The new MEST AI Startup Program is a seven-month intensive experience led by global experts in AI and business
About MEST AI Startup Program
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Opportunity Details
- Date Published: July 05, 2025
- Application Deadline: August 31, 2025
- Category: Entrepreneurs
- Oppotunity Locations: Ghana
- Eligible Locations: Africa
Since 2008, MEST’s Training Program has been at the forefront of nurturing Africa’s tech talent in software entrepreneurship. As Artificial Intelligence reshapes industries, economies, and the future of work, we believe Africa should be at the forefront. That’s why we’ve redesigned our program for 2026 and beyond with a sharp focus on AI.
The new MEST AI Startup Program is a seven-month intensive experience led by global experts in AI and business. It’s designed to equip Africa’s brightest minds to launch impactful AI-driven software startups. Top-performing teams will be selected for an additional four-month incubation phase, where they’ll transform bold ideas into viable startups.Following incubation, teams will pitch for pre-seed investment to fuel their growth.
This 7-month, activity-based intensive training is designed for Africans with software development experience and entrepreneurial interest to explore and refine AI business ideas in teams. Participants test their ideas and build their startups in real-time while learning from world-class experts.
The curriculum is highly interactive, blending hands-on AI development, deep startup fundamentals, leadership training, and extensive customer engagement. Participants are encouraged to test out different ideas and potential teammates in the first two months. Final teams (2 – 4 members) and chosen AI solutions will be solidified by Month 3, ensuring each group works on a globally competitive AI product.
By the end of the program, participants will have:
- Finalized their teams and validated an AI-driven business idea
- Developed an MVP with global market potential
- Built a robust business model using lean startup methodologies
- Learned sustainable leadership, wellness, and team management practices
- 5. Prepared to pitch for entry into the incubation phase of the AI Startup Program
Key Elements of the AI Startup Program Experience:
- Global AI Expert Exposure
- Engage directly with renowned AI practitioners, entrepreneurs and experts in their fields from around the globe.
- Robust AI Business Building
- Develop a market-ready AI startup
- Expand your technical skills and business acumen
- Sponsor Organisation: Mest
Benefits of MEST AI Startup Program
Build and Test Real AI Startups
- Join a team, validate an AI-driven idea, and build a minimum viable product (MVP) through rapid prototyping, user testing, and continuous iteration. This is an execution-first program that turns ideas into investor-ready ventures.
Grow Through Collaboration and Feedback
- Work with a diverse cohort of aspiring founders from across the continent. Form lasting partnerships, sharpen your thinking through peer feedback, and build resilient startups with global potential.
Learn from Global Experts
- Work closely with AI practitioners, startup operators, and business leaders from world-class institutions such as OpenAI, Perplexity, Google, Meltwater, and many more. Our experts bring deep technical and entrepreneurial experience to support your journey.
Incubation and Path towards Investment
- At the end of the program, select teams enter a 4-month incubation phase to scale, acquire users, and pitch for up to $100,000 in pre-seed investment from the MEST Portfolio.
MEST AI Startup Program Requirements
- Education: Bachelor’s degree, diploma, or equivalent experience
- Age: 21 – 30
- Experience: Must have demonstrated software development experience, a basic understanding of artificial intelligence, and strong interest in entrepreneurship.
- Mindset: Entrepreneurial, Innovative, problem-solving, life-long learner, and ready to work in a high-intensity startup environment. Strong desire to be an entrepreneur
- Citizen of a country in West Africa
Availability: Fully committed for up to 12 months (the 7-month training + 4-month incubation) plus a desire to pursue entrepreneurship full-time afterward.
Preferred Skills:
- Strong ability to work in cross-functional and cross-cultural teams
- Experience in AI innovation
- Interest in global market expansion
- Previous entrepreneurial experience
Application Date and Process
Apply Here
Application Deadline
31 August, 2025
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