{"id":79101,"date":"2025-08-04T14:50:57","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T11:50:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulftech-news.com\/en\/?p=79101"},"modified":"2025-08-04T15:00:32","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T12:00:32","slug":"apo-group-content-is-copyright-free-and-can-be-republished-at-will-follow-our-channels-on-whatsapp-and-telegram-for-the-latest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulftech-news.com\/en\/2025\/08\/04\/apo-group-content-is-copyright-free-and-can-be-republished-at-will-follow-our-channels-on-whatsapp-and-telegram-for-the-latest\/","title":{"rendered":"The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa) launches the MEST Africa Challenge 2025 in partnership with Absa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><em>Unlocking new growth pathways for Africa\u2019s FinTech founders<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The &nbsp;Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa) (<a href=\"https:\/\/r.news.africa-wire.com\/mk\/cl\/f\/sh\/7nVU1aA2ng1uQiT7onP7NEscJMgWbzv\/ALA7uj2nHbKl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/Meltwater.org\/<\/a>) today opened applications for the 7th edition of the MEST Africa Challenge (MAC 2025), a pan-African pitch competition that equips high-potential startups with funding and hands-on support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This year\u2019s edition is dedicated exclusively to FinTech startups, spotlighting founders who are reimagining how money is moved, managed, and insured across the continent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Applications run 30th July \u2013 26th September 2025, after which 20 semi-finalists and 10 grand-finalists will be selected. The overall winner will secure a US $50,000 equity investment and the opportunity to pilot with strategic partners at scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe MEST Africa Challenge is where Africa\u2019s boldest ideas find the opportunity to scale,\u201d said Ashwin Ravichandran, Portfolio Advisor &amp; MAC Lead at MEST Africa. \u201cOur partnership with Absa gives these visionary founders the lift they need\u2014connecting them to the capital, expertise, and networks that turn promising startups into sector-defining businesses and drive inclusive growth across the continent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With US $30 million invested in more than 90 startups and 2,000 entrepreneurs to date, MEST is one of Africa\u2019s most active early-stage tech investors. The 2025 edition of MAC deepens that impact through a strategic partnership with Absa that aligns the competition with the bank\u2019s digital-finance priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Africa\u2019s future will be shaped by bold ideas, local ingenuity, and scalable innovation. At Absa, we recognize the critical role entrepreneurs play in driving inclusive economic growth. This partnership with MEST reflects our commitment to backing those visionaries and shaping the future of financial services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It complements our digital transformation strategy and reflects our purpose of empowering Africa&#8217;s tomorrow, together, one story at a time,\u201d said Omar Baig, Managing Executive: ARO Retail and Business Banking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The collaboration between Absa and MEST aims to accelerate innovation by connecting FinTech startups with the resources and expertise needed to scale solutions that drive inclusive growth across Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur partnership with MEST is a strategic step toward unlocking innovation that truly matters,\u201d says Muhammad Ali Bhikhan, Managing Executive and Chief Information Officer at Absa Regional Operations. \u201cIt will allow us to connect with visionary startups, build a strong talent pipeline, and collaborate on solutions that can drive meaningful digital transformation and long-term impact across the continent, he concludes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who should apply to MAC 2025?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>MAC 2025 invites early-stage startups in FinTech and other high-value, value-chain solutions that are already active in at least one of Absa\u2019s priority markets \u2014 countries including \u00a0Botswana, Uganda, Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia and Ghana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To qualify, a company must be three years old or younger, show minimum monthly recurring revenue of US $5,000, and have raised no more than US $1 million to date. Each venture should have at least two co-founders, be able to pitch in English, and\u2014while not mandatory\u2014Delaware registration is considered an advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Founders can submit a short online application, including a three-minute video pitch, on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/r.news.africa-wire.com\/mk\/cl\/f\/sh\/7nVU1aA2ng3nQEyQnMdZPbCQTjBJLwR\/zEM_0PsnC5zn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/40P2V41<\/a>&nbsp;from 31st July, 2025. Virtual semi-finals will take place in late October, and the top ten teams will present live in Cape Town at the Grand Finale in late November. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unlocking new growth pathways for Africa\u2019s FinTech founders The &nbsp;Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa) (https:\/\/Meltwater.org\/) today opened applications for the 7th edition of the MEST Africa Challenge (MAC 2025), a pan-African pitch competition that equips high-potential startups with funding and hands-on support. This year\u2019s edition is dedicated exclusively to FinTech startups, spotlighting founders &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[3396,3398,3397],"class_list":["post-79101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-apo-group","tag-telegram","tag-whatsapp-2"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa) launches the MEST Africa Challenge 2025 in partnership with Absa - Gulf Tech News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"APO Group content is\u00a0copyright free\u00a0and can be republished at will. 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