Founded in 2008, MEST is an entrepreneurial training school established by Jørn Lyseggen, a Norwegian social entrepreneur and founder of online media-monitoring company Meltwater, through the Meltwater Foundation. Each year, aspiring entrepreneurs with a strong interest in technology apply for sixty spots in the year-long, fully sponsored, graduate-level program, which takes place at the organization’s headquarters in Accra. MEST provides students with training in critical skills, software development and communication. “They are a group of the continent’s most promising entrepreneurs, having representation from nineteen countries and counting,” says Veronica Mulhall, MEST’s head of marketing.

During the program, students are encouraged to form their own startups. Graduates who successfully pitch to a board of experienced investors receive between $50,000–$250,000 in funding to help them launch and scale their companies. In addition to funding, they receive up to two years of incubation at one of the MEST’s four hubs (in Accra, Cape Town, Lagos and Nairobi) as well as access to its Africa-wide tech community. “MEST hubs serve as ecosystem centers and provide more than sixty active portfolio companies with incubation including on-the-ground support, mentorship and networking across the entire startup lifecycle,” Veronica says.

MEST was built on the idea that talent is everywhere but opportunity is not. With this in mind, the initiative trains, mentors and funds the next generation of world-class software entrepreneurs from Africa, supporting startups from ideation to seed stage. So far, it has invested over $24 million into more than sixty companies solving global and local problems. This includes Ghanaian real estate portal MeQasa, advertising and marketing company Kudobuzz, Nigerian fintech Amplify and field-management startup Jumeni. “We invite you to join us in building the next generation of world-class software entrepreneurs from Africa,” says Veronica.

Be passionate.
You need to show you have a deep passion to start a software company.

Have some experience under your belt.
We want to see you have undertaken entrepreneurial or corporate work experience.

Express yourself.
We like our students to have strong social and communication skills, as well as an energetic, positive attitude.

Show commitment.
You must be able to commit to a year in Accra to participate in the full-time training program.

Subscribe to the newsletter at meltwater.org to find out when the next application window opens.

Main photo by