Absa HQ; PHOTO ; ABSA
Twenty promising startups from across eight African markets have been shortlisted as semi-finalists for the MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) 2025, announced by MEST Africa in partnership with Absa Bank.
The annual competition, now in its seventh edition, continues to spotlight innovators redefining access to finance, trade, and technology across the continent.
Under the theme “You Build, We Scale,” this year’s Challenge is designed to transform bold entrepreneurial ideas into scalable financial solutions.
The semi-finalists drawn from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Uganda, and Zambia represent a growing generation of founders using technology to address persistent economic barriers and unlock opportunity.
“Their ideas pair technology with empathy, proving that lasting change comes from solving real problems within their own communities,” noted Ashwin Ravichandran, Portfolio Advisor at MEST Africa and MAC Lead.
“We’re proud to provide a platform that connects them with investors, mentors, and global opportunities.”
Since its inception in 2008, MEST Africa has supported more than 2,000 entrepreneurs and invested in over 90 startups.
Through its flagship pitch competition, the organisation seeks to bridge the gap between talent and capital, helping founders across Africa build ventures that are both locally grounded and globally competitive.
A Partnership for Inclusive Growth
As the strategic partner for the 2025 Challenge, Absa is reaffirming its commitment to digital innovation and financial inclusion.
The partnership reflects a shared vision to empower entrepreneurs who are not only solving problems but also reshaping how individuals and businesses interact with finance.
“Congratulations to the top 20 finalists and to all applicants. The quality of submissions has been exceptional, showcasing the depth of innovation and entrepreneurial drive across Africa,” said Tawanda Chatikobo, Head of Digital for Absa Regional Operations (Retail and Business Banking).
“These startups are not only solving real challenges; they’re building the foundation for inclusive growth and lasting impact. Our partnership with MEST and active participation in the MEST Africa Challenge reflect our commitment to open collaboration within the FinTech ecosystem,” he added.
Through its engagement, Absa aims to strengthen Africa’s financial innovation ecosystem — supporting scalable solutions that make banking simpler, more accessible, and more relevant for emerging markets.
The Startups to Watch
From hundreds of applications, 20 standout ventures have advanced to the semi-finals, each addressing critical gaps in Africa’s financial landscape from credit access and cross-border trade to digital inclusion.
They include;
Botswana
- mystock. africa – A retail investing platform giving Africans access to stocks, ETFs, and alternative assets.
Ghana
- Brydge – A supply chain platform simplifying cross-border trade for African businesses.
- Kutana Technologies Limited – A multi-currency payment platform powering B2B cross-border trade using stablecoins and AI-driven credit.
Kenya
- Logistify AI – An AI platform helping SMEs and cooperatives optimize procurement and supply chains.
- Farmsky Ventures – A digital lending and crop insurance platform boosting productivity for smallholder farmers.
- Investa Farm – An Agri-FinTech platform offering voucher-backed loans for climate-resilient farm inputs.
Mauritius
- Black Swan – Uses AI and alternative data to build credit scores for Africa’s unbanked population.
Mozambique
- Simulador Bancário – A digital platform simplifying financial planning and loan simulations.
Uganda
- Paytota – A unified payment gateway simplifying Africa’s fragmented digital payments ecosystem.
- Xzerra – A biometric payment system enabling cashless, fingerprint-based transactions in schools.
- Kanzu Finance Limited – A digital banking solution for Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations, Village Savings and Loan Associations, and microfinance institutions.
- Axiom Zorn – A data innovation company enabling access to finance and markets for smallholder farmers.
- Credify Africa, Inc – A trade finance and logistics platform bridging Africa’s SME finance gap.
- eMaisha Pay – A digital payments platform for agro-traders and small businesses, driving financial inclusion.
Zambia
- Ebusaka Green Technology Limited – A FinTech-powered waste-to-value platform digitizing payments and recycling incentives.
- KreativBox Technology – a digital lending company offering salary-backed loans to civil servants.
- Mighty Finance Solution Inc – Provides embedded digital loans to SMEs and women entrepreneurs.
- Devdraft AI – A cross-border payments platform for freelancers and businesses using stablecoin wallets.
- Homer Price Agency Solutions Limited – A digital banking provider operating 550+ agents nationwide.
Seychelles
- Fusepay – A licensed Payment Service Provider creating a digital finance hub for frontier markets.
The semi-finalists will pitch virtually during the week of October 27, 2025, with only ten advancing to the Final Demo Day in Cape Town, South Africa, on November 26, 2025.
The overall winner will receive USD $50,000 in equity investment, mentorship, and access to MEST Africa’s global investor network, along with the opportunity to explore pilot pathways with Absa’s business units.
Driving Digital Transformation
According to Tamu Dutuma, Head of Strategy and Transformation for Absa Regional Operations Technology, the Challenge is more than a competition; it’s a reflection of Africa’s growing digital maturity.
“Through this challenge, we’re seeing solutions that are not only innovative but strategically aligned with Africa’s evolving technology landscape,” Dutuma said.
“Some of these ideas have the potential to accelerate digital transformation and unlock new value for our customers.”
As the continent’s FinTech ecosystem continues to expand, competitions like MAC serve as a testing ground for Africa’s next generation of tech entrepreneurs, those merging local insight with scalable impact.
By backing talent that builds from within, MEST and Absa are betting on a future where Africa’s financial solutions are not imported, but homegrown, designed by Africans, for Africans.
