MEST AI Startup Program Class of 2026 (Funded) – YOA

Deadline: August 22, 2025

Applications are open for the MEST AI Startup Program Class of 2026. The MEST AI Startup Program is an as much as 12-month immersive expertise designed to equip Africa’s most promising AI entrepreneurs with the technical, enterprise, and management abilities wanted to construct and scale globally aggressive AI startups.

The program is structured in two phases. The first section is a seven-month coaching program for all chosen contributors. This coaching is adopted by a commencement ceremony and transition interval. Select startups will transfer into an extra 4-month incubation interval.

Program Details

The seven-month coaching program (January – July 2026) is a palms-on, exercise-based mostly expertise the place contributors discover and refine AI enterprise concepts, develop and deploy an AI MVP, and achieve deep experience in AI software program growth and enterprise fundamentals. They interact straight with famend AI practitioners, entrepreneurs and consultants of their fields from across the globe, whereas making use of lean startup rules, enterprise modeling, and go-to-market methods. The coaching culminates in a pitch OPPORTUNITY, the place excessive-potential groups are chosen to proceed into the incubation section.

The 4-month incubation program (September – December 2026) is designed for probably the most promising AI startups from the coaching section. This stage focuses on scaling AI merchandise, securing clients, and getting ready for funding. Startups refine their enterprise fashions with actual market validation whereas working intently with mentors, traders, and trade leaders to develop funding methods. By the tip of this system, startups can have a completely deployable AI product, a longtime person base, and a roadmap for securing funding and rising their enterprise.

This structured method ensures that contributors obtain world-class mentorship, develop tangible AI options, and achieve a transparent pathway towards funding and market success.

Benefits

• The MEST AI Startup Program is absolutely-sponsored and requires no monetary funds to MEST. This is a full-time residential program that requires you to decide to full participation for a minimal of 7 months of coaching and, if chosen, an extra 4 months of incubation.

Eligibility

• Applicants should have a Bachelor’s diploma, diploma, or equal expertise;
• Be 21 – 30 years; 
• Must have demonstrated software program growth expertise, a fundamental understanding of synthetic intelligence, and robust curiosity in entrepreneurship. 
• Entrepreneurial, Innovative, downside-fixing, life-lengthy learner, and able to work in a excessive-depth startup surroundings. Strong want to be an entrepreneur.
• Be a Citizen of a rustic in West Africa 
• Fully dedicated for as much as 12 months (the 7-month coaching + 4-month incubation) plus a want to pursue entrepreneurship full-time afterward.

Preferred Skills:

• Strong capability to work in cross-useful and cross-cultural groups 
• Experience in AI innovation
• Interest in world market growth
• Previous entrepreneurial expertise

Application

• Applications open July 2, 2025 and shut August 22, 2025. Applications will probably be reviewed on a rolling foundation, so we encourage you to apply early to quick-observe your assessment course of.
• All candidates will probably be knowledgeable by September 10, 2025 if they’ve been invited to the ultimate in-individual group problem and particular person interviews to be held on the finish of September by early October. Contracts will probably be despatched to accepted candidates in mid-October 2025.
• Training begins for the AI Startup Program in January 2026.

Click here to apply

For extra data, go to MEST AI Startup Program.