Startups Shine: 3 EdTech Innovators Win Funding to Transform Learning

In today’s fast-changing world, education and technology are merging faster than ever before. Through the Women and Career EdTech Fellowship 2025, three incredible startups are proving that innovation can transform how we learn and grow.

The fellowship was a 12-week program created to help founders sharpen their skills, structure their ideas, and connect with mentors and investors. By the end of it, three standout startups — The VARLC Project, Ntapi Inc., and Neuronest — walked away with a total of ₦7 million in seed funding to grow their impact.

Meet the Winners

The VARLC Project (₦4.5 million):
VARLC is helping university students learn smarter. It connects high-performing students with peers who need extra support, creating a peer-to-peer learning network where everyone wins. Hence, the top students earn while they teach, and others learn in a flexible, accessible way.

Ntapi Inc. (₦2.25 million):
Ntapi is making learning local again. It uses Nigerian languages and cultural context to teach modern skills. By blending fun, relevance, and community, Ntapi is making quality education more inclusive and relatable.

Neuronest (₦750,000):
Neuronest is rethinking how children with unique learning needs learn best. Using AI, it personalizes lessons for neurodiverse learners — especially children with ADHD and dyslexia. Their goal is simple: every child deserves to learn at their own pace, in their own way.

Lessons Beyond Funding

The fellowship wasn’t just about money; it was about growth.
At the award ceremony, Khadijat Abdulkadir, CEO of INGRYD Academy, encouraged the startups to be bold but strategic. She reminded them that success needs both courage and data. “If something doesn’t work, pivot quickly. Tech is borderless, and so is your success,” she said.

Angel investor Ifeanyi Akosionu added that founders must stay consistent even when progress feels slow. Every great idea, he noted, takes time to gain traction — but persistence always pays off.

Looking Ahead

Programme Director Emeka Amadi reaffirmed the organisation’s mission to empower innovators in Africa. He shared that Women and Career is partnering with Mastercard and Co-Creation Hub (CcHub) to give more startups access to mentorship and funding.

Amadi said “This fellowship is not just a program, It’s a call to action. EdTech founders must be active contributors to the future of learning and innovation.”

In conclusion, the 2025 EdTech Fellowship ended, but its impact is only beginning.These founders are not just building apps — they’re building futures. Consequently, they remind us that when people create with purpose, technology becomes more than a tool; it becomes a legacy.