MEST Africa Challenge (Pan-African pitch competition) 2025 for early-stage technology startups ($50,000 in equity)

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Applications are now open for the 2025 MEST Africa Challenge. The MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) is a leading Pan-African pitch competition designed for early-stage technology startups ready to scale. The MEST Africa Challenge 2025 is led by MEST Africa and powered by Absa. MAC offers a powerful platform to access equity funding, build strategic networks, and gain global visibility.

Finalists pitch live to an audience of top investors, corporates, and ecosystem leaders, with standout benefits including the chance to win $50,000 in equity, gain entry into the prestigious MEST Portfolio, pilot commercial solutions with Absa business units, and unlock exclusive partner prizes. The MEST Africa Challenge 2025 is led by MEST Africa and powered by Absa.

Eligibility criteria
Sector Focus:
Fintech and other value chains
Solutions may include:
Smart Credit & Alt-Lending
Fraud & Trust Tech
Personalised Money OS
Offline-Friendly Rails
Next-Gen Payments & Wallets
Investment Gateways
Agri-Tech Engines
Financial Literacy Re-imagined
Omnichannel CX & Super-Apps
Trade & Cross-Border Boosters
Product-Landing Platforms
Value-Add Service Layers
Integration Orchestrators
Micro & On-Demand Insurtech
Early- to growth-stage startups, in operations for less than 3 years
Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) of at least US $5,000 with at least 6 months of recurring revenue
Cumulative funding raised must be US $1 million or less
Must be operating in at least one of the following key markets: Botswana, Uganda, Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia, Ghana
Minimum of two co-founders or founding team members
Must be able to pitch in English
Registered as a Delaware C-corp or in a neutral jurisdiction (preferred, not mandatory)

Benefits

$50,000 in equity investment, access to MEST Portfolio resources and prizes from this year’s partners
Finalists will be fully sponsored with travel to and from Cape Town including, housing, and transport for the final pitch day in November 2025.

Application Timeline:


Applications open: 4 August 2025
Applications close: 26 September 2025
Top 20 participants announced: 10 October 2025
Virtual semi-finals: Week of 27 October 2025
In-person finals in Cape Town, South Africa: Week of 24 November 2025



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