Join a growing community of innovative African founders and take your startup to the next level.
The MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) 2025 is led by MEST Africa and powered by Absa. MAC, is a leading Pan-African pitch competition designed for early-stage technology startups ready to scale through access to equity funding, strategic networks, and global visibility.
Finalists pitch live to an audience of top investors, corporates, and ecosystem leaders, with standout benefits including the chance to win $50,000 in equity, gain entry into the prestigious MEST Portfolio, pilot commercial solutions with Absa business units, and unlock exclusive partner prizes.
Competition timelines
- Applications open 4 August 2025
- Applications close 26 September 2025
- Top 20 participants announced on 10 October 2025
- Virtual semi-finals in the week of 27 October 2025
- In-person finals in Cape Town, South Africa in the week of 24 November 2025
Sector focus
The sector focus is on Fintech and other value chains. Solutions may include:
- Smart credit and alternative-lending
- Fraud and trust tech
- Personalised money OS
- Offline-friendly rails
- Next-gen payments and wallets
- Investment gateways
- Agri-tech engines
- Financial literacy re-imagined
- Omnichannel CX and super-apps
- Trade and cross-border boosters
- Product-landing platforms
- Value-add service layers
- Integration orchestrators
- Micro and on-demand insurtech
Eligibility criteria
- Early to growth-stage startups (less than 3 years in operation)
- Monthly recurring revenue (MRR) of at least US $5,000 with at least 6 months of recurring revenue
- Cumulative funding raised must be US $1 million or less
- Must be operating in at least one of the following key markets:
-Botswana
-Uganda
-Mauritius
-Seychelles
-Kenya
-Mozambique
-Zambia
-Ghana - Minimum of two co-founders or founding team members
- Must be able to pitch in English
- Registered as a Delaware C-corp or in a neutral jurisdiction
