# MEST

MEST is a Private Equity based in Accra, Ghana.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Private Equity
- **Headquarters:** Accra, Ghana
- **Region:** Africa
- **Address:** Accra, Ghana
- **Founded:** 2008
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** www.meltwater.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/mest

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

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.

## Sectors

- Enterprise Software
- FinTech
- Digital Health
- AgriTech & FoodTech
- EdTech
- ClimateTech

## Offices

- Lagos
- Nairobi
- Cape Town

## People

- 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

## 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.

## Related profiles

- [Messiah Capital](https://altss.com/profile/messiah-capital)
- [Meta](https://altss.com/profile/meta)

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Last updated: 2026-08-11T15:07:26.757Z

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