Since 2008, MEST’s Training Program has been at the forefront of nurturing Africa’s tech talent in software entrepreneurship. As Artificial Intelligence reshapes industries, economies, and the future of work, we believe Africa should be at the forefront and in 2026, we acted on that belief. We redesigned our program with a sharp focus on AI, launching the first cohort of the MEST AI Startup Program to equip Africa’s brightest minds to build and scale globally competitive AI startups.
Now in its second year, the program is open and applications are live. If you have the drive to build, the curiosity to learn, and the ambition to compete on a global stage, this is your opportunity. Over 7 months, you will form a team, validate a real AI business idea, build and deploy an MVP, and learn directly from world-class practitioners at Google, Meta, OpenAI, and beyond. The most promising ventures go further, entering a four-month incubation phase focused on scaling, acquiring real customers, and pitching for pre-seed investment.
This is how MEST turns ambitious individuals into founding teams, and promising ideas into ventures that compete on a global stage. Are you ready to be next?
