MEST AI Startup Program 2025 for West Africa Startups

Reach us on

Applications are open for MEST AI Startup Program 2025. The new MEST AI Startup Program is a seven-month intensive experience led by global experts in AI and business. It’s designed to equip Africa’s brightest minds to launch impactful AI-driven software startups.

Top-performing teams will be selected for an additional four-month incubation phase, where they’ll transform bold ideas into viable startups. Following incubation, teams will pitch for pre-seed investment to fuel their growth.

MEST AI Startup Program Benefits

Build and Test Real AI Startups:
- Join a team, validate an AI-driven idea, and build a minimum viable product (MVP) through rapid prototyping, user testing, and continuous iteration. This is an execution-first program that turns ideas into investor-ready ventures.
Learn from Global Experts:
- Work closely with AI practitioners, startup operators, and business leaders from world-class institutions such as OpenAI, Perplexity, Google, Meltwater, and many more. Their experts bring deep technical and entrepreneurial experience to support your journey.
Grow Through Collaboration and Feedback:
- Work with a diverse cohort of aspiring founders from across the continent. Form lasting partnerships, sharpen your thinking through peer feedback, and build resilient startups with global potential.
Incubation and Path towards Investment:
- At the end of the program, select teams enter a 4-month incubation phase to scale, acquire users, and pitch for up to $100,000 in pre-seed investment from the MEST Portfolio.

Eligibility Criteria

Required Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree, diploma, or equivalent experience
Age: 21 – 30
Experience: Must have demonstrated software development experience, a basic understanding of artificial intelligence, and strong interest in entrepreneurship.
Mindset: Entrepreneurial, Innovative, problem-solving, life-long learner, and ready to work in a high-intensity startup environment. Strong desire to be an entrepreneur
Citizen of a country in West Africa.