Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) Scale Accelerator 2023

In order to assist Small and Growing Businesses in strengthening their operations, solving important technology gaps, and improving their capacity to scale their business, MEST developed the venture acceleration program MEST Scale in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.

The socioeconomic development of Ghana depends on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). More than 80% of Ghana’s businesses are represented by them. SMEs, despite the significant contribution they make to the development of their communities and the economy, face a number of significant challenges that make it challenging for them to scale up sustainably.

Programme Curriculum

• Month 1
  • Scale diagnostics
• Month 2-4
  • Scale challenge articulation (from diagnostic)
  • Scale strategy development
  • Operations and business modelling
  • Investment readiness
• Month 5-6
  • Scale plan pilot and wrap up

Benefits

• Tailored Advisory Support: Get seasoned business advice that responds to your specific needs
• Specialist Consultations: Area-specific experts provide consultation sessions and guidance
• Investor engagement: Get investor readiness support and growth capital linkages
• Technology Enhancement: Improve use of technology to enhance business development

Eligibility

MEST Scale is looking to support startups and SMEs that are ready to scale. They should meet the following requirements:

• Sales and traction
  • Has annual sales minimum $150,000
  • Demonstrates at least three years of strong revenue growth
  • If unprofitable, has plan and path for financial breakeven
• Stage
  • Commercially viable venture with strong product-market fit with a primary challenge of determining why, where, what, and how to scale
• Personnel and talent 
  • Minimum of 5 full-time management staff, total of 10 staff minimum
  • Team should consist of more than 5 team members that are non-management staff
• Gender balance
  • Companies with women in leadership and top management roles will be given preference
• Scalability
  • The venture has a good blend of ambition and potential to scale
• Market
  • Business must be based in Ghana & headquartered in the Greater Accra region
• Technology
  • Must be a software technology business

Application

• Step 1: Fill out the general application form hosted on F6S
• Step 2: Shortlisted ventures are invited for the first round of interviews
• Step 3: Final list of companies are sent offers of admission
• Step 4: Admitted companies are onboarded into the programme

Click here to apply