MEST Africa begins recruiting for 2027 AI Startup Program

Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) has opened applications for its 2027 AI Startup Program. This fully-funded initiative targets promising African AI founders and aims to equip them with the technical, business and leadership skills needed to build globally competitive companies.

The program is structured around a seven-month training phase followed by a four-month incubation period. During the initial training, participants will receive hands-on guidance and business coaching from global experts from organizations such as OpenAI, Perplexity, Google, and Meltwater. We focus on developing practical solutions powered by AI.

Startups entering the incubation phase spend four months honing their product and strengthening their go-to-market strategy. The main objective is to ensure strong traction in the market. At the end of incubation, founders will pitch a pre-seed investment of up to $100,000 (approx. KES 13.1 million) to join the MEST portfolio.

We have already highlighted MEST’s continued commitment to developing the continent’s technology talent during the 2025 Graduate Entrepreneurship Program. The 2027 intake builds on the first AI cohort, which brought together founders from seven African countries. AI Startup Program Director Emily Fiagbedzi says meaningful participation in the global AI economy requires not just access to tools, but the ability to actively build them.

Eligibility rules are specific. The program is aimed at founders based in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal. Applicants must be between the ages of 21 and 35, have experience in software development, and demonstrate a clear intention to launch an AI startup.

The program focuses on growing the infrastructure that supports deep tech ventures on the continent. MEST provides a structured approach that enables founders to ensure a clear path from product idea to securing significant pre-seed funding. Interested candidates can apply through the official MEST portal.