Deadline: 11-Apr-23
If you have a business idea and the drive to succeed, MEST Africa wants to hear from you. Apply for the MEST Africa Class of 2024.
The MEST Training Program is an intensive 12-month, full-time, fully sponsored program in which the cohort – known as Entrepreneurs-in-Training (EITs) – complete a graduate-level course in software development, business, and communications, with a focus on practical implementation.
The course culminates with an investor pitch, with the chance to receive seed funding and enter MEST’s portfolio for company incubation.
The entrepreneurial training program in business, communications and software development includes extensive hands-on project work, culminating in a final pitch and the chance to receive seed investment and grow businesses.
The successful world-class training program is run with the help of an internationally recognized faculty. MEST’s teaching fellows hail from some of the best universities around the world. MEST also offers its entrepreneurs-in-training (EITs) the opportunity to be mentored by real-life Entrepreneurs, CEOs and other executives from all over the world. Guest lecturers have been executives of Uber, Facebook, Safaricom, Samsung, Interswitch, and many more.
Since its inception in 2008, MEST has invested over $25m in training 1000+ individual entrepreneurs and funded 80+ software companies across Africa. MEST entrepreneurs have developed solutions addressing local, regional and global markets, received follow-on funding from global investors, and gotten into top accelerator programs such as Y Combinator, 500 Startups and TechStars.
What to Expect in the program
The Training program provides rigorous entrepreneurial training and extensive hands-on project work, designed to ensure EITs master industry-proven methodologies for developing world-class tech businesses.
- Industry Experts
- Faculty members bring years of entrepreneurial and industry experience.
- Hands-on Projects
- EITs build, validate & pitch business ideas in a fail-safe environment.
- Full Support
- All EITs receive a full scholarship to attend the 1-year training.
- Guest Lectures
- Supplementary lectures by experienced business executives.
Curriculum Sample
- Core Programming Languages.
- Web and Mobile Development.
- UI/UX.
- Forming Culture Driven Teams.
- Business and Revenue Modeling.
- Branding and Communications.
- Market Research.
- Product Development and Innovation.
- Marketing and Growth Hacking.
- Financial Management and Investments.
- Legal and Regulatory Compliance.
- Metrics and Measurements.
- Sales and Traction.
- Preparing for investments.
Criteria
This program is open to anyone of African nationality or citizenship who meets all the application requirements and is able to attend in-person interviews in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya or South Africa
Candidate Profile:
- A degree from a top university or Technical College or equivalent experience with at least two (2) years corporate and startup experience (preferred).
- Deep skills in either communications, business or software development (from the onset or acquired during the Pre-Learning stage).
- Young persons passionate about tech and entrepreneurship, and how to use technology to achieve business results.
- Should be ready to commit to a full residential program for a whole year.
- Disciplined, motivated self-starter who can work and deliver on assignments and projects – demonstrate this by completing the required Pre-Learning courses and MEST’s rigorous recruitment process.
- An entrepreneurial spirit and strong desire to start a company.
- Ability to communicate candidly and persuasively.
- Ability to work well in teams, proven academic or professional excellence.
- Demonstrated leadership abilities.
- Confident and independent thinking.
- Excellent people skills.
For more information, visit MEST Africa.