The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) Africa has officially unveiled the regional finalists for its second annual MEST Africa Challenge, a significant startup pitch competition designed to spotlight and empower innovative businesses across the continent. This year, the challenge has garnered substantial interest, with a total of 50 regional finalists meticulously selected from an impressive pool of over 1000 applications submitted by aspiring entrepreneurs from various African nations.

These 50 promising startups are preparing to present their products and business models during a series of regional finals scheduled to take place on February 27 and 28. These pivotal events will be hosted concurrently in five major African cities: Accra (Ghana), Lagos (Nigeria), Nairobi (Kenya), Cape Town (South Africa), and Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire). Each regional contest will feature 10 selected startups, all competing for a highly sought-after slot in the grand final.

A key focus of the competition is the Nigerian segment, where 10 startups will participate in the Lagos-based regional final, held at the MEST Incubator on February 28. The Nigerian finalists represent a diverse array of sectors, including: myPadi.ng, an accommodation sourcing platform for students; Sonocare, an on-demand mobile diagnostic imaging service; Crop2Cash, an agritech startup developing tools for agroprocessors; Securefarmer, another agritech company providing land access to farmers; and AMPZ tv, a venture focused on the Nigerian sports ecosystem. The roster also includes The MUDiA Project, a social enterprise for youth development; The Smarthub, offering digital and automobile solutions; Livekampus, a student accommodation solution; Edupoint Limited, an all-in-one platform for student development and educational management; and Schoolphix, a comprehensive school management software.

The victorious startup from each regional final will secure a guaranteed place at the distinguished MEST Africa Summit. Here, they will have the invaluable opportunity to pitch their innovations and compete against the winners from other regional competitions. The ultimate grand final of the MEST Africa Challenge is set to be a highlight of the 2019 MEST Africa Summit, scheduled to run from June 10 to 12 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The stakes for the overall grand winner are considerable, encompassing a potential equity investment of up to $50,000 from MEST. In addition to financial backing, the winning enterprise will also be granted a crucial space within a MEST incubator, providing essential infrastructure and resources, coupled with invaluable mentorship. This comprehensive support aims to facilitate the growth and scaling of their business, thereby reinforcing MEST Africa's unwavering commitment to identifying, nurturing, and empowering the next generation of African entrepreneurial talent.