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2024 MEST Africa Challenge

2023 MEST Africa Challenge

The MEST Africa Challenge

As MEST continues to deepen her influence on Africa’s tech landscape, the MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) remains Africa’s premier pitch competition for Africa’s emerging tech entrepreneurs, bringing together relevant stakeholders all across the continent and globe to learn more about the happenings on the tech scene. This year will mark the 6th edition of MAC. MEST will provide the winning startup with investment capital, coaching and access to a global network of resources and partners as they build and scale successful businesses that add value to African economies and livelihoods.

This year, contestants for MAC will be based in West Africa with a focus on the following key markets: Benin, Cape Verde, Côte D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Mali and Togo. For the first time, MAC will also place a sectoral emphasis on agri-tech,  recognizing its immense potential to drive sustainable development and economic growth in Africa.

Top 5 Finalists

Meet the Regional Finalists

Key Benefits of the MEST Africa Challenge

Win $50,000

Stand the chance of winning $50,000 in equity

Global Visibility

Gain visibility from investors & potential partners

A lifetime of Support

Get lifetime benefits from MEST’s community

Partner Prizes

Win prizes and perks from MEST strategic partners

Is Your Business Eligible?

To be eligible for the program, Startups can apply if they meet the following criteria:

  • Early-stage Agritech startup
  • Monthly Recurring Revenue: A minimum of $5k
  • Funding raised: $0 to $1M cumulative
  • Years in existence: 3 years and below
  • Traction: At least 6 months of recurring revenue
  • Must be operating in one of the 14 MAC countries (Benin, Cape Verde, Côte D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Mali and Togo)
  • Founding team: At least 2 founding team members
  • Registered in Delaware (This is preferred)
  • Any business model (B2B, B2C, B2B2C, B2G etc…)
  • All participants must pitch in English

Competition Stages

The competition consists of five stages starting with the online application.
Successful applicants will then proceed to the following stages.

  • Stage 1

    Online application

  • Stage 2

    Selection of Top 20 semi finalists

    Stage 2

    Selection of Top 20 semi finalists

  • Stage 3

    Virtual semi-finals (Top 20 applicants)

  • Stage 4

    Selection of Top 5 finalists

    Stage 4

    Selection of Top 5 finalists

  • Stage 5

    Final Demo Day in Accra

Hear from the MAC 2023 Winner

Application closed

Highlights from 2023 Demo Day

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Previous Winners

In association with

Perk Partners for MAC 2023

Become a partner:

Transform the landscape of African technology with us. [Email Us for Partnership Opportunities: [email protected]]

Frequently Asked Questions:

Your business must be an early-stage technology startup based in at least one of the fourteen MAC countries (Benin, Cape Verde, Côte D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Mali and Togo) with the following characteristics:

  • Monthly Recurring Revenue: A minimum of $5k
  • Funding raised: Cumulative $1M or less
  • Years in existence: 3 years and below 
  • Traction: At least 6 months of recurring revenue
  • Founding team: At least 2 founding team members 
  • Registered in Delaware (This is preferred)
  • Complete an online application 
    • Submit a pitch deck and a 3mins Video pitch
  • Selection of the top 20 applicants
  • Virtual Semi-Finals competition held for all countries
  • Selection of top 5 startups 
  • The top 5 compete at the grand finale and Demo Day in Accra, Ghana
  • The video duration should be a maximum of 3 minutes and can be taken with a mobile phone
  • The applicant must appear on camera for the pitch. This means that animated videos, videos with text and a voiceover, etc. cannot be used as the pitch. 
  • Applicants will not be scored on video quality, as the focus will be on the pitch itself, however, the applicant must ensure s/he is visible and audible.
  • The pitch must be made in English

The Semi Finals will be private and virtual. A link for this session will be shared in advance to all Semi Finalists.

 

Each pitch will last for 5 minutes with 5 minutes Q&A. Startups can include a live demo of their product during pitches. This should be within time.

Semi Finalists will be announced a few days after their pitch and the overall challenge winner will be announced at the end of the Final Demo Day in December.

All pitches and Q&A will be made in English.

Hybrid. Semi Finals will be virtual and the final demo day will be in Accra, Ghana.

Yes.

Finalists will be fully sponsored with travel to and from Accra, housing, and transport for the final pitch day in December 2024. Please plan to arrive in Accra a few days before. 

3-4 days. Plan to arrive in Accra 1-2 days before the final competition and depart the day after.

Pitch readiness sessions will only be organized for Finalists preparing for the final Demo Day.

You’re eligible to apply if your company operates in one or more of the fourteen MAC countries (Benin, Cape Verde, Côte D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Mali and Togo)

$50,000 in equity investment, access to MEST Portfolio resources and strategic partnerships, 1 year professional business coaching in addition to other benefits and prizes for the overall  winner.

Application closed