, improve their business models and expand access to quality education.

The programme targets locally founded and locally led ventures that already have working digital learning products and evidence of market traction. It is particularly interested in businesses addressing educational challenges affecting underserved learners, including young people, girls, persons with disabilities, refugees and communities in rural or low connectivity areas.

Selected ventures will receive milestone based, equity free catalytic grants alongside a 12 month fellowship programme. Support includes weekly mentorship and coaching, technical assistance, learning science guidance, inclusive product design, market access support and investment readiness advisory. Fellows will also receive up to 24 months of post acceleration assistance to support business growth, fundraising and long term sustainability.

About the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship

The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship is designed to strengthen education technology businesses that are already developing and delivering learning solutions in their markets.

The Uganda programme is implemented by Hive Colab, an innovation hub and entrepreneurship support organisation with experience supporting technology driven businesses. Through its partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, Hive Colab provides selected ventures with resources and expertise to improve their products, strengthen their operations and reach more learners.

The second cohort builds on the programme's broader objective of supporting technology enabled education solutions that improve learning outcomes and make education more accessible. It focuses on businesses with existing products and users rather than individuals with only an idea or an early concept.

The fellowship recognises that education technology ventures need more than financial resources to grow successfully. They also need strong business models, effective product design, reliable implementation systems and the ability to measure whether their solutions are improving learning.

The programme therefore combines financial assistance with structured business development, mentorship and technical support.

Fellowship Benefits

Selected ventures will receive a combination of funding, professional guidance and business acceleration support.

Key benefits include:

• Equity free catalytic grants: Selected ventures receive milestone based funding to support business development and growth without giving up company ownership.
• 12 month fellowship: Participants join a structured programme designed to strengthen their businesses and improve their education technology products.
• Weekly mentorship and coaching: Founders receive guidance from experienced professionals to address business and operational challenges.
• Learning science support: Ventures receive guidance on improving the educational quality and relevance of their digital learning products.
• Inclusive product design: Participants receive support to make their solutions more accessible to learners with different needs and circumstances.
• Technical assistance: Selected businesses receive support to improve their products, implementation processes and organisational capabilities.
• Market access and partnerships: The programme helps ventures explore opportunities to reach new users and establish relevant partnerships.
• Investment readiness: Participants receive advisory support to strengthen their ability to attract future investment.
• Post acceleration support: Ventures can access up to 24 months of additional support focused on growth, fundraising, market access and long term sustainability.

Who Can Apply?

The fellowship is designed for education technology businesses that are locally founded and locally led, with their leadership and decision making rooted in Uganda.

To qualify, a venture must meet the following requirements:

1. Locally founded and led

The business must have been established locally, with leadership and major decision making based in Uganda.

2. Operating beyond the idea stage

Applicants must be at the early revenue, growth or scaling stage. Businesses that are still developing an idea without an active product or revenue traction are not eligible.

3. An inclusive learning solution

The venture must offer an education solution that supports more accessible and inclusive learning. Priority is given to businesses serving underserved groups such as young people, girls, persons with disabilities, refugees and learners in rural or low connectivity communities.

4. Operating in Uganda

The venture must be operating in Uganda, and the majority of its learners or users should be based in the country.

5. Technology at the centre of learning

The business must have an active EdTech platform through which learning takes place. Ventures whose main business model depends solely on physical classrooms or in person instruction without a digital learning platform are not eligible.

The programme is intended for ventures with a working product, a committed team and evidence that their solutions are addressing real educational needs.

Required Application Documents

Applicants should prepare the following documents and supporting materials before starting the online application:

• Certificate of incorporation: A certificate or equivalent document confirming the venture's legal registration.
• Pitch deck: A presentation explaining the business, product, target market, business model, traction and growth plans.
• Safeguarding or protection policy: A gender, safeguarding or child protection policy, if the venture has one.
• Product demonstration video: A short video showing how the product works. The video must not exceed five minutes.

Selection Process

The selection process begins with an online application through Hive Colab's official portal.

After the application period closes, eligible submissions will be reviewed. Shortlisted ventures may be invited to participate in interviews, readiness assessments and due diligence.

Successful applicants will then be selected for the second cohort and invited to complete the onboarding process.

How to Apply

Interested and eligible EdTech ventures can apply online by following these steps:

1. Review the eligibility requirements: Confirm that your venture is locally founded and led, operates in Uganda, has a working digital learning product and is beyond the pre revenue or idea stage.
2. Prepare your registration document: Obtain your certificate of incorporation or an equivalent legal registration document.
3. Develop your pitch deck: Prepare a clear presentation covering your business model, product, target learners, market traction, financial performance and growth plans.
4. Prepare your safeguarding documentation: Gather your existing gender, safeguarding or child protection policy, if available.
5. Record your product demonstration: Create a video of no more than five minutes showing how your EdTech product works. Upload it to YouTube, Vimeo or Google Drive and make sure anyone with the link can view it.
6. Complete the online application: Visit the official Hive Colab application portal and provide information about your venture, team, product, users, revenue and impact.
7. Submit your application: Upload the required documents, check that all information is accurate and complete, and submit the form before the deadline.