Kenya, 21 November 2025 — Kenya’s EdTech scene continued its upward momentum on Wednesday as innovators, educators, investors, and policymakers gathered at the iHub in Nairobi for the third Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Demo Day.
The atmosphere was energetic and hopeful — the kind that signals an industry not just growing, but maturing. The Fellowship, implemented in partnership with iHub, is designed to support startups building technology tailored to the daily realities of African classrooms. This year’s Demo Day made it clear that local solutions are getting smarter, more relevant, and increasingly scalable.
Twelve ventures took the stage, each showcasing tools that are already making their way into real classrooms, tutoring programs, and teacher training spaces. From mobile-first learning platforms to AI engines capable of personalizing assessments, the message was unmistakable: Kenya’s EdTech is moving firmly from the idea stage to widespread adoption.
Many of the showcased products focused on persistent challenges in African education, including:
gaps in early literacy and numeracy
overwhelming administrative tasks for teachers
weak data visibility
inefficient school operations and fee management
A Call to Close the Digital Gap in Schools
In one of the day’s standout speeches, Suraj Shah, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Corporate Leadership at the Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, drew attention to a tension familiar across the continent.
While Africans increasingly use digital tools in nearly every aspect of life — communication, commerce, banking, entertainment — the technology found in many schools has not kept pace. And in today’s job market, where digital literacy is essential, that gap can put learners at a disadvantage.
Shah stressed that the people best positioned to solve this challenge are local innovators who understand the context, culture, and constraints of African classrooms. The Fellowship, he said, exists to provide them with the technical guidance, mentorship, and networks needed to refine their solutions and get them into schools at scale.
He also called for deeper cooperation: governments, teachers, creators, and communities working together to ensure technology improves access to quality learning rather than widening inequalities.
Startups Present Real-World Solutions for Real-World Challenges
The 2025 cohort showcased an impressive diversity of solutions, including:
mobile-first platforms designed to boost learner engagement
localized micro-courses teaching digital skills in underserved communities
AI-driven adaptive learning systems that give personalized assessments
cloud-based management systems offering integrated attendance, fee, and performance tracking
digital literacy and numeracy apps aligned with the Kenyan curriculum
digital payment and school communication tools for smoother operations
Several startups also presented innovations centered on African languages and culturally relevant early-grade content — a critical step in making digital learning materials relatable to African learners.
What made this Demo Day unique was the practicality of the solutions. These weren’t theoretical prototypes. Many are already in use in schools, after-school programs, and teacher training institutes — a sign that Kenya’s transition to competency-based education is speeding up with the help of digital tools.
Data-driven platforms, especially, are helping teachers reduce paperwork, understand learner performance better, and focus more time on actual teaching.
Scaling the Future of African EdTech
With the third cohort now graduating, participating founders are entering a new phase: scaling up. This involves strengthening their business models, expanding partnerships, and exploring entry into new regions.
The success of earlier fellowship alumni has already proven what’s possible. Many have secured funding, expanded across East Africa, and integrated their solutions into both public and private school systems. Their progress is fueling confidence in homegrown EdTech and inspiring a new wave of creators.
The energy at the iHub event affirmed a broader trend: Kenya is positioning itself as one of Africa’s leading EdTech innovation hubs.
As digital adoption accelerates across industries, the tools unveiled at Demo Day offer a glimpse into the future — one where learning is more interactive, accessible, and tailored to African learners. And as more African innovators design solutions for African classrooms, the next major wave of continental tech breakthroughs may come from EdTech.