Born in response to the urgent needs of startups amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, MEST Express emerged as a forward-thinking accelerator tailored for young tech entrepreneurs in Ghana. Our mission? To foster the sustainable growth of startups by equipping them with the essential skills, resources, mentorship, and connections needed to flourish in an ever-evolving ecosystem.
In 2020, we joined forces with the Mastercard Foundation, amplifying our impact and extending our reach throughout Ghana. By aligning our vision, mission, and strategy with the Young Africa Works initiative, we co-created three pivotal programs. Through these initiatives, we aimed to test, learn, and iterate, assessing their effectiveness in driving widespread prosperity through skills development and job creation.
Over the course of three years, we engaged with startups, innovation hubs, investors, and corporations, successfully accelerating tech startups operating in Kumasi, Tamale, and Accra under the MEST Express umbrella. This fruitful endeavor led to boosted revenues, expanded customer bases, and remarkable operational growth, resulting in new job opportunities and fostering socio-economic progress in Ghana. Inspired by these accomplishments, we firmly believe in the potential to expand this pioneering accelerator not only within Ghana but also across other regions in Africa.
Our comprehensive impact report for the years 2020 to 2022 encapsulates:
- the remarkable outcomes achieved through the MEST Express accelerator
- a comprehensive overview of the participating startups, the curriculum implemented
- highlights the significant impacts, invaluable lessons learned, and inspiring success stories
These encompass access to vital capital, enhanced revenue streams, increased user traction, leveraging technology as a catalyst for job creation, and championing gender balance. By nurturing the growth of early-stage tech startups, MEST Express takes great pride in driving socio-economic progress and contributing to a vibrant and dynamic ecosystem across Ghana.
