Call for Applications: Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Uganda - - MSME Africa

Education technology startups operating in Uganda can apply for the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Uganda Cohort 2, a business acceleration programme offering milestone-based, equity-free grants of up to US$70,000, alongside 12 months of mentorship, technical assistance and business development suppor

The fellowship is designed for established education technology businesses operating in Uganda. Applicants must meet the following requirements.

Selected ventures will receive financial support and business development assistance designed to help them grow responsibly.

The benefits include:

• Equity-free grant funding: Milestone-based financial support of up to US$70,000, approximately UGX 313.6 million. The grant does not require founders to surrender company equity.
• 12-month fellowship: A structured programme focused on product development, business sustainability, inclusive learning and responsible growth.
• One-on-one mentorship: Guidance from experienced professionals who understand education delivery, technology and business development.
• Technical assistance: Support to improve products, strengthen implementation and address technical challenges.
• Market access and partnerships: Opportunities to build relationships with education institutions and other relevant stakeholders.
• Learning impact support: Guidance on measuring educational outcomes and using evidence to improve products.
• Investment readiness: Support with business strategy, governance, performance metrics and future fundraising.
• Post-acceleration support: Up to 24 additional months of assistance focused on growth, fundraising, market access and long-term sustainability.

The grant is milestone-based, meaning financial support is tied to agreed project or business milestones. Applicants should confirm the specific disbursement arrangements with Hive Colab.

Eligible ventures can apply online through Hive Colab’s application portal.

• Visit the official application page.
• Review the eligibility criteria and required documents.
• Complete the venture information section, including registration details, business stage and education focus.
• Provide information about the founding team, product, users, revenue and business model.
• Explain how the product serves underserved learners and how the venture measures learning outcomes.
• Upload the registration document and pitch deck, and provide an accessible link to the product demonstration video.
• Complete the safeguarding, monitoring and evaluation, and declaration sections.
• Review all entries and submit the application before the deadline.

Incomplete applications or submissions that omit financial information may score lower. If a question does not apply, the form advises applicants to enter “N/A” and briefly explain why.

Apply here: https://www.edtech.hivecolab.com/apply