Applications Open for the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Startup Program - Africa's Launchpad for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Founders
For over 17 years, MEST has trained and supported software entrepreneurs across the continent, contributing to Africa's innovation economy. Now, as artificial intelligence transforms industries at a very rapid pace, MEST is positioning Africa's tech entrepreneurs at the forefront of this shift.
'Africa has world-class tech talent, and it's time AI solutions built on the continent reach users everywhere,' says Emily Fiagbedzi, Director of the MEST AI Startup Program. 'MEST is proud to contribute to this reality through our training and incubation program that equips talent from across Africa with training and mentoring from international experts for the development of globally relevant AI Software.'
The MEST AI Startup Program is a fully-funded, immersive experience hosted in Accra, Ghana that equips Africa's most promising AI entrepreneurs with the technical, business, and leadership skills to build and scale globally competitive startups. Over an intensive seven-month training phase, founders receive hands-on instruction, technical mentorship, and business coaching from global experts while developing AI-powered solutions to real-world challenges. The top ventures then advance to a four-month incubation period, where they refine their products, secure market traction, and sharpen their go-to-market strategies. At the end of incubation, startups have an opportunity to pitch for pre-seed investment of up to $100, 000 and join the MEST Portfolio.
As MEST Founder Jorn Lyseggen notes, 'Mastering AI and the advanced AI tools available today is a must for any entrepreneur and further levelling the playing field. The world has never been flatter. We are proud and excited to announce that the next batch of MEST entrepreneurs will be trained by some of the most knowledgeable people in the industry from companies such as OpenAI, Perplexity, Google, and Meltwater.'
For the 2026 intake, the program is open to African founders based in West Africa aged 21 - 30 with software development experience who want to start their own AI startup.
Apply now at https://bit.ly/MESTAI26_APO
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa).
Media Contact:
Ophesmur Naa Adjeley Adjei
Marketing and Communications Manager
ophesmur@meltwater.org
About MEST Africa:
Established in 2008 as the non‑profit arm of Meltwater, the Meltwater Foundation drives job creation and economic growth in Africa through software entrepreneurship. Headquartered in Accra, Ghana, the Foundation's Entrepreneurial Support Organisation—MEST—delivers a full-time, in-person intensive tech‑entrepreneurship training to emerging talent from more than 22 African countries and provides early‑stage investment to promising ventures. To extend this impact, the Foundation launched MESTx, a suite of collaborative programs designed and delivered with like‑minded partners to expand digital‑skills training and startup acceleration across the continent. Since inception, the Meltwater Foundation has trained 2,000+ entrepreneurs and invested in 90+ startups across the continent—fueling innovation, creating jobs, and shaping Africa's next generation of tech entrepreneurs.
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