MEST opens applications for 2019 MEST Africa Challenge

MEST, the Pan-African training programme, seed fund, incubator and hub for tech entrepreneurs in Africa, has opened applications for the 2019 MEST Africa Challenge.

Finalists of the pitch competition, which is now in its second year, stand to receive up to $50 000 in equity investment from MEST, space in a MEST incubator and the opportunity to pitch at the finals of the challenge which will be held at the 2019 MEST Africa Summit which will take place between 10 and 12 June in Nairobi, Kenya.

Entrepreneurs with post-revenue tech startups based in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa that are ready to expand into new markets must submit applications before 15 February.

The 2019 MEST Africa Challenge is offering up to $50 000 in equity investments, as well as space at a MEST incubator

Top companies in each region will be invited to pitch at regional events in Abidjan (28 February), Accra (27 February), Cape Town (28 February), Lagos (26 February) and Nairobi (27 February).

Last year’s inaugural MEST Africa Challenge saw over 700 applications across four markets, of which 40 made it into the regional finals in Accra, Lagos, Nairobi and Cape Town.

One representative from each team was flown to Cape Town, where they presented in front of a jury of judges from Facebook, MTN, and Meltwater, as well as the summit’s global audience of investors, Pan-African entrepreneurs and corporate leaders.

Nigeria-based cloud accounting firm Accounteer took home the first prize of $50 000 equity investment and a space in the MEST Incubator Lagos. In a statement today (14 January), Accounteer senior business developer Niyi Adegboye — who presented the startup’s winning pitch — described participating in the challenge as being an “amazing experience”.

“Being the regional winner gave me the poise that Accounteer would emerge as the winner in South Africa, and the trip to Cape Town was superb. Accounteer is proud to be a part of the MEST portfolio today,” said Adegboye.

Since winning the 2018 MEST Africa Challenge, Accounteer has expanded from Nigeria into Kenya, and has received follow-on funding from Lagos-based investment platform Microtraction.