Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship 2026 (Cohort 3): Equity-Free Grant of Up to $60,000 for Growth-Stage EdTech Startups in Egypt with African Founders

Overview

The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship 2026 (Cohort 3) is an 7-8 month acceleration program designed to scale growth-stage EdTech startups in Egypt, offering up to $60,000 in equity-free funding to drive inclusive, technology-enabled learning across Africa. It particularly supports startups focused on women, youth, refugees, and people with disabilities.

Eligibility

EdTech startups are eligible if they:

• Are incorporated in Egypt.
• Have operated for at least three years.
• Are growth-stage with a developed product and are post-revenue.
• Offer market-ready and scalable EdTech solutions.
• Have founders of African origin or residing in Africa.
• Are preferably women-led or have youth founders (18-35).
• Encourage inclusive education models for women, girls, young people, refugees, and people with disabilities.

Solo founders may apply, but teams with at least two co-founders and gender diversity are preferred.

Benefits

• Equity-free grant of up to $60,000.
• Expert mentorship and guidance from industry leaders.
• Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) learning sessions.
• In-kind business services including marketing, legal, cloud, studio, fintech, and media & PR support.
• Two years of post-program support.
• Networking events with investors, partners, and ecosystem leaders.

How to Apply

Interested startups can apply via the provided link. The selection process involves application screening, initial interviews, a bootcamp, and a final pitch presentation.

Deadline

Applications are currently open, with no specific deadline publicly stated.