The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) has announced the launch of its newly evolved AI Startup Programme, a fully-funded, immersive accelerator designed to empower a new wave of African tech founders building artificial intelligence solutions for global markets.
Targeted at young software developers across West Africa, the programme promises seven months of rigorous training followed by a four-month incubation period, culminating in the opportunity to pitch for up to $100,000 in pre-seed funding and entry into the MEST portfolio.
“Africa has world-class tech talent, and it’s time AI solutions built on the continent reach users everywhere,” said Emily Fiagbedzi, Director of the MEST AI Startup Programme.
“Through our training and incubation, we equip talent from across Africa with the tools, knowledge, and networks to build globally relevant AI software.”
The 2026 cohort will be hosted in Accra, Ghana, with applications now open to aspiring West African AI startup founders aged 21–30. Applications are open here with a detailed step-by-step application guidelines, timeline and requirements.
About MEST
Founded in 2008, the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) is a pan-African training programme, seed fund, and incubator that has supported hundreds of early-stage startups and tech entrepreneurs across Africa.
Headquartered in Accra, Ghana, MEST is backed by the Meltwater Foundation and has earned a reputation for producing high-impact founders and ventures contributing to the continent’s innovation economy.
Building Africa’s Future with Global Tech Leaders
The revamped programme comes at a time when artificial intelligence is reshaping economies, industries, and societies at an unprecedented pace.
With training and mentoring support from professionals at OpenAI, Perplexity, Google, and Meltwater, the initiative aims to place African entrepreneurs at the forefront of this transformation.
“Mastering AI and the advanced tools available today is a must for any entrepreneur. The world has never been flatter,” Jorn Lyseggen, Founder of MEST.
“We’re proud to announce that the next batch of MEST entrepreneurs will be trained by some of the most knowledgeable people in the industry,” Lyseggen added.
Founders selected for the programme will receive hands-on technical mentorship, business coaching, and leadership development while building AI-driven solutions to real-world problems.
During the incubation phase, they will refine their products, gain market traction, and sharpen their go-to-market strategies, all within a support structure tailored for scaling globally.
Strategic Reinvention in Response to AI’s Global Disruption
For over 17 years, MEST has been instrumental in shaping Africa’s tech landscape through entrepreneurship training and seed-stage support.
However, experts hold the view that its newly evolved programme marks a deliberate reinvention, placing artificial intelligence at the core of its curriculum. This move mirrors a global realization: AI is not merely a tech trend but the foundation of the next industrial revolution.
By focusing on AI-specific training, product development, and market entry strategies, MEST is positioning African entrepreneurs to contribute meaningfully to the global AI ecosystem, not just as consumers of foreign technology, but as creators of solutions rooted in local realities with global appeal.
Global Standards, Local Talent
This programme brings a compelling fusion of local talent development and global mentorship. With partnerships drawing from companies like OpenAI, Perplexity, Google, and Meltwater, participants gain exposure to cutting-edge AI tools and best practices from world-leading experts.
This exposure is crucial: as many African startups grapple with underfunding and limited technical infrastructure, bridging the knowledge and skills gap can make or break their viability in competitive AI markets.
“This pivot toward AI is not just timely; it’s a sign that African tech is aiming not just for inclusion, but leadership in the global AI race.” an AI expert.
The MEST model ensures that African founders aren’t just building startups, they’re building AI-first, globally scalable ventures.
Structured to Deliver Impact
The programme’s two-phase structure, a seven-month intensive training phase followed by a four-month incubation stage, offers a strong balance between learning, development, and execution.
The inclusion of pre-seed funding of up to $100,000 gives tangible traction to promising ideas, often a major barrier in early-stage African AI innovation.
Moreover, the programme’s immersive design, hosted in Accra, reinforces Ghana’s growing reputation as an innovation hub in West Africa, while also encouraging regional inclusivity as it targets talent across the sub-region.
Democratizing Access to AI
Perhaps the most significant takeaway is MEST’s vision to “flatten the playing field” in the global tech ecosystem.
With Africa still underrepresented in global AI outputs, the programme’s emphasis on mastery of advanced tools levels access and influence, giving room for new voices, languages, and use cases that are often ignored by Western-centric systems.
Talking Point
MEST’s AI Startup Programme is more than just an accelerator, it’s a blueprint for future-proofing African innovation.
At a time when the continent is yearning for tailored AI solutions in health, agriculture, finance, governance, and education, this initiative doesn’t just nurture founders, it doctors AI builders with a purpose.
With the right support and visibility, the startups emerging from this programme could become Africa’s leading AI exports, showcasing that the continent is not just catching up but carving out its own space in the next technological frontier.
