MEST Africa Challenge (Pan-African pitch competition) 2025 for early-stage technology startups ($50,000 in equity) – Opportunities For Africans

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Application Deadline: September 26, 2025

Applications at the moment are open for the 2025 MEST Africa Challenge. The MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) is a number one Pan-African pitch competitors designed for early-stage technology startups able to scale. The MEST Africa Challenge 2025 is led by MEST Africa and powered by Absa. MAC presents a strong platform to entry fairness funding, construct strategic networks, and acquire world visibility.

Finalists pitch stay to an viewers of high traders, corporates, and ecosystem leaders, with standout advantages together with the possibility to win $50,000 in fairness, acquire entry into the distinguished MEST Portfolio, pilot industrial options with Absa enterprise items, and unlock unique accomplice prizes. The MEST Africa Challenge 2025 is led by MEST Africa and powered by Absa.

Eligibility standards

• Sector Focus:
  • Fintech and different worth chains
• Solutions could embody:
  • Smart Credit & Alt-Lending
  • Fraud & Trust Tech
  • Personalised Money OS
  • Offline-Friendly Rails
  • Next-Gen Payments & Wallets
  • Investment Gateways
  • Agri-Tech Engines
  • Financial Literacy Re-imagined
  • Omnichannel CX & Super-Apps
  • Trade & Cross-Border Boosters
  • Product-Landing Platforms
  • Value-Add Service Layers
  • Integration Orchestrators
  • Micro & On-Demand Insurtech
• Early- to growth-stage startups, in operations for lower than 3 years
• Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) of not less than US $5,000 with not less than 6 months of recurring income
• Cumulative funding raised have to be US $1 million or much less
• Must be working in not less than one of many following key markets: Botswana, Uganda, Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia, Ghana
• Minimum of two co-founders or founding workforce members
• Must be capable to pitch in English
• Registered as a Delaware C-corp or in a impartial jurisdiction (most popular, not necessary)

Benefits

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

Application Timeline:

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

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the MEST Africa Challenge