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MEST
MEST is the Entrepreneurial Support Organisation of the Meltwater Foundation. It delivers full-time, in-person intensive tech-entrepreneurship training to...
MEST
MEST is the Entrepreneurial Support Organisation of the Meltwater Foundation. It delivers full-time, in-person intensive tech-entrepreneurship training to emerging talent from more than 22 African countries and provides early-stage investment to promising ventures. Since 2008, MEST has trained 2,000+ entrepreneurs and invested in 90+ startups across Africa, supporting founders building companies that solve real problems through technology.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
2008
Location
Region
Africa
Country
Ghana
City
Accra
Corporate office
Accra, Ghana
Additional offices
Lagos · Nairobi · Cape Town
Principals
Jorn Lyseggen
Founder of MEST
Natasha Nissar
Board Member at MEST
Ashwin Ravichandran
Programs and Portfolio Advisor
Greg Coussa
Strategic Director
Emily Fiagbedzi
AI Startup Program Director
Femi Adewumi
MESTx Operations Director
Abena Opeibea Anie-Budu
Venture Partner
David Quartey
Senior Finance Manager
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at MEST?
MEST's investment decisions are made by its internal fund managers and entrepreneurs-in-residence, who evaluate startups graduating from the 12-month training program. The firm does not publicly name a single CIO or investment committee chair. Decisions rely on direct observation of founders during the residential program, not conventional fund-sourcing channels.
How does MEST source proprietary deal flow?
MEST's pipeline is generated entirely through its own training program. Over 50 entrepreneurs are selected annually for a stipended, residential curriculum across four African tech hubs. Graduates who build viable software businesses are eligible for seed funding, giving MEST a 12-month observational window before writing a check. This captive-sourcing model is unusual among African seed-stage investors.
What investment stages does MEST typically target?
MEST targets pre-seed and seed-stage software companies, entering at the earliest phase of commercialization. Investments are tied to the graduation cycle of its residential training program, meaning the firm deploys capital after founders have spent up to a year building prototypes and validating markets under MEST supervision.
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