Africa’s EdTech Accelerator & Think Tank
Injini exists for the sole purpose of improving sub-Saharan Africa.
Injini is a registered Non-Profit Company (2017/193849/08) based in Cape Town, South Africa with the sole purpose of improving educational outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 2017, Injini remains the only EdTech specialised accelerator in Africa.
Injini’s various programmes and research (via the Injini Think Tank) contribute towards its mission to increase the quality, accessibility, and relevance of education in the region.
Injini operates with the overarching thesis that by creating an enabling environment and supporting the development and implementation of education innovation in sub-Saharan Africa, especially those that are technology-based or enabled, educational outcomes throughout the region will improve. This follows from Injini’s understanding of the link between entrepreneurship, innovation and free markets and the strength that can be found in aligning such efforts with publicly funded interventions.
Injini is a member of the UVU Africa Group.
Mission
Injini’s mission is to increase the quality, access and relevance of education throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Business Acceleration for African EdTech Startups
Injini’s Acceleration Partnership is a specialised EdTech venture development program crafted to empower high-growth companies that leverage technology and innovation to tackle critical educational challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. These EdTech innovators, referred to as ‘Acceleration Partners,’ are dedicated to enhancing educational outcomes spanning pre-primary, K-12 education, as well as teacher training and professional development.
African EdTech Ecosystem Development Initiatives
Improving African education demands unity among stakeholders. Injini’s EdTech events spark dialogue, and our programs empower entrepreneurs, moving us closer to a future with accessible, relevant education for all Africans
African EdTech Research, Consulting and Advocacy
The Injini Think Tank is committed to leading the African EdTech community by conducting localised research and fostering stakeholder engagement across the education innovation spectrum. They provide valuable data-driven insights, customised market research, and facilitate discussions on education innovation. Injini’s Think Tank focuses on various critical areas, including EdTech market analysis, educational governance, public-private partnerships, educator empowerment, leveraging technology for quality education, advocating for girl child education, advancing literacy, and promoting learning through play.
The Team
Injini is led by a diverse team with a wealth of experience in social impact, education, entrepreneurship and research across Africa.
Krista Davidson
Krista leads the team at Injini, focusing on the organisation’s business development and strategic direction. She has spent her career in the social development sector with the last five years in the social entrepreneurship space. Krista has a particular passion for tech startups using their innovations to create positive change for the accessibility and quality of education, healthcare and financial services for vulnerable and under-resourced communities. She believes the ingenuity of African entrepreneurs addressing African challenges will propel the continent forward.
Kim Sanssoucie
Kim heads up the Injini Think Tank, the research advisory and advocacy division of Injini. Kim has fifteen years’ career experience, particularly in the creative and social development sectors. She led a scaling up entrepreneurship programme creating access to markets at Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) and designed the strategy and research on an economic development project at Scaled Impact. Kim is passionate about African social and economic development and believes in the power of human-centred design and data-led decision making for the sustainability of humanity and enrichment of communities.
Tsepo Ngwenyama
Tsepo heads up Injini’s Programme & Portfolio division, overseeing Injini’s Acceleration Partnership programme, EdTech ecosystem development initiatives, and alumni support for portfolio companies. Their experience spans across incubation implementation at the UCT GSB Solution Space, entrepreneurial support at Airbnb’s Africa Academy, and most recently leading the Social Entrepreneurship Impact Lab powered by FNB. Tsepo is passionate about social entrepreneurship and digital inclusion for sustainable and inclusive economic growth across Africa.
Injini's Board of Directors
Brendan Hughes
Brendan Hughes is a legal professional and technology entrepreneur with an LLB from the University of Cape Town.
He has more than 15 years of experience in working with technology start-ups. Brendan currently serves as Chairperson of Injini EdTech Ventures, Africa’s leading EdTech incubator investing into EdTech start-ups across the African continent, and as a director of the BioCiTi biotechnology lab and incubator.
He is a co-founder of the LexVision Group, an international group of companies licensing and supporting legal industry technology solutions, including ShareBrief.com, MedBrief.co.uk and LexFutures.com.
Brendan also serves on the board of the Cape Innovation & Technology Initiative and on the Advisory Board of the University of Cape Town Faculty of Law.
Ian Merrington
Ian Merrington is CEO of The Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative and The Bandwidth Barn and is also a Director of Injini, Africa’s first EdTech Incubator. The Bandwidth Barn is Africa’s oldest technology incubator and is to-day regarded as one of the leading Technology business incubators in the world.
Ian is currently a member of the Economic War Room for Tech & BPO established by the WCGov, he also sat on the advisory boards of the University of Cape Town’s Information Systems department and also the Computer Sciences department. He was appointed an ambassador for AfricaCom 2018 (Africa’s largest Tech event) in recognition of his leadership role in driving Africa’s digital transformation.
Ian is passionate about the role of innovation in solving the challenges faced by modern societies. He believes that inclusive innovation can improve lives across the continent.
In his current role as CEO of CiTi, he has a focus on supporting and incubating inclusive tech enabled innovation, seeding technology clusters, creating job ready candidates for the Industry 4.0 and also accelerating tech entrepreneurs.
Gearing up for Africa Tech Festival 2023
Africa Tech Festival, the continent’s largest live tech event, is set to kick off from the 13th to the 16th of November 2023. This eagerly awaited annual gathering will unite
UVU Africa’s Vibrant Participation at SA Innovation Summit 2023
SA Innovation Summit (SAIS) 2023 was a dynamic week filled with innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration. As a proud event partner, UVU Africa played a significant role in several exciting activities
Injini Partners with the Mastercard Foundation to Improve Learning Outcomes in South Africa
Injini partners with the Mastercard Foundation to improve learning outcomes in South Africa ● Injini and the Mastercard Foundation teamed up to launch the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Program.
