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4 August 2025
Absa partners with the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology to champion innovation through the MEST Africa Challenge 2025
Absa is proud to partner with the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa) for the MEST Africa Challenge 2025, to champion African tech entrepreneurs striving to deliver technology driven solutions for an evolving continent. The MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) is a renowned pan-African programme that nurtures innovation and invests in emerging tech entrepreneurs.
The programme, exclusively sponsored by Absa, will spotlight fintech innovation, reflecting Absa’s commitment to driving digital transformation and inclusive finance across the continent.
"Africa’s future will be shaped by bold ideas, local ingenuity, and scalable innovation. At Absa, we recognise the critical role entrepreneurs play in driving inclusive economic growth. This partnership with MEST reflects our commitment to backing those visionaries and shaping the future of financial services. It complements our digital transformation strategy and reflects our purpose of empowering Africa's tomorrow, together, one story at a time,” said Omar Baig, Managing Executive for Absa Regional Operations (ARO) Retail and Business Banking.
Running from August to November, the challenge opens for applications on 4 August and closes on 26 September. From the pool of submissions, 20 semi-finalists will be shortlisted and then narrowed down to 10 finalists. These finalists will pitch their solutions at the grand finale in November, where a single winning start-up will secure a $50,000 seed equity investment to scale their business.
Established in 2008, MEST Africa has trained over 2,000 entrepreneurs and invested in 94 startups across Africa. The MEST Africa Challenge, now in its seventh year, is a flagship pitch competition that spotlights and accelerates high-potential startups continent-wide. This edition, in collaboration with Absa, aims to support start-ups aligned with key innovation areas identified by the bank.
“The MEST Africa Challenge is where Africa’s boldest ideas find the opportunity to scale,” said Ashwin Ravichandran, Portfolio Advisor and MAC Lead at MEST Africa. “Our partnership with Absa gives these visionary founders the lift they need – connecting them to the capital, expertise, and networks that turn promising startups into sector-defining businesses and drive inclusive growth across the continent.”
The challenge will provide startups with tailored mentorship, access to vital networks and opportunities to pilot their solutions in relevant African markets. This collaboration is not just about funding – it’s about fostering a supportive ecosystem designed to help startups grow and scale sustainably.
“At Absa, we continue to work towards our goal of being a digitally powered business – one that leverages technology to create simpler, faster, and more inclusive financial experiences. This requires more than technology; it calls for strong, strategic partnerships,” says Muhammad Ali Bhikhan, ARO Managing Executive and Chief Information Officer. “Our collaboration with MEST will not only connect us with innovative startups but also enable us to build a strong talent and entrepreneurial pipeline that drives digital innovation and long-term impact across the continent. Together, we can accelerate the adoption of transformative solutions that will better serve our customers throughout Africa,” he concludes.
Eligibility and Application Details
The 2025 MEST Africa Challenge will be eligible to technology and fintech startups in eight of Absa Regional Operations markets. These include Botswana, Uganda, Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia and Ghana. Startups in these countries are encouraged to apply and take advantage of this opportunity to scale their solutions and connect with a broader innovation ecosystem.
Sector focus
The sector focus is on Fintech and other value chains. Solutions may include:
- Smart credit and alternative-lending
- Fraud and trust tech
- Personalised money OS
- Offline-friendly rails
- Next-gen payments and wallets
- Investment gateways
- Agri-tech engines
- Financial literacy re-imagined
- Omnichannel CX and super-apps
- Trade and cross-border boosters
- Product-landing platforms
- Value-add service layers
- Integration orchestrators
- Micro and on-demand insurtech
Eligibility criteria
- Early to growth-stage startups (less than 3 years in operation)
- 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