A pan-African accelerator/competition offering a $50,000 equity investment across eight countries.
- Potential value:
- $50k in credits
- Provider:
- Absa
- Referral needed:
- No
What you need to qualify
- An early stage technology startup in fintech, insurtech or a related value chain, covering digital payments, financial inclusion, insurance innovation or value chain financing.
- Minimum USD 5,000 in monthly recurring revenue.
- At least 6 months of recurring revenue traction.
- Cumulative funding raised of USD 1 million or less.
- Operating for 3 years or less.
- At least 2 founding team members.
- Operating in at least one of Botswana, Uganda, Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia or Ghana.
- Delaware registration is preferred but not required.
Eligibility
- Eligible stages
- Pre-seed, Seed
- Countries
- Global, subject to the provider’s eligibility and approval
How to apply
- 1
Submit the online application
Complete the online application form for the current edition and include a three minute video pitch.
- 2
Shortlisting to the top 20
MEST reviews the submissions and selects 20 semi finalists.
- 3
Virtual semi finals
The 20 semi finalists compete in a virtual semi final round.
- 4
Selection of the top 10
Ten finalists are chosen from the semi finals.
- 5
Grand finale
The finalists pitch at the grand finale, where one winner is awarded the USD 50,000 equity investment.
Frequently asked
USD 50,000 as an equity investment, entry to the MEST Portfolio, one year of professional business coaching, and the opportunity to run commercial pilots with Absa business units.
Early stage technology startups with fintech or embedded fintech solutions, operating three years or less, with at least USD 5,000 in monthly recurring revenue over at least six months, no more than USD 1 million raised, at least two founders, and operations in one of the eight eligible markets.
Through the online application form for the current edition, which requires a three minute video pitch.
The MEST Africa Challenge runs as an annual call. The 2025 edition has concluded and MEST has not yet published the application window for the next edition.
No. Despite the catalog wording it is a pan African pitch competition, and the USD 50,000 is an equity investment in the winning startup rather than service credits.
Fintech