Cardtonic is Back with Upskill 4.0: MacBooks, Scholarships Available for Young Techies

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When it comes to showing up for the community, one prominent fintech brand stands tall. Cardtonic has stayed consistent with its tech investment programme, Upskill, where it has given out 55 MacBooks since 2022 (Upskill 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0)

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Today, Cardtonic is back for the fourth edition. But this time, two tracks run concurrently: the MacBook giveaway and the tech scholarship. Hardware meets learning to tackle tech access in Africa.

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25 MacBooks, 20 scholarships, and for the first time, Upskill debuts in Ghana to give tech talents access to take on the world. It is Upskill 4.0, Cardtonic’s biggest edition yet.

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Upskill 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0

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The first edition, UpSkill 1.0, paved the way for subsequent versions. It empowered 15 tech talents with fresh MacBook laptops.

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The second, Upskill 2.0, which took place in 2024, was bigger with 20 tech talents going home with brand new M3 MacBooks. Cardtonic reached more people and even doled out monetary support to 13 runner-ups. Cardtonic strengthened its commitment to empowering Africa’s brightest tech talent.n

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The third edition raised the standard even higher. Cardtonic didn’t just give out 20 M4 MacBook laptops to techies; it saw wider participation. Cardtonic also delivered financial support to 15 runner-ups.

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Upskill 4.0

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The Virtual Dollar Card brand builds on previous editions. Upskill 4.0 is unique because, for the first time, it goes beyond basic tooling to tackle access holistically.n

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The previous editions focused on hardware, such as laptops for techies. The current edition also invests in building expertise. All based on the conviction that the biggest barrier to tech in Africa isn’t ability but access.

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The current edition will feature MacBook giveaways, stipends, and scholarships by the Cardtonic Scholarship Fund 2026 in partnership with AltSchool Africa.

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The inclusion of the stipends this time out indicates a brand that understands young techies who are constrained not just by tools and access, but also need to juggle time for study and covering living costs.

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Track 1: MacBook Giveaway

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Cardtonic will give out 25 MacBooks to successful applicants across six categories in Nigeria and Ghana. Participants extend beyond developers to full tech teams, including:

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• Software Engineering
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• Design
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• Product Management
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• Content Creation
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• Data Science & AI Engineering
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Track 2: Upskill by Cardtonic Scholarship Fund 2026

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Cardtonic will give out 20 fully funded scholarships to applicants to pursue diploma programmes in AltSchool Africa across five key disciplines. Additionally, successful applicants will receive a N250,000 stipend per scholar.

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The eligible programmes include:

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• Software Engineering
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• Data Analysis
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• Product Management
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• Design
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• Cybersecurity
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AltSchool Africa is a leading online tech institution that offers diploma-level programmes. It doesn’t just award random tech certificates. It is accredited, professional, and properly structured for African learners.

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Africa has always had an abundance of talent. The real challenge is the barriers to entry: time, tuition, and opportunity cost. All factors delimit the talent pipeline. But Upskill 4.0 is designed to tackle these challenges head-on.

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Ghana’s inclusion this time wasn’t an afterthought. It is strategic. Cardtonic has been operating in Ghana since 2020. Upskill 4.0 is a way of deepening relationships in communities where Cardtonic already operates.

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No single track presents a lottery ticket. The idea is to prioritize merit across the board. As usual, there will be applications, assessments, and reviews. While applicants for the MacBook track will undergo assessment and TalentLlama interviews. Scholarship track applicants will pass through the AltSchool Africa entrance exam and TalentLlama interviews, respectively.

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How to Apply?

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Applicants should use the Application page and select their respective tracks.n

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Who Should Apply?

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The Cardtonic Upskill 4.0 is designed for promising tech talents who are less than 30 years old and of Nigerian or Ghanaian nationality. Applicants must demonstrate a passion for tech with proof, in the form of portfolios, projects, courses, or tasks completed.

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It features two tracks: the MacBook track and the Scholarship track. Both have different application processes and assessments. As such, the applicants cannot apply to both via the same pathway.

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Applicants need to apply before the deadline dates. Application for each of the tracks opens up on July 28 and closes on August 28, 2026, respectively.

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Selection Timelines

n n n Milestonen MacBook Trackn Scholarship Trackn n Applications Open July 28n

nJuly 28n n Applications Closen August 28n August 28n n n Application Reviewn August 31 – Sept 03n August 31 – Sept 03n n n Shortlist Feedbackn Sept 05n Sept 05n n Assessment  /n

Altshool Entrance Exam

nSept 12 (assessment day)Sept 12 (AltSchool Africa entrance exam)n n Results / Score Cut-off Announcementn Sept 14n Sept 16n n n TalentLlama Interviewsn September 22 – 25n September 22 – 25n n n Interview results + Final Selectionn September 29 – 30n September 29 – 30n n n Winners / Scholars Announcedn Oct 1- 2n Oct 1- 2n n n Prize-Giving Ceremonyn October 10n October 10n n n

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Applications will be reviewed from August 31 to September 3. Applicants will receive shortlist feedback on September 5. Afterwards, there will be assessment exams.

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Assessment day for the MacBook track is scheduled for September 12, while the AltSchool Africa entrance exam for the Scholarship track will also be held on September 12.

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Results/score cut-off for the MacBook track will be announced on September 14, while the Scholarship track results will be released on September 16.

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After the results, TalentLlama interviews for both tracks will run concurrently between September 22 and 25. Afterwards, interview results and final selections will be announced between September 29 and 30.

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Winners and successful scholars will be announced between October 1 and 2. The grand finale, the prize-giving ceremony, will be held on October 10.

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Conclusion

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With 55 laptops distributed thus far, Cardtonic boasts a strong track record, supporting and investing in African techies. It demonstrates that the barrier to tech in Africa isn’t talent but access to tools and hardware.

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Upskill 4.0 adds an important dimension of scholarship and stipends, so techies can focus fully on learning without distractions.

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Furthermore, Upskill 4.0 highlights a brand that always shows up for its community. Cardtonic’s consistency over the years proves that it believes in the young talents in Africa.

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