MEST launches new incubator spaces in Lagos and Cape Town
MEST incubators announced the launch of two new Incubator spaces in Lagos, Nigeria, and Cape Town, South Africa, as the program continues to expand its presence across Africa.
MEST Incubators in Lagos and Cape Town will act as an extension of the Accra community, offering entrepreneurs the same support, skilled staff, mentorship, network and resources enjoyed in Ghana.
The spaces will add co-working to the core pillars of the incubator, which include a 1-year technology training program in Ghana for African entrepreneurs, followed by potential seedfunding and incubation for portfolio companies in Pan-African incubator spaces.
Members of the incubator will be joining a Pan-African community of entrepreneurs and innovators working in technology, venture capital, digital and media and other fields.
“This new incubator in Nigeria’s economic centre, Lagos, is a strategic move towards partnering with the state government in changing the future economy of the state through its support for new businesses, empowering millennials and providing more jobs.” (Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr. Tunde Durosinmi-Etti).
Cape Town’s Incubator
The MEST Incubator Cape Town will launched in the former Cape Town Garage, located in Woodstock Exchange on Albert Road, taking over the space and welcoming the existing community. Its presence will certainly add to the dynamic startup community in Cape Town and further fuel growth on the continent”(Andrea Böhmert, Partner & Co-Founder, Knife Capital).
About MEST (Metlwater Foundation)
Founded in 2008, MEST operates as a training program and seed fund for African innovators to build successful commercial tech companies. Since its inception, the Meltwater Foundation has invested $20 million into its training program, the incubator’s network, and early-stage MEST tech startups.
MEST established an initial footprint in Nigeria in 2015 and South Africa in 2016, with the first class of Nigerian and South African Entrepreneurs-in-Training (EITs) accepted into the program. Today, MEST is truly Pan-African, with a presence in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Cote d’Ivoire.
Source: Appsafrica
