MEST Africa Challenge 7th Edition (FinTech focus)
Annual Pan-African pitch competition by MEST Africa & Absa. Grand prize USD 50,000 in equity funding for the winning startup. Focused on FinTech, InsurTech, and SaaS.
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About this Program
The MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) is a flagship Pan-African pitch competition by Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST). The 7th edition (2025) focused on FinTech, InsurTech, and SaaS, in partnership with Absa Group. Winning startup receives USD 50,000 in equity funding, entry into the MEST Portfolio (mentorship + business development + investor connections), and pilot opportunities with Absa's business units. Thematic focus areas: Smart Credit & Alt-Lending, Fraud & Trust Tech, Next-Gen Payments & Wallets, AgriTech Engines linking agriculture to finance.
Benefits & What You Get
Grand prize USD 50,000 in equity funding, entry into MEST Portfolio with mentorship and investor connections, pilot opportunities with Absa business units, Pan-African network access.
Eligibility
Tech startup with at least 2 co-founders/founding members. Must align with FinTech, InsurTech, or SaaS-related solutions. Ability to pitch fluently in English. Delaware C-Corp or neutral jurisdiction registration preferred but not mandatory.
Equity Terms
Equity-based investment terms
Source: MEST Africa & Absa