The Meltwater Antrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST), a pioneer in technology entrepreneurial education and accelerated startups across Africa, has officially launched an application for the newly rethinked Mest AI startup program. This initiative takes a bold step to equip African technological talent in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
For over 17 years, Mesto has played a pivotal role in shaping the innovative situation in Africa. As a Pan-Africa training programme, seed funds and incubator, Mest trains hundreds of software entrepreneurs and helps build scalable businesses that address local and global challenges.
As AI is now rebuilding its industry at an unprecedented pace, Mesto has evolved its flagship programme to ensure that African entrepreneurs are not just participants, but leaders in this global transformation. The redesigned Mest AI startup program is tailored to prepare the most promising technical minds on the continent.
Emily Feargbege, director of Mesto AI Startup Program, commented:
Africa has world-class technical talent and reaches users everywhere, from time to time built on a continent. Mest is proud to contribute to this reality through training and incubation programs that equip international experts for the development of globally relevant AI software.
Hosted in Accra, Ghana, the program is a fully funded, immersive experience spanning a four-month incubation phase, spanning seven months of intensive training. During the training period, selected founders will receive practical guidance in AI technology, business development and leadership. It also benefits from global expert guidance while developing AI-powered solutions to real-world problems.
The top-performance venture then proceeds to the incubation phase where it refines its products, verify market fit and prepares it for scale. At the end of the program, the startup will enter the Mest portfolio by pitching pre-seed investments of up to USD 100,000.
Jorn Lyseggen, founder of Mest, commented.
Mastering AI and the advanced tools currently available is essential for entrepreneurs. The world was never flat. We are proud to announce that the next cohort of Mesto entrepreneurs will be trained by some of the industry's most knowledgeable minds from Openai, Prperxity, Google and Meltwater.
The 2026 cohort has been enthusiastically available to AI founders, ages 21-30, based in West Africa and with a background in software development. The program is designed for individuals who have launched their own AI startups and are ready to have a lasting impact on the continent and beyond.
The application opens from here.
