Calls are being made to increase funding for education technology (edtech) startups in Africa to advance digital literacy and bridge learning gaps. This comes as edtech receives a disproportionately small share of overall tech funding, hindering its potential for growth and impact.

• Edtech startups received only 1.1% of total venture funding in 2024 and 1.4% in 2023, significantly less than sectors like fintech (60%).
• The call for increased funding was made during a MasterCard Foundation-sponsored demo day at the iHUB in Nairobi, showcasing 12 transformative startups.
• Selected startups will receive equity-free funding of $100,000 (Sh13 million) from MasterCard Foundation and incubation by iHUB.
• Abdinoor Almahdi, founder and CEO of M-Lugha, highlighted how lack of funding prevents solutions for rural digital literacy from scaling up.