hapaSpace is partnering with MEST to bring the MEST Express Accelerator to Kumasi. Launching in June, and for the first time in Kumasi, the Delta cohort will be the second of the MEST Express cohorts for 2022.
The 20-week accelerator will run from June 6th, 2022 to August 26th, 2022, and at the end, top-performing startups will receive equity-free grant funding. Preference will be given to startups with at least one woman founder.
Early-stage startups in Ghana often face difficulties accessing and utilizing growth capital that will enable them to develop and sell competitive products and drive good traction and revenue, while managing their day-to-day operations.
This is mainly due to:
- The poor state of their financial and sales records
- Lack of a strong charismatic founder with a deep understanding of the market
- Low product traction
- Limited access to the right networks
- Limited knowledge of what it takes to become investor-ready
Launched by MEST Africa, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation as part of their Young Africa Works strategy, MEST Express is an acceleration program targeted at early and growth-stage startups operating in Ghana. The 5-month program provides mentorship, training, technical and business support to participating startups assisting them to strengthen their value proposition, improve their product or technology, plan for future growth, increase their impact and create more opportunities to seek funding by making their ventures investment-ready.
Top-performing ventures also receive equity-free grant funding to accelerate their growth journey.
The following are the eligibility criteria:
- Pre-seed or seed-stage (have raised $100k total or less cumulatively since inception)
- Currently generating revenue
- Can demonstrate traction
- Has been in operation for 1-3 years
- Digital or tech-enabled
- Any business model (B2B, B2C, B2B2C, B2G, etc.)
- Any industry
- Registered business
- Preference is given to startups with women co-founders
Applications are currently open for our acceleration program for early and growth-stage startups in Kumasi. Preference will be given to startups with at least one woman founder.
Learn more at https://meltwater.org/mest-express/
All application forms must be received by May 8th, 2022, in order to be considered for the interview stage.
