Applications are currently being accepted for The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) AI Startup Program 2027 for Young African Entrepreneurs. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About MEST AI Startup Program for Young African Entrepreneurs
The fully-funded 12-month program is designed for ambitious founders across West and East Africa ready to build with those shaping what’s next. Over 7 months, you will form a team, validate a real AI business idea, build and deploy an MVP, and learn directly from world-class practitioners at Google, Meta, OpenAI, and beyond. The most promising ventures go further, entering a four-month incubation phase focused on scaling, acquiring real customers, and pitching for pre-seed investment.
Benefits of MEST AI Startup Program for Young African Entrepreneurs
- The MEST AI Startup Program is fully-sponsored and requires no financial payments to MEST.
- This is a full-time residential program that requires you to commit to full participation for a minimum of 7 months of training and, if selected, an additional 4 months of incubation.
MEST AI Startup Program for Young African Entrepreneurs Requirements
- Education: Bachelor’s degree, diploma, or equivalent experience
- Age: 21-35
- Experience: Demonstrated software development experience, basic understanding of AI, strong interest in entrepreneurship
- Mindset: Entrepreneurial, innovative, problem-solving, lifelong learner, ready for high-intensity startup environment
- Citizenship: West or East African citizen. (Note: Nationals outside of our core recruitment countries of Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Kenya must be able, at their own cost, to travel to one of the core countries for in-person interviews, if shortlisted.)
- Availability: Fully committed for up to 12 months (7-month training + 4-month incubation) plus desire to pursue entrepreneurship full-time afterward
Application Date and Process
- Click on the link to the application website to apply.
Application Deadline
20 July, 2026
Opportunity Application
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MEST AI Startup Program for Young African Entrepreneurs
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