Apply: MEST Africa 2024 Cohort
MEST, the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology, has opened applications for the 2024 cohort of the MEST training programme, a 12-month initiative based in Accra that aims to provide young people from across Africa with commercial skills in technology and entrepreneurship.
The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) is a seed fund, incubator, and training program for African technology entrepreneurs based in Accra, Ghana.
“I came to MEST because I knew that tech is exactly where I want to be,” Abena Konadu Gyamfi-Afrifa, class of 2023, explains. “MEST provided the foundation I needed to face my fears and improve myself. From design thinking to my first foray into Figma, I’ve enjoyed the journey so far and can’t wait to see what’s next.”
The MEST training program is a 12-month full-time, fully sponsored program. Complete a graduate-level course in software development, business, or communications, with an emphasis on practical application.
The fully funded program, which also focuses on aspiring entrepreneurs building, growing, and scaling successful tech businesses in Africa, provides high-potential start-ups with up to $100,000 in seed funding and business incubation.
MEST application process
- Visit the application portal and create an account
- Complete all pre-learning courses
- Take the aptitude test
- Fill out and submit the MEST Training Program application form
- Successful applicants go through the Interview stages
- Successful applicants receive an offer from MEST Africa
“Class of 2024 learning sessions are scheduled to begin in late August 2023. “MEST will also provide a language and cultural immersion program in early August before the start of the programme for successful non-English speaking applicants,” says Emily Fiagbedzi, director of training at MEST Africa.
MEST has produced some of the continent’s most rapidly growing startups in a variety of industries. MEST’s previous cohorts and graduating startups include MeQasa, Ghana’s largest real estate platform; CodeLn, one of Africa’s fastest-growing platforms for hiring software developers; Complete Farmer, Africa’s leading agritech company; and Kudobuzz, a SaaS company that builds tools to help eCommerce merchants build trust and traction.
Since its inception in 2008 as a fully funded program by the Meltwater Foundation, the program has trained over 800 young African tech entrepreneurs, provided seed funding to and supported over 80 startups, and created thousands of jobs for their graduates across the continent.
The deadline for applications is February 26, 2022.
