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MEST
MEST AI Startup Incubation Program
Amount
$100,000
Pre-seed investment
Deadline
Jul 20, 2026
Odds
Not published
Effort
3 to 5 hrs
Can you get this?
✓West or East African citizen required
✓Age 21–35 required
✓Bachelor's degree, diploma, or equivalent experience
✓Software development experience and basic AI knowledge
✓Must commit fully for up to 12 months
Your real odds
This is only the second cohort, so the applicant pool is smaller than it will eventually be, though $100K pre-seed on the table means competition is real.
Selection runs in multiple stages: rolling review, then an in-person group challenge, then an interview. Completing the training program does not guarantee incubation or investment.
What it takes
Complete eligibility screening and submit application3 to 5 hrs
Complete technical, business, and interpersonal assessments1 to 2 hrs
Attend in-person group challenge and interviews
Worth knowing
The program explicitly tells applicants to apply early for faster review, so submitting close to the deadline slows your path through each stage.
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