How Injini accelerates African EdTech innovation

Accelerating the Potential of African EdTech

Across Africa, education systems are under immense pressure. Millions of learners face barriers to access and quality, while educators work within environments strained by limited resources and outdated tools. At the same time, a growing number of innovators are building education technology solutions designed to address these challenges.

However, the African education technology ecosystem remains fragmented. Traditional education systems and EdTech innovators often operate in silos, limiting collaboration and duplicating efforts. Public-private partnerships are underdeveloped, and the sector lacks a clearly defined value chain. These challenges, coupled with limited funding, a lack of pedagogical evidence, and disconnects between policymakers and practitioners, constrain innovation at scale.

As an African EdTech accelerator, Injini works to address these barriers. Our role is to strengthen existing initiatives by supporting growth-stage startups, aligning stakeholders, and fostering collaboration across the education innovation ecosystem. Learn more about our mission and approach here.

How We Support EdTech Startups

While our flagship program is currently the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, our broader approach to startup acceleration is rooted in five core pillars:

Startup Selection with a Purpose

We prioritise startups that are addressing education challenges, with solutions rooted in local contexts and supported by demonstrated traction. Our selection focuses on:

• Tech-enabled solutions with demonstrated traction.
• Clear theories of change tied to learning outcomes.
• Founding teams with deep contextual understanding.
• Diversity in leadership, especially women-led ventures.

These selected companies are already delivering impact in their markets. Injini’s role is to strengthen what’s working by equipping them with the strategic support, tools, and networks they need to scale sustainably. Explore our current portfolio of supported startups here.

‍Mentorship and Technical Support That Matters

Acceleration at Injini goes beyond business coaching. We personalise support around each venture’s specific needs, whether that’s refining impact measurement systems, navigating leadership dynamics, or scaling product and pedagogy.

Currently, we embed:

• Strategic mentorship and office hours with global experts, like Carnegie Mellon University.
• Sponsored consultants working hands-on with startups.
• Support to build or improve Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning systems.
• Access to quality assurance tools, like Education Alliance Finland.

Injini supports startups in measuring what matters most: learning outcomes that reflect their mission and lay the foundation for long-term, sustainable growth.

Connecting Startups to Markets and Stakeholders

Scaling an African EdTech product entails navigating complex, often nascent systems. Part of the work that we do includes: 

• Conducting contextualised market research.
• Developing procurement and pricing strategies.
• Accessing public-sector pathways (especially given that 95% of South Africa’s K-12 learners are in government schools).
• Raising visibility through events, media, and policy roundtables.

Through our network, we connect founders with teachers, governments, NGOs, and funders, ensuring that product innovation is backed by partnership and policy alignment.

Research-Driven Insights Inform Our Acceleration

According to Injini’s African EdTech Insights Report, Volume 3, only 11% of EdTech tools globally have undergone independent evaluation. This global evidence gap is echoed in Africa, where few tools are validated for learning impact, and even fewer are grounded in contextual pedagogy. 

The Injini Think Tank helps close this gap by producing rigorous, locally relevant research to support better decision-making across the African education innovation ecosystem.

Our work includes:

• Research into what works in African EdTech, and why
• Policy analysis and collaboration with government stakeholders
• Ecosystem mapping to highlight fragmentation and opportunities

Explore our latest research outputs here.

Investment Readiness for Sustainable Scale

Alongside providing grant funding where possible, Injini offers the resources and guidance startups need to approach funders with confidence and clarity.

Investment readiness is embedded throughout our acceleration journey, including:

• Financial modelling, equity strategy, and deal book preparation.
• 1:1 investor coaching and capital intros.
• Visibility at Demo Day during Injini’s annual South African EdTech Week.

We also play a role in growing funder understanding of the sector, addressing the funding desert by making the case for education innovation that works.

Collaboration as the Catalyst for Change

Injini acts as a system orchestrator, connecting the fragmented parts of the African education innovation ecosystem. Our work is grounded in deep situational analysis and direct stakeholder engagement. We:

• Map roles, motivations, and gaps across public and private actors.
• Surface the realities of learners, parents, teachers, and principals.
• Translate insights between education innovators and policymakers.
• Promote knowledge-sharing through research, blogs, convenings, and advisory work.

Our role isn’t to solve Africa’s education challenges alone, but rather to strengthen and connect the people and organisations already working toward change. If you’re building, funding, or supporting African EdTech, we’d love to connect with you. Learn more about our programmes, read our latest research insights, or reach out via injini.africa.

Frequently Asked Questions About EdTech Accelerators

What is an EdTech accelerator, and how does it differ from an incubator?
EdTech Accelerators, like Injini, work with startups that already have a product or pilot in place. Our focus is on helping them scale through mentorship, research, and stakeholder access. EdTech incubators typically support earlier-stage ideas.

How do EdTech accelerators support startups beyond funding?
At Injini, we support startups to expand market access, strengthen impact measurement, and build financial sustainability. We work alongside founders to strengthen their data, impact, and investment readiness foundations to help them grow in ways that are clear, credible, and built to last.

How can startups apply to join an EdTech accelerator programme?
When applications open, startups are invited to submit a pitch deck or proposal that outlines their product, traction, impact, and team. Shortlisted candidates go through interviews and a collaborative diagnostic phase, where we get to know the startup’s needs, and they get to know us. Final selections are made in partnership with our funders and advisors. Stay updated for upcoming application calls on injini.africa and LinkedIn.

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