Eligibility criteria Pre-seed or seed-stage (have raised $100k total or less cumulatively since inception) Currently generating revenue Can demonstrate traction in one or more of the five MEST Africa Challenge Markets (Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa) Has been in operation for 2 years or less Tech-enabled (software company) Industry agnostic Any business model (B2B, B2C, B2B2C, B2G etc…) English only pitches *Francophone applicants must pitch in English
Regional final dates Selected companies for this year’s MEST Africa Challenge country finals will be notified by 30th September. Shortlisted companies will pitch on the following dates: 4th October – MAC Ghana (Accra) 6th October – MAC Nigeria (Lagos) 11th October – MAC Kenya (Nairobi) 13th October – MAC South Africa (Cape Town) 14th October – MAC Senegal (Dakar) *All regional pitches will be held virtually
Timeline Application opens 29th July 2022 – 31st August 2022 Shortlisting and review of Applications – Rolling basis All regional Finalists will be communicated by 9th September 2022 Regional Finals will take place from 1st October 2022 to 15th October 2022* Winner of the Regional Finals will be announced on the day of the event Final Demo Day – 1st December 2022 in Accra* Regional Final winners will be flown to Accra at the end of November 2022 for the final pitch competition The winner of MAC will be announced the same day For inquiries, please email us at mac@meltwater.org
FAQ Where will we pitch? The Regional Finals will occur in Accra, Lagos, Dakar, Cape Town and Nairobi. The pitch location for regionals will be shared closer to the date. How long do we have for our pitch? Each pitch will last for 5 minutes with 5 minutes of Q&A. Startups must include a live demo of their product during pitches. When will the winners be announced? Winners will be announced at the end of each competition day. What language should we pitch in? All pitches and Q&A will be made in English. Is the pitch competition physical? Yes. Both the Regional Finals and Final Demo Day will be physical events. Are Regional Finalists expected to be in Accra for the Final Demo Day ? Regional Finalists will be fully sponsored with travel to and from Accra, housing, and transport for the final pitch day on December 1, 2022. Regional finalists should plan to arrive in Accra at the end of November 2022. How long are finalists expected to be in Accra for the Final Demo Day? 3-4 days. Regional Finalists will arrive in Accra 2 days before the competition and will depart on 2nd December 2022. Note: The winner will be expected to stay in Accra for a longer duration, about 5-6 days total. Will MEST organize pitch readiness sessions for applicants? Pitch readiness sessions will only be organized for Regional Finalists preparing for the final Demo Day. Where does my startup need to be located to participate in MAC? You’re eligible to apply if your company is based in one or more of the 5 countries where we will hold the Regional Finals (Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Kenya) What is the Grand Prize? $50,000 in equity investment, access to MEST Portfolio resources and strategic partnerships, 1-year professional business coaching in addition to other benefits and prizes for the main winner and Regional Finalists. What kind of business will qualify? A pre-seed or seed stage tech-enabled or software company that is currently generating income and has been in operation for 2 years or under. The company must be able to demonstrate traction in at least one of the 5 MAC countries (Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Kenya).
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