As digital transformation accelerates across the education sector, the demand for innovative solutions that bridge learning gaps and align with labor market needs is intensifying. In this landscape, startup support programs are crucial for building future-ready human capital. Highlighting this trend, Dalia Ibrahim, founder of EdVentures, shared insights into the firm’s vision for expanding Egypt’s EdTech ecosystem through its partnership on the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship.
A Strategy Rooted in Impact and Inclusion
For the second cohort of its EdTech Fellowship, EdVentures selected 12 startups based on a comprehensive set of criteria. According to Ibrahim, the evaluation focused on the clarity of the educational problem being addressed, the solution’s scalability, and its potential for real, sustainable learning impact. The quality of the founding team, product-market fit, and business model were also key considerations.
A core pillar of the selection process was a commitment to inclusivity. “The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship aims to provide high-quality, inclusive education,” Ibrahim stated. “It was crucial that the companies demonstrated a clear commitment to serving key groups, including youth, women, learners with disabilities, and refugees.” This focus on expanding access for underserved communities was a fundamental element of the evaluation.
Fostering Growth Beyond Equity-Free Support
The fellowship is an equity-free accelerator program, but support for promising startups doesn’t end there. Ibrahim clarified that EdVentures independently evaluates opportunities to invest in high-potential graduates based on its own investment criteria. “We are also keen on connecting companies with local, regional, and international investors to support their subsequent funding rounds,” she added.
While some companies from the first cohort have successfully secured investment or strategic partnerships, EdVentures’ primary goal is to enhance investment readiness and build a sustainable growth path for the long term.
A Measured Approach to Geographic Expansion
EdVentures’ strategy emphasizes quality of impact over sheer numbers. The supported startups currently operate in over 20 governorates, with outreach tours conducted in 13. The selection of these regions is based on factors like the size of educational gaps, population density, and local labor market needs, ensuring a balance between urban and rural areas.
Ibrahim noted a clear distinction in learner needs across geographies. Urban areas show higher demand for advanced digital skills, while rural regions prioritize basic educational access and low-cost, low-connectivity solutions. This has pushed startups to design flexible and context-aware products. “Governorates outside the main urban areas, especially in Upper Egypt, showed greater gaps in access to EdTech solutions,” she explained, reinforcing the importance of their geographic expansion.
Overcoming Barriers to Reach Underserved Communities
Reaching 28,700 refugees and 20,500 individuals with disabilities is a significant achievement in the EdTech space. Ibrahim highlighted the primary operational challenges, which included infrastructure limitations, ensuring content accessibility, and adapting solutions to diverse needs. Success required developing technologically inclusive content, building strong local partnerships, and designing flexible learning experiences that account for the economic and social realities of these communities.
For its upcoming third cohort, EdVentures will again support 12 startups, with an increased focus on scalability and deepening their measurable impact on human capital development, employment, and productivity.
About EdVentures
EdVentures is the first corporate venture capital in the MENA region specializing in EdTech. Launched by Nahdet Misr Group, it focuses on seed and pre-Series A investments in startups dedicated to education, culture, and innovative learning solutions.
Source: FintechGate
