Deadline: September 26, 2025
The MEST Africa Challenge 2025 is officially open, inviting early-stage African fintech startups to compete for a chance to win US $50,000 in equity investment and access to strategic partnerships, mentorship, and commercial opportunities. Organised by MEST Africa in partnership with Absa Bank, this year’s competition focuses exclusively on fintech and related value-chain innovations.
Whether you’re building smart credit solutions, next-gen wallets, agri-fintech tools, or trust tech systems, this could be your shot to scale with industry-leading support.
What Is the MEST Africa Challenge 2025?
The MEST Africa Challenge 2025 (MAC 2025) is an early-stage pitch competition designed to support tech entrepreneurs across the African continent. In this edition, MEST Africa has partnered with Absa Bank to spotlight fintech solutions transforming financial services, access, and inclusion.
Startups from select African countries will compete through multiple rounds — from virtual semi-finals to an in-person Grand Finale in Cape Town — for a prize that could change their business trajectory.
What’s at Stake?
- 💰 US $50,000 in equity investment
- 🌍 Entry into the prestigious MEST Africa Portfolio
- 🤝 Commercial pilot opportunities with Absa Bank
- 📈 Exposure to investors, partners, and a continental innovation ecosystem
Key Dates to Remember
| 📅 Milestone | 🕓 Date |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | 26 September 2025 |
| Top 20 Semi-finalists Announced | 10 October 2025 |
| Virtual Semi-finals | Week of 27 October 2025 |
| In-person Grand Finale (Cape Town) | Week of 24 November 2025 |
Who Can Apply?
To qualify for the MEST Africa Challenge 2025, your startup must meet the following criteria:
- 💼 Early-stage tech startup in the fintech space
- 📊 Minimum $5,000 monthly recurring revenue for at least 6 months
- 👫 At least 2 co-founders
- 💸 Less than $1M raised in total funding
- 🌐 Able to pitch in English
- 🏢 Preferably registered in a neutral jurisdiction (like Delaware), though not mandatory
- 🌍 Must operate in one of Absa’s priority markets:
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Zambia
- Uganda
- Mozambique
- Mauritius
- Seychelles
- Botswana
Sector Focus: Fintech and Beyond
This year’s focus on fintech is wide-ranging. Startups working in or across the following value chains are especially encouraged to apply:
- Smart Credit & Lending
- Embedded & Trust Tech
- Next-Gen Wallets & Micro-Insurtech
- Payments Infrastructure
- Financial Literacy Tools
- Agri-Fintech
- Climate Fintech
- ESG & Impact Reporting
- API-as-a-Service platforms
How It Compares: MEST Africa Challenge 2024 vs 2025
Last year’s MAC 2024 focused on AgriTech innovations and awarded SAYeTECH — a Ghana-based agritech machinery company — the grand prize. In contrast, MAC 2025 is laser-focused on Fintech with a stronger commercial integration through its Absa partnership.
| Edition | Sector Focus | Regional Focus | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | AgriTech | West Africa (14 countries) | SAYeTECH (Ghana) |
| 2025 | Fintech & Value Chains | Absa priority markets (8 countries) | To be announced (Nov 2025) |
Why You Should Apply
Participating in the MEST Africa Challenge 2025 not only gives your startup a chance to secure funding but also provides strategic exposure to global investors and corporate partners. MEST’s proven support network and Absa’s commercial pipeline access make this a compelling opportunity for fintech founders ready to scale.
Ready to Compete?
Take the leap into the MEST Africa Challenge 2025. Whether you’re innovating in digital finance, API integrations, or embedded banking, this is your moment.
👉 Click here to apply now
👉 Read more about the programme here
Need help preparing your application?
Contact grantsdatabase.org for proposal drafting, refinement, and review.
