The Injini EdTech Fellowship Program, in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, offers a unique 6-month venture support initiative for EdTech companies.
This equity-free program aims to accelerate innovative ventures, emphasizing market access, impact measurement, and financial sustainability.
The fellowship, spanning May to October 2024, prioritizes collaboration and addresses key objectives for participating companies.
Three Core Focus Areas:
The program focuses on three core areas:
Facilitating Market Access:
The emphasis is on reaching learners at the “bottom of the pyramid,” ensuring increased accessibility to educational resources.
Impact Measurement and Evaluation:
Participants are encouraged to design, implement, or refine systems for measuring, monitoring, and evaluating the impact of their educational solutions.
Improving Financial Sustainability:
The program provides support for financial sustainability, including investment readiness, aligning with the goal of long-term business success.
The breakdown of core focus areas provides insight into the specific objectives of the program, showcasing a holistic approach to EdTech innovation.
Program Benefits:
Selected EdTech companies, or “Fellows,” can expect comprehensive support valued at over R2,500,000.
The benefits include:
Specialized guidance from experts in education innovation, fundraising, and more.
Pedagogical evaluation and certification by esteemed organizations.
Market research support and sponsored skills to address team needs.
Networking opportunities, access to courses, and collaboration with industry leaders.
Equity-free venture funding exceeding R1,000,000.
The enumeration of program benefits highlights the substantial support offered to participating EdTech companies.
Eligibility Criteria:
The ideal participant profile includes EdTech companies that:
Address a significant market opportunity in South Africa.
Provide tech-enabled solutions for enhanced access and improved educational outcomes.
Demonstrate growth-stage status with potential for impact and revenue generation.
Exhibit the capacity to reach 8,000 direct learners within a year.
The eligibility criteria outline the desired attributes and objectives for potential participants, ensuring alignment with program goals.
Application Process:
The application process involves multiple stages:
Application Form Submission (22 January – 13 February 2024):
Founders or business leaders submit their applications.
Virtual Interviews (Top 25 Companies):
Shortlisted companies participate in virtual interviews with the Injini team.
Due Diligence:
Shortlisted applicants provide additional information for further evaluation.
Pitches (26-27 March 2024):
Selected companies pitch their solutions to the Injini selection committee.
Notification of Results (28 March 2024):
Successful and unsuccessful candidates are notified.
Program Onboarding and Contracting (1 April 2024):
Finalized companies undergo onboarding and contractual processes.
The step-by-step application process ensures a thorough and inclusive selection process for the fellowship program.
Cohort Kick-off Event (11 April 2024):
The program culminates in an exclusive event where the final 12 South African EdTech companies present their innovative solutions, marking the official kickoff of the cohort.
The mention of the cohort kick-off event signifies the beginning of the transformative journey for the selected EdTech companies.
Conclusion:
The Injini EdTech Fellowship Program emerges as a catalyst for educational innovation, offering a comprehensive support system to propel EdTech ventures toward impactful and sustainable growth.
With its unique blend of financial backing, expert guidance, and collaborative opportunities, the program contributes to shaping the future landscape of education in South Africa.
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