MEST Africa And Absa Reveal Top 10 Finalists for 2025 Startup Challenge
The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa), in partnership with Absa, has unveiled the top 10 finalists for the MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) 2025 a prestigious pan-African pitch competition showcasing early-stage ventures building the continent’s future of digital finance and technology. The announcement follows two days of intense semi-final pitches on October 28 and
MEST Africa And Absa Reveal Top 10 Finalists for 2025 Startup Challenge
The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa), in partnership with Absa, has unveiled the top 10 finalists for the MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) 2025 a prestigious pan-African pitch competition showcasing early-stage ventures building the continent’s future of digital finance and technology. The announcement follows two days of intense semi-final pitches on October 28 and 29, where tech innovators from eight markets presented solutions advancing financial inclusion, digital trust, and the evolution of Africa’s digital economy.
Meet the Top 10 Finalists
The ventures selected from a competitive pool represent innovation in FinTech, AI-driven platforms, supply chain technology, and agricultural finance solutions:
- mystocks. Africa (Botswana)
- Credify Africa Inc (Uganda)
- Logistify AI (Kenya)
- Kutana Technologies Ltd (Ghana)
- Investa Farm (Kenya)
- Black Swan (Mauritius)
- Mighty Finance Solution Inc (Zambia)
- Devdraft AI (Zambia)
- Kanzu Finance Ltd (Uganda)
- Farmsky (Kenya)
A Growing Platform for Innovation
Ashwin Ravichandran, Portfolio Advisor and MAC Lead at MEST Africa, emphasized the rising calibre of talent entering the competition, noting that founders are increasingly building “financial systems that are inclusive, intelligent, and unmistakably African.” The contest, now in its seventh edition, focuses on FinTech and startups embedding financial services technology across sectors aligned with Absa’s strategic vision for advancing digital innovation across its priority African markets, including Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Uganda, and Zambia.
Collaboration for Scalable Solutions
Tamu Dutuma, Head of Strategy and Transformation for Technology at Absa Regional Operations, said the finalists’ solutions hold transformative potential across banking and investments. He highlighted that many of the technologies presented could enhance Absa’s services through sharper customer experience, greater operational efficiency, and accelerated digital transformation reflecting the bank’s commitment to converting innovation into real-world value and partnerships.
Road to Cape Town Finale
The 10 finalists will advance to the Grand Finale in Cape Town on November 26, 2025, where one startup will secure a USD $50,000 equity investment, access to MEST’s global mentor and investor network, and an opportunity to collaborate with Absa. Tawanda Chatikobo, Head of Digital ARO RBB, noted that the cohort’s solutions highlight technology’s role in unlocking access, efficiency, and financial inclusion, stressing that digital tools are now an essential pillar of Africa’s financial future.
Since 2008, MEST Africa has trained more than 2,000 entrepreneurs and invested in over 90 startups, reinforcing its position as one of the continent’s leading platforms for nurturing high-growth ventures and supporting Africa’s emerging innovation leaders.
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