MEST and Microsoft Announce the 2020 MEST Africa Challenge Country Finals!
Grab a virtual front-row seat to Africa’s tech startup pitch competition today!
Join MEST and Microsoft this June as we kick off the all-virtual MEST Africa Challenge Country Finals after an Africa-wide search for the continent’s rising tech startups.
From launching the MEST Africa Challenging applications back in March, to the COVID-19 deadline extension a month later, we’ve brought together some of the continent’s top ecosystem players to join us for a series of pitch competitions featuring tech startups from nine African countries.
For the third year running, the tech pitch competition will stand strong in partnership with leading technological giant and headline partner, Microsoft. They are key to the success of the MEST Africa Challenge as it goes virtual, and MEST is thrilled to have them on board again in 2020.
When asked about the collaboration, Senior Director of Partnerships for Microsoft Africa, Chris Lwanga, said, “Innovation is the birthright of every human being. We believe in empowering every person and organization, like MEST, to do more through our Microsoft for start-ups program.”
Past winners of MAC including Waya Waya, Snode Technologies, and Oze have all received Microsoft enterprise products valued at $25,000, invaluable tools for all startups.
“We are excited to continue to have Microsoft’s support for the 2020 MEST Africa Challenge,” said Ashwin Ravichandran, Managing Director of MEST. “As partners, MEST and Microsoft are giving Africa’s startups a launchpad for success.”
The MEST African Challenge Country Finals, taking place virtually via Zoom this year, will feature top tech startups from nine countries pitching in front of the MEST team, local judges, ecosystem partners, and Microsoft representatives for the chance to win $50,000 in equity investment!
Click to register! The MEST Africa Challenge Country Finals schedule is as follows:
- June 3rd: Ethiopia
- June 10th: Kenya
- June 17th: Cote d’Ivoire
- June 24th: Rwanda
- July 1st: Ghana
- July 8th: Tanzania
- July 15th: Senegal
- July 22nd: Nigeria
- July 29th: South Africa
The MEST Africa Challenge is a regional pitch competition for Africa’s emerging tech software entrepreneurs with the aim of providing them with investment capital, coaching, and access to a continent-wide network of startup hubs. It is made possible with lead sponsorship from Microsoft and support from a network of local ecosystem partners.
Grab a virtual front-row seat to Africa’s tech startup competition today. Register to Watch the MEST Africa Challenge Country Finals as Tech Startups Pitch for $50,000 in Equity Investment!
