Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Uganda 2026: Apply for Business Support and Funding

Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Uganda 2026: Apply for Business Support and Funding

The Mastercard Foundation is inviting EdTech ventures in Uganda to apply for its EdTech Fellowship Programme, Cohort 2, for 2026. This fellowship offers business support, mentorship, and funding to help grow sustainable education technology businesses. It is designed for locally founded and led ventures that use technology to deliver inclusive learning solutions.

Application Closing Date: November 26, 2026
Location: Uganda
Programme Duration: 12-month fellowship with 24 months of post-acceleration support
Stipend: Not specified (Catalytic milestone-based, equity-free grant provided)
Minimum Qualification: Early Revenue, Growth, or Scaling stage EdTech venture

About the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship

The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship is a program aimed at strengthening EdTech ventures in Uganda. It focuses on building sustainable and scalable education enterprises that provide quality, inclusive, and learner-centered education. The fellowship supports ventures in improving their business models and the quality of their digital learning products.

This initiative is implemented by Hive Colab in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. It seeks to expand access to education for underserved populations. The program provides a structured approach to business development for EdTech startups.

About Mastercard Foundation

The Mastercard Foundation is a global foundation based in Toronto, Canada. It works to advance economic prosperity and inclusion for young people in Africa. The foundation partners with organizations to support education, financial inclusion, and youth employment.

The Mastercard Foundation is committed to enabling young people to access quality education and skills development. It aims to help them secure dignified and fulfilling work. Their work often focuses on creating opportunities for those facing barriers to economic participation.

Available Fellowship Opportunities

This fellowship is open to EdTech ventures that meet specific criteria. The focus is on businesses that are already generating revenue or are in a growth or scaling phase.

The program is specifically looking for ventures that:

• Are locally founded and led in Uganda.
• Are at the Early Revenue, Growth, or Scaling stage.
• Deliver inclusive learning solutions for underserved learners.
• Operate in Uganda with most learners based there.
• Have technology as the core of their learning delivery.

What the Fellowship Offers

Selected ventures will benefit from a comprehensive support package designed to foster growth and sustainability. This includes both financial and non-financial support.

Successful applicants will receive:

• Catalytic funding through milestone-based, equity-free grants.
• A 12-month fellowship program with tailored business support.
• Weekly mentorship and coaching sessions.
• Guidance on learning science and inclusive product design.
• Support for market access and investment readiness.
• Technical assistance to improve operations.
• Up to 24 months of post-acceleration support focused on growth and sustainability.

Programme Duration and Location

The fellowship program itself lasts for 12 months. Following this, ventures will receive an additional 24 months of post-acceleration support. This extended period is designed to help with long-term growth and market integration.

The program is specifically for ventures operating in Uganda. The majority of learners or users for these ventures must also be based in Uganda.

Minimum Requirements

To be considered for the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, ventures must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Local Foundation and Leadership: The venture must be founded and led by individuals based in Uganda, with decision-making rooted in the country.
• Stage of Growth: Ventures must be at the Early Revenue, Growth, or Scaling stage. Idea-stage or pre-revenue ventures are not eligible.
• Inclusive Learning Solution: The venture must offer an inclusive learning solution that reaches underserved learners. This includes youth, young girls, persons with disabilities, refugees, or those in rural or low-connectivity areas.
• Operational Focus: The venture must be operating in Uganda, with the majority of its learners or users based within the country.
• Technology Core: The venture must have an active EdTech platform where learning takes place. Ventures that primarily offer in-person or classroom-based learning are not eligible.

Competencies Required

While this fellowship is for ventures, the leadership and team behind them are crucial. The program implicitly values certain competencies within the venture’s team.

These include:

• Strong leadership and decision-making capabilities.
• A clear vision for scaling an EdTech business.
• Commitment to inclusive education and reaching underserved populations.
• Adaptability and a willingness to learn and implement new strategies.
• Technical proficiency in developing and managing EdTech platforms.
• Understanding of market needs and customer engagement.

Who Should Apply?

This fellowship is ideal for Ugandan EdTech entrepreneurs who have already established their ventures and are seeing early traction or are in a growth phase. If you are leading an innovative EdTech company that aims to make a significant impact on education in Uganda, particularly for marginalized communities, this program is for you.

It is suited for founders who are ready to take their business to the next level, seeking structured support, expert mentorship, and catalytic funding to achieve scalability and long-term sustainability. If your venture is technology-driven and focused on inclusive learning, you should consider applying.

Required Documents

Applicants will need to prepare several documents for their application. These documents help the selection committee understand the venture’s structure, impact, and potential.

The required documents are:

• Certificate of incorporation or equivalent registration document for the venture.
• A current pitch deck that outlines the business model, market, and team.
• A Gender, Safeguarding, or Child Protection Policy, if available.
• A Product Demo Video: a short video (maximum 5 minutes) demonstrating how the product works. This should be shared via a link (YouTube, Vimeo, or Google Drive) with public viewing permissions.

How to Apply

Interested EdTech ventures can apply online through the provided portal. Ensure all required documents are prepared and submitted correctly before the deadline.

Click here to apply for the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Uganda Cohort 2.

Applicants should carefully review all requirements and ensure their submission is complete. Pay close attention to the format and submission method for the Product Demo Video.

Important Notes

Only ventures that meet all the eligibility criteria will be considered for the fellowship. The selection process will be rigorous, focusing on impact, scalability, and sustainability.

Late applications will not be considered. Ensure all submitted documents are accurate and certified where necessary. The fellowship is designed to support growth, and applicants should be prepared to actively engage in the program’s activities.

Closing Date

The closing date for applications for the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Uganda Cohort 2 is November 26, 2026.

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