Cape Town: The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa) has announced the launch of the MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) 2025 in collaboration with Absa, targeting FinTech startups across the continent. This year’s challenge is dedicated to founders who are transforming the ways money is moved, managed, and insured in Africa. Applications are open from 30th July to 26th September 2025, leading to the selection of 20 semi-finalists and 10 grand-finalists. The ultimate winner will receive a US $50,000 equity investment and the chance to collaborate with strategic partners on a large scale.
According to African Press Organization, Ashwin Ravichandran, Portfolio Advisor and MAC Lead at MEST Africa, emphasized the significance of the MEST Africa Challenge as a platform where Africa’s most daring ideas can flourish. Ravichandran highlighted the partnership with Absa as a crucial component in providing startups with access to capital, expertise, and networks essential for transforming promising ventures into industry-leading businesses, thereby promoting inclusive growth across Africa.
MEST Africa, having invested US $30 million in over 90 startups and 2,000 entrepreneurs, is recognized as a leading early-stage tech investor in Africa. The 2025 MAC edition strengthens its impact through the strategic alignment with Absa’s digital-finance objectives.
The MAC 2025 is open to early-stage startups in FinTech and other high-value solutions that operate in at least one of Absa’s priority markets, including Botswana, Uganda, Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia, and Ghana. Eligible companies must be no older than three years, demonstrate a minimum monthly recurring revenue of US $5,000, and have raised no more than US $1 million to date. Each startup should have at least two co-founders, be capable of pitching in English, and Delaware registration is beneficial but not mandatory.
Interested founders can submit their applications, including a three-minute video pitch, through the provided online platform from 31st July 2025. The semi-finals will be conducted virtually in late October, with the top ten teams competing live in Cape Town at the Grand Finale in late November.