EdVentures, the corporate venture capital arm of Nahdet Misr Group and the implementation partner of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship in Egypt, has said the programme has reached more than 410,000 learners across the country. The update marks a milestone in efforts to expand access to technology-enabled education and improve workforce readiness.
According to EdVentures, the reach of the Fellowship reflects the growing momentum of Egypt’s EdTech sector and the organisation’s focus on scaling locally developed solutions that support employability, entrepreneurship and access to skills needed for the future workforce.
“At EdVentures, we see this milestone as strong evidence that scalable EdTech solutions can play a transformative role in Egypt’s education system and labor market,” the company said in a statement. “Technology-enabled learning is no longer an emerging trend — it is a strategic tool for expanding access to skills and connecting education with real economic opportunity.”
Through its partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, EdVentures has backed high-potential EdTech startups that provide market-aligned training and inclusive learning models. The supported ventures aim to address skills gaps while creating pathways for young people and women to participate in the digital economy.
The Fellowship places a strong focus on inclusion, with participating solutions designed to reach underserved groups. These include women, young people in emerging cities, refugees and persons with disabilities. EdVentures said this approach is intended to ensure that technology-led education initiatives reach communities that face barriers to traditional learning and employment opportunities.
“Inclusive education is essential for building sustainable growth across Africa,” said Wariko Waita, Director of the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning.
“When innovation is intentionally designed to reach those historically excluded from opportunity, education becomes a powerful equalizer and a driver of economic participation.”
The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship was launched in 2019 and has since supported 236 companies across Africa. Collectively, these companies have reached more than five million learners. In Egypt, EdVentures has led the delivery of two cohorts of the programme, supporting ventures that focus on practical, employment-oriented skills and entrepreneurship training.
Startups backed through the Fellowship in Egypt include platforms providing career guidance, digital skills training and vocational education. These services are aimed at enabling income generation and small business development, linking learning more directly to livelihoods and job readiness.
EdVentures said its engagement with portfolio companies points to wider changes in the regional EdTech sector. These include a shift towards skills-based and employment-focused learning models, alongside growing use of artificial intelligence and data-driven personalisation to improve learning outcomes and scalability.
Looking ahead, EdVentures said it plans to continue working with government bodies, investors and ecosystem partners to support the scaling of effective solutions across public education systems and workforce development programmes.
“As Egypt positions itself as a regional hub for innovation and digital talent, partnerships like the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship highlight the importance of investing in homegrown solutions that empower people with the skills needed to thrive in tomorrow’s economy,” the company added.
