Applications call for MEST Africa Challenge 2020 for Tech Startups. Basically, it is a startup tech competition to startups from Abidjan, Accra, Addis, Kigali, Dakar, Dar Es Salaam, Lagos, Nairobi, and Johannesburg. Furthermore, the MEST Africa Challenge is the African tech startup pitch competition for early-stage companies based in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda, Senegal, Ethiopia or Tanzania.

Prizes 

Winners of each country’s semi-final competition will compete in the Challenge finals at the MEST Africa Summit 2020. Furthermore, finalists will 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 Meltwater Foundation, and the opportunity to join the MEST Africa incubator community.

MEST Africa Summit

Moreover, the 2020 MEST Africa Summit aims to connect and explore the perspectives of founders, investors, and enablers including hubs and accelerators, public sector actors and global corporates; to answer the question of how we can all work together to support our mutual interest; growing the African startup ecosystem.

Eligibilities 

In order to be eligible for MEST Africa Challenge 2020, the tech start must be

• Pre-seed or seed-stage (have raised $100k total or less cumulatively since inception).
• Currently generating revenue.
• Able to demonstrate traction in one or more of the nine MAC 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) as well as Industry agnostic.
• Furthermore, any business model (B2B, B2C, B2B2C, B2G etc…).
• However, francophone applicants must pitch in English.

Important Dates

Applications for this year’s Challenge are open from March 16 to April 18, 2020, and the top 10 startups will pitch at MEST Incubator locations or local partners offices on the following dates (exact dates subject to change if the Challenge moves to online)

• Lagos, Nigeria: Friday, May 1st
• Johannesburg, South Africa: Monday, May 4th
• Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Friday, May 8th
• Accra, Ghana: Monday, May 11th
• Nairobi, Kenya: Monday, May 11th
• Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire: Tuesday, May 12th
• Kigali, Rwanda: Thursday, May 14th
• Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Monday, May 18th
• Dakar, Senegal: Friday, May 22nd