As a recognized thought leader and innovation hub in the African EdTech ecosystem, in May 2025, Sahara Venturesproudly participated in the 18th edition of the eLearning Africa Conference. In collaboration with Tanzania's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, our involvement began at the planning level, coordinating and supporting 16 Tanzanian EdTech startups to attend and exhibit at the event.

With over 83 countries represented, the conference served as a global platform to showcase the power of strategic collaboration, local innovation, and startup acceleration in shaping Africa's education future.

Showcasing African EdTech Leadership

Beyond engaging in strategic dialogues with policymakers, innovators, and development partners, we took the opportunity to highlight the impact of our Mastercard Foundation-supported EdTech Fellowship Program. Co-designed with the Foundation, this program empowers African startups to address real-world learning challenges. Our presence reaffirmed that Africa is not just a consumer of educational technologies, but a creator, builder, and global leader in the EdTech space.

Throughout the conference, Sahara Ventures supported startups were highlighted as EdTech innovators driving real change with their solutions: some of the EdTech solutions exhibited included: AI-driven learning tools developed in local languages, offline-first solutions reaching underserved communities and digital platforms that bridge the learning gap for girls and students with limited connectivity. These innovations, born from local challenges and designed for African learners, resonated strongly with the conference theme, which was 'Rethinking Education and Human Capital Development for Africa's Prosperity' emphasizing the use of digital tools to build a skilled workforce.

AI in Education: Insights from the Frontlines

Artificial Intelligence emerged as a major focus of the 2025 conference, with emphasis on the need for context-aware AI tools that preserve indigenous knowledge, the importance of ethical frameworks to address bias and data privacy as well as the potential of AI to complement, (not replace) human educators. Contributions to these conversations underscored the critical role of African innovation hubs in shaping how AI is integrated into educational ecosystems.

Other areas which dominated the conversations during the conference included; digital education and technology integration - deliberated on how technology can make learning more accessible and efficient, skills development and employability - deliberated on skills needed by the workforce in the digital age and emphasised on digital literacy, vocational training and entrepreneurship. Furthermore, the discussions delved into; inclusive education and social impact, high education and academic development, instructional design and pedagogy, climate change and sustainability.

Our engagement was not merely symbolic - it was strategic and catalytic. Through our sessions, exhibitions, and ecosystem partnerships, we:

• Sparked new investment and mentorship opportunities for EdTech Fellows
• Facilitated cross-border partnerships with universities, governments, and accelerators
• Advocated for inclusive innovation to ensure girls, refugees, and learners with disabilities are not left behind

Startup Success Stories from the Conference

Taifa Tek, a Cohort 1 EdTech Fellow, experienced significant wins from the conference, including:

Youth Digital Champion Program: Founder Said Hozza connected with Anthony Bloome, Founder of The Education Alliance, and was officially inducted into this global initiative supporting youth-led educational innovation.

ILO International Training Centre: Engaged with Fausto Saltetti of the ILO Learning Innovation Unit, leading to a fully sponsored opportunity to attend an in-person training program in Italy.

Regional Expansion Potential: Discussions with the Open University of Zimbabwe's Department of IT set the stage for potential export of Taifa Tek's STEM kits to Zimbabwe's tertiary institutions.

Fiqra Academy, another Cohort 1 Fellow, had the rare honor of presenting its innovation to the Guest of Honour—H.E. Second Vice President of Zanzibar, Hemed Suleiman Abdulla—alongside Tanzania's Minister of Education, Prof. Adolf Mkenda.

Founder and CEO Gerald Revocatus shared: “We engaged with stakeholders from Germany, Finland, Togo, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and beyond. We're now in active partnership discussions with local and international organizations to expand into underserved communities, localize content, and scale our implementation models.”

Showcasing Tanzanian Innovation

The Tanzanian startups that exhibited included:
MITzKITS, Taifa Tek, Fiqra Academy, Ekima, Shule Yetu, ShuleSoft, Kilimanjaro Planetarium, Infotaaluma, Inspire Hatua, HM&Y Technologies, Projekt Inspire, QSoft Technologies, ExamNet, MathGenius Africa, Play & Learn and Porto.

Looking Ahead: Scaling What Works

As we reflect on eLearning Africa 2025, one thing is clear: Africa's education future is digital, inclusive, and locally driven. At Sahara Ventures, we remain committed to scaling what works, amplifying high-impact EdTech startups and influencing the policies and partnerships that sustain them. We commend Tanzania's ministry of Education Science and Technology for working closely with innovation hubs like ourselves to secure an international platform for Tanzanian EdTech startups. This signifies a hopeful trajectory for Tanzania's EdTech ecosystem. We believe in the transformative power of technology to democratize learning and unlock opportunity across the continent.