The MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) is a leading Pan-African pitch competition designed for early-stage technology startups ready to scale. The MEST Africa Challenge 2025 is led by MEST Africa and powered by Absa. MAC offers a powerful platform to access equity funding, build strategic networks, and gain global visibility.

Finalists pitch live to an audience of top investors, corporates, and ecosystem leaders, with standout benefits including the chance to win $50,000 in equity, gain entry into the prestigious MEST Portfolio, pilot commercial solutions with Absa business units, and unlock exclusive partner prizes. The MEST Africa Challenge 2025 is led by MEST Africa and powered by Absa.

Summary

1. Application Deadline: September 26, 2025
2. Type: Contest
3. Sponsor: Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST)
4. Eligible Gender: Men and Women

Eligibility Criteria for MEST Africa Challenge 2025

1. Sector Focus:
2. Fintech and other value chains
3. Solutions may include:
4. Smart Credit & Alt-Lending
5. Fraud & Trust Tech
6. Personalised Money OS
7. Offline-Friendly Rails
8. Next-Gen Payments & Wallets
9. Investment Gateways
10. Agri-Tech Engines
11. Financial Literacy Re-imagined
12. Omnichannel CX & Super-Apps
13. Trade & Cross-Border Boosters
14. Product-Landing Platforms
15. Value-Add Service Layers
16. Integration Orchestrators
17. Micro & On-Demand Insurtech
18. Early- to growth-stage startups, in operations for less than 3 years
19. Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) of at least US $5,000 with at least 6 months of recurring revenue
20. Cumulative funding raised must be US $1 million or less
21. Must be operating in at least one of the following key markets: Botswana, Uganda, Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia, Ghana
22. Minimum of two co-founders or founding team members
23. Must be able to pitch in English
24. Registered as a Delaware C-corp or in a neutral jurisdiction (preferred, not mandatory)

Application Timeline:

1. Applications open: 4 August 2025
2. Applications close: 26 September 2025
3. Top 20 participants announced: 10 October 2025
4. Virtual semi-finals: Week of 27 October 2025
5. In-person finals in Cape Town, South Africa: Week of 24 November 2025

Benefits of MEST Africa Challenge 2025

1. $50,000 in equity investment, access to MEST Portfolio resources, and prizes from this year’s partners
2. Finalists will be fully sponsored with travel to and from Cape Town,, including housing and transport for the final pitch day in November 2025.

How to Apply

For more details, visit MEST Africa Challenge webpage

Application Deadline

September 26, 2025

Application Link(s)

• Apply for MEST Africa Challenge 2025