The African Tech Startup Competition for $50k in Equity Investment Starts Now!
The 2020 MEST Africa Challenge is expanding its reach from five markets to nine, targeting early-stage companies based in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Sénégal, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.
Participating entrepreneurs will take part in country-wide competitions where they will pitch virtually to a panel of expert judges. Finalists from each country will go on to compete on a global stage in front of entrepreneurs, investors, corporate partners and ecosystem players for the chance to win $50k in equity investment from the MEST, and the opportunity to join the MEST incubator community.
Application Criteria
- Pre-seed or seed-stage (have raised $100k total or less cumulatively since inception)
- Currently generating revenue
- Can demonstrate traction in one or more of the nine MEST Africa Challenge Markets (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda)
- Has been in operations for 2 years or less
- Tech-enabled (software company)
- Industry agnostic
- Any business model (B2B, B2C, B2B2C, B2G etc…)
- *Francophone applicants must pitch in English
Competition Schedule
Applications
Extended to May 13th:
Tech entrepreneurs in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Sénégal, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania were encouraged to apply!
Final PitchAugust 12th, 2020: Finalists from each country will go on to compete on a global stage in front of entrepreneurs, investors, corporate partners and ecosystem players for the chance to win $50k in investment from the MEST, and the opportunity to join the MEST incubator community.
Watch Live Here
Africa’s biggest tech software pitch competition goes virtual due to COVID-19
In light of this uncertain time, this year’s MEST Africa Challenge will be entirely virtual for the first time since its inception three years ago. In order to expand the competition to target even more tech startups in need of funding, the application deadline has been extended to May 13th.
Additionally, each country final will take place in its own week, during which MEST will be curating and creating conversations and resources specific to their particular local contexts.
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