Edtech incubator Injini opens fourth-cohort applications for African startups

Cape Town-based edtech incubator Injini has announced that applications for its fourth cohort are now open. Tech startups from any African country can apply.

The first round of applications will close on 10 December, with a final screening round set for January, when the top 12 applicants will be invited to pitch to a panel of judges at the Injini selection day during the same month.

Injini said in a statement last Wednesday (23 October) that it will support up to eight edtech startups with financial and advisory resources throughout the course of the incubation programme, which will run from March to August next year.

Applications for Injini’s Cohort 4 close on 10 December

The Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi) incubator, will run the programme in partnership with the UBS Optimus Foundation, the Southern Africa Innovation Support Programme and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation.

Injini said it is looking for evidence-based solutions that address key problems that face the education sector in Africa, with at least a minimum viable product or prototype.

Ideally, it added, founding teams of selected startups will have had previous work experience, with some members having strong backgrounds in education or technology.

Applications are also open to more mature edtech startups that have post-revenue, solidified business models or are beginning to scale.

To be considered for the programme, applicants must have registered companies with at least one full-time founder who is fluent in English and is able to travel to South Africa during the programme’s relevant phases.

Access to R100k in grant funding

Ventures accepted into the programme will each get access to R100 000 in grant funding.

The funding will be dispersed in three tranches over the duration of the programme, contingent on the company’s ability to meet pre-defined performance and participation expectations.

The ventures will also be eligible for follow-on equity investment from Injini of up to R1-million.

During the programme, participants will engage with the Injini team and its network of mentors and coaches in edtech, education, business and technology, as well as receive a series of customised research and data insights prepared for and with them.

In addition, the selected startups will also have the opportunity to attend tailored business workshops and one-on-one meetings with subject matter experts.

The first and third phases of the incubation programme will be held in Cape Town from mid-March until the end of April, and from mid-July to mid-August, respectively.

Injini will cover international travel and accommodation, as well as a living stipend, for up to two members from each team.

The incubator’s head of operations, Krista Davidson, said the incubator was excited to begin the journey of selecting its next cohort of edtech startups.

Read more: Meet the eight African edtech startups in Injini’s third cohort
Read more: Nigerian startups dominate lineup in edtech incubator Injini’s second cohort
Read more: Edtech incubator Injini selects 8 startups from across Africa for first cohort

Featured image: Members of Injini’s Cohort 3 during their first workshop (Injini – Africa’s EdTech Incubator via Facebook)