MEST Africa Challenge 2025
Deadline: Sep 26, 2025
other
partially funded
Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Botswana, Zambia, and 3 others
Opportunity Overview
The MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) is a leading Pan-African pitch competition designed for early-stage technology startups ready to scale. Led by MEST Africa and powered by Absa, MAC offers a powerful platform to access equity funding, build strategic networks, and gain global visibility.
📝 About MEST Africa Challenge 2025
Opportunity Details:
- Date Published: August 04, 2025
- Application Deadline: September 26, 2025
- Category: Contest, Entrepreneurs
- Eligible Locations:
- Botswana
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Seychelles
- Uganda
- Zambia
Finalists will pitch live to an audience of top investors, corporates, and ecosystem leaders. Standout benefits include:
- Winning $50,000 in equity.
- Entry into the prestigious MEST Portfolio.
- Piloting commercial solutions with Absa business units.
- Unlocking exclusive partner prizes.
🎁 Benefits of MEST Africa Challenge 2025
- $50,000 in equity investment, access to MEST Portfolio resources, and prizes from this year’s partners.
- Finalists will be fully sponsored with travel to and from Cape Town, including housing and transport for the final pitch day in November 2025.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the MEST Africa Challenge 2025, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Must be an early-stage technology startup.
- Must operate in fintech, insuretech, or similar value chains.
- Must offer at least one of the following solutions:
- Digital payments
- Financial inclusion
- Insurance innovation
- Value chain financing
- Must be operating in at least one of the following key markets: Botswana, Uganda, Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia, and Ghana.
- Monthly Recurring Revenue: Minimum of $5,000.
- Funding Raised: Cumulative $1M or less.
- Years in Existence: 3 years or below.
- Traction: At least 6 months of recurring revenue.
- Founding Team: At least 2 founding team members.
- Registered in Delaware (preferred).
📅 Application Date and Process
- Application Deadline: September 26, 2025
- Visit the official application portal to apply:
🌟 Sponsor Organisation
The MEST Africa Challenge 2025 is led by MEST Africa and powered by Absa.
For more information, visit the official MEST Africa Challenge 2025.
Benefits
- $50,000 in equity investment, access to MEST Portfolio resources and prizes from this year’s partners
- Finalists will be fully sponsored with travel to and from Cape Town including, housing, and transport for the final pitch day in November 2025.
