South African ed-tech incubator Injini has launched a new two-year programme that will support 10 early-stage South African edtech startups building solutions that create or support employment pathways for young people.
Founded in 2017, Injini, which is a member of the UVU Africa Group, is a registered non-profit company that exists for the sole purpose of improving educational outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its programmes and research via the Injini Think Tank contribute towards its mission to increase the quality, accessibility, and relevance of education in the region. It announced its latest cohort earlier this year.
The EdTech for Employment Incubation Programme, which is financed by Zurich-based Leopold Bachmann Foundation, will run from October 2026 to September 2028, and targets startups whose solutions serve youth aged between 15 and 30.
The programme comes against the backdrop of a South African youth unemployment rate that stood at 46.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year, according to Stats SA, which is among the highest in the world. Injini said the figure reflects a structural shortage of quality vocational and work-readiness pathways connecting young people to the economy.
A growing number of edtech startups are building solutions in this space, including teacher training platforms, tutoring and mentorship tools, and technologies that prepare young people for economic participation. However, Injini said these companies often lack the structured support, market access and proof-of-concept evidence they need to scale.
“South Africa’s youth aren’t short on ambition or ability. What they need are structured pathways into work,” said Krista Davidson, executive director at Injini. “We’ve spent years watching talented edtech founders build real solutions to this problem, without the support to test what works, prove it, and scale it. This programme is designed to close that gap.
The programme will run two cohorts of five startups each. Each cycle begins with a recruitment and selection process, followed by a six-month incubation period built around four pillars: product foundations, business sustainability, market access, and impact measurement.
Participating startups will receive hands-on support from Injini’s team, as well as access to a network of specialist consultants matched to their needs. Founders will also have opportunities to network and engage with the wider ecosystem and potential users.
Over its two-year run, the programme aims to reach 20,000 underserved youth, help up to 2,000 of them access work or income-generating opportunities, and create 20 direct jobs within the cohort companies.
“We’re looking for ed-tech companies that are already doing the hard work of connecting young people to skills and income,” Davidson said. “Over the next two years, we want to give ten of them the structural support, proof points and market access they need to grow.”
Both non-profit and for-profit edtech startups with a clear social impact mandate are eligible, with priority given to those working in work-readiness and digital skills, teacher training and professional development, and tutoring or peer-learning models that generate income and employment opportunities for young people.
Interested startups can apply here.
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