36 Startups Join MEST Africa Challenge

The 2022 MEST Africa Challenge shortlist includes 36 firms from throughout the continent, and the winner will receive US$50,000 in equity capital.

MEST is a pan-African software and entrepreneurship training program, seed fund, and incubator that supports the establishment of technology firms all over the continent. It was established in Ghana in 2008 by serial entrepreneur Jorn Lyseggen.

So far, it has invested in more than 80 firms and trained tens of thousands of entrepreneurs from all over the continent. Pre-seed to seed-stage technology businesses are eligible for the MEST Africa Challenge in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, and South Africa, where regional contests will be conducted in October.

The challenge has now chosen 36 eligible technology businesses from those five nations for the regional pitch competition round. Two finalists will then be chosen from each nation to compete in the final in Accra for the top prize of US$50,000 in equity.

With Zeda Brothers, Mytherapist, Angel’s Radar, Fostaco, Bridge Merchant Enterprise, AWI Agricultural Venture, Sanwo Technologies, Royalti Digital, Niteon, MyFoodAngels, Goods and Services 360, and Sproutly, Nigeria accounted for the largest portion of the chosen companies.

Digistore, Wala Digital Health, Swoove, AppCycling, Utopia Technologies, and GAPhealth are among the chosen Ghanaian firms. Synatech, Nutritech, Afriagrimark, Mobi-Remit, EasyHouse Africa, mSwali, and Hisa are the Kenyan companies.

KaCyber Technologies, Kweli SAS, Insuris, Sodishop, Proxalys, and Dots for Inc. are the finalist companies from Senegal. Zimi Charge, Dove Air, Thumel Technologies, and Desert Green Africa Agri Investments are the enterprises from South Africa.

“Even though we haven’t reached the finals, the MEST Africa Challenge has been a thrilling experience. The entire process of choosing our top 36 businesses to go to regional finals, from planning to launching the real competition, and sorting through hundreds of applications, has been an exhilarating learning curve. Comparing this year’s competition to last year’s fully virtual one, Melissa Nsiah, director of portfolio at MEST Africa, said, “I am impressed by the planning team’s creative approach in fusing both virtual and in-person pitch styles to widen our audience and deliver the best overall experience for our partners and contestants alike.”