The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST), a pioneer in tech entrepreneurship education and startup acceleration across Africa, has officially opened applications for its newly reimagined MEST AI Startup Programme. This initiative marks a bold step forward in equipping African tech talent to lead in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
For over 17 years, MEST has played a pivotal role in shaping Africa’s innovation landscape. As a pan-African training program, seed fund, and incubator, MEST has nurtured hundreds of software entrepreneurs, helping them build scalable businesses that address local and global challenges.
Now, with AI reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace, MEST is evolving its flagship programme to ensure African entrepreneurs are not just participants but leaders in this global transformation. The redesigned MEST AI Startup Programme is tailored to prepare the continent’s most promising tech minds to build, launch, and scale AI-driven ventures with global relevance.
Emily Fiagbedzi, Director of the MEST AI Startup Programme, commented:
Africa has world-class tech talent, and it’s time AI solutions built on the continent reach users everywhere. MEST is proud to contribute to this reality through our training and incubation programme that equips talent from across Africa with mentoring from international experts for the development of globally relevant AI software.
Hosted in Accra, Ghana, the programme is a fully-funded, immersive experience that spans seven months of intensive training followed by a four-month incubation phase. During the training period, selected founders receive hands-on instruction in AI technologies, business development, and leadership. They also benefit from mentorship by global experts while developing AI-powered solutions to real-world problems.
The top-performing ventures then progress to the incubation stage, where they refine their products, validate market fit, and prepare for scale. At the end of the programme, startups will pitch for pre-seed investment of up to US$100,000 and gain entry into the MEST portfolio.
Jorn Lyseggen, Founder of MEST, commented:
Mastering AI and the advanced tools available today is essential for any entrepreneur. The world has never been flatter. We’re proud to announce that the next cohort of MEST entrepreneurs will be trained by some of the most knowledgeable minds in the industry—from OpenAI, Perplexity, Google, and Meltwater.
For the 2026 cohort, applications are now open to aspiring AI founders aged 21–30 who are based in West Africa and have a background in software development. The programme is designed for individuals who are ready to launch their own AI startups and make a lasting impact on the continent and beyond.
Applications are open here.
