Final hours alert! The MEST AI Startup Competition Class of 2026 has just opened its application portal, offering a life-changing, fully funded opportunity for West African tech entrepreneurs with a vision to build AI-powered startups. This flagship initiative by MEST Africa is a 12-month intensive program designed to fast-track AI-driven ventures from concept to scalable solutions, while unlocking mentorship from OpenAI, Google, and top-tier investors. Entrepreneurs will undergo 7 months of intensive training in product development, business modeling, and AI technology, followed by a 4-month incubation phase to build a minimum viable product (MVP), validate market fit, and pitch to global investors.

This competition is not only risk-free and fully funded, but also serves as a pipeline to pre-seed funding up to $100,000 USD for outstanding teams. Through its AI Innovation Lab, participants will gain hands-on experience building tech for real-world impact, all while being guided by AI industry leaders and entrepreneurial mentors.

If you’re a young, driven tech innovator from Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, or any West African nation—this is your opportunity of a lifetime to break into the global startup ecosystem. You’ll join a prestigious community of MEST entrepreneurs, whose alumni have raised millions and launched more than 80 startups across Africa.

This is the kind of rare, must-see opportunity that has the power to change your career—and your future. The MEST AI Startup Competition isn’t just another bootcamp. It’s a transformational, expert-backed experience designed to equip tomorrow’s AI founders with the tools, team, and traction to succeed globally.

You won’t find another competition that offers this combination of world-class mentorship, no-cost training, and real capital support, all while focusing on cutting-edge AI technologies that are reshaping the world.

Whether you’re solving problems in health, education, logistics, fintech, or agriculture—if your vision involves AI-powered solutions, this competition is for you. You’ll gain first-hand insights into the secrets of building fundable startups, learn what top investors are really looking for, and collaborate with other elite tech minds from across West Africa.

Name of Organizer

Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa)

Requirement/Eligibility

1. Applicant must be a citizen of a West African country—including Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, etc.

2. Must be between the ages of 21 and 30 at the time of application.

3. Must hold a Bachelor’s degree, diploma, or equivalent experience in technology, computer science, or a related field.

4. Must demonstrate software development experience and foundational knowledge of artificial intelligence.

5. Must have a strong entrepreneurial mindset, problem-solving ability, and passion for building scalable solutions.

6. Must be available full-time from January to December 2026 to attend all phases of the competition.

7. Must be ready and willing to travel to Accra, Ghana for in-person events, including interviews and incubation.

8. Must be capable of working in diverse, cross-functional, and cross-cultural teams.

9. Should have a clear vision for an AI-powered solution or startup idea that addresses real-world challenges.

10. Must commit to completing all training, development, and incubation activities as part of the competition schedule.

Duration/Stipend

The MEST AI Startup Program Class of 2026 is divided into two key phases:

Training Phase (January–July 2026): A 7-month intensive, immersive experience covering AI product development, startup methodology, go-to-market strategy, fundraising, and team building. Participants will receive mentorship, take part in team-based learning, and begin developing MVPs.

Incubation Phase (September–December 2026): A 4-month incubator experience for high-potential teams selected from the training cohort. This phase focuses on MVP launch, user testing, market fit validation, and preparation for pre-seed investment.

The entire competition is fully funded—zero tuition, zero fees. Participants will also benefit from:

World-class mentorship from experts at OpenAI, Perplexity, Meltwater, Google, and other global AI institutions.
Access to AI product labs and tools.
Office space, startup resources, and support in Accra.
Pre-seed funding consideration of up to $100,000 USD for successful incubated startups.
Opportunity to pitch to a panel of international investors on Demo Day.
Long-term access to the MEST Alumni Network of founders, funders, and ecosystem leaders.
This is not just a program. It’s a powerful launchpad for visionary entrepreneurs to build the next generation of AI solutions in Africa.