African Edtech Fellowship Awards $100K to 12 Startups

Co-creation Hub (CcHUB), one of Africa's leading innovation centers, just opened applications for its fourth edtech fellowship with a fresh focus on the continent's most overlooked learners.

The fellowship awards 12 startups $100,000 each in equity-free funding, plus a full year of mentorship and technical support. This time, CcHUB is specifically seeking founders building for refugees, people with disabilities, rural communities, and young girls and women.

The track record speaks for itself. CcHUB's previous three cohorts supported over 70 startups that now reach more than 700,000 learners across Africa, with 89% of them being children and youth. The gender split among learners is nearly balanced at 49% female and 51% male.

Managing Partner Nissi Madu explained the shift in focus. "Cohort 4 reflects our commitment to supporting solutions designed for learners who are too often underserved by mainstream innovation," she said.

Most African edtech has grown around stable conditions like reliable internet, predictable school calendars, and families who can afford digital tools. But millions of students don't have access to those luxuries.

The Ripple Effect

This fellowship could transform education access across Africa's toughest environments. By funding startups that work in low-connectivity areas and under-resourced school systems, the programme tackles gaps that mainstream tech companies typically ignore.

The programme also welcomes startups building education data systems that fit real school workflows and help teachers make better decisions. Applications close on March 30, 2026, and eligible Nigerian startups can apply through CcHUB's website.

Founded in 2010 as Nigeria's first innovation center, CcHUB now operates in Lagos, Kigali, Nairobi, and Windhoek. Through initiatives like this fellowship, the hub continues shaping how technology can expand quality education to every corner of the continent.

Twelve founders are about to get the chance to prove that innovation works best when it serves those who need it most.