Pan-African technology entrepreneur training program, Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa), in partnership with the Norwegian Embassy, has announced the 6th edition of its MEST Africa Challenge (MAC 2024), designed to spotlight and support promising AgriTech startups.

This year’s challenge focuses specifically on AgriTech startups in key West African markets, aiming to discover and support those tackling some of the region’s most pressing agricultural challenges.

As per MEST’s press release, many entrepreneurs in the AgriTech space struggle to secure the resources and networks needed to bring their innovative ideas to life. MAC 2024 is stepping in to bridge that gap, offering startups a unique opportunity to “Find Their Soil” – a nurturing environment where their vision can truly flourish.

Moreover, this incubator program is expected to support this ecosystem by providing the necessary resources, visibility, and strategic support for these entrepreneurs to thrive.

The MEST Africa Challenge 2024 is open to high-calibre talents in West African markets, including Benin, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Togo. 

Winners from previous years include Koa Academy from South Africa (2023) and Kwely, a startup from Senegal (2022).

The winning startups will receive USD 50 K in equity funding, access to MEST’s extensive global network, and valuable partnerships, mentorship, and investment opportunities to accelerate their growth and global presence.

MEST Africa, a non-profit arm of Meltwater, has a track record of supporting early-stage tech startups across various sectors, including AgriTech, FinTech, SaaS, eCommerce, Digital Media, and Healthcare. With a portfolio of 90 startups and over USD 30 M invested in training over 2000 entrepreneurs, MEST Africa is well positioned to provide the necessary resources and guidance for the AgriTech startups to succeed.

Eligibility for application includes:

• Early-stage technology startup
• Minimum monthly recurring revenue: USD 5 K
• Funding raised: USD 0 to USD 1 M cumulative
• Up to 3 years old
• At least 6 months of recurring revenue
• Minimum 2 founding team members
• Registration in Delaware preferred (not mandatory)
• Open to any industry and business model (B2B, B2C, etc.)
• English language pitch required

Eligible agritech startups can apply here.