Incubating Innovation in Accra, Ghana

MEST (Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology) has a committed mission of creating jobs and wealth locally in Accra, Ghana by training individuals to be software entrepreneurs. The program is an intense two year program with the end game being that each individual who graduates will be more than capable of starting their own company.

Initially, the students are training on the basics of programming which then leads to developing a business plan and a complete prototype. From they learn the skill of identifying viable business opportunities and implementing software projects which offer solutions to the opportunities presented. The final semester calls for the students to prepare to either launch their business or apply for entry into the Meltwater Incubator.

The Meltwater Incubator is only available for MEST graduates with approved business plans. The students who are selected are awarded initial seed money for their idea in exchange for a small minority equity stake in the business. In addition, The incubator offers a physical infrastructure and access to a global network of advisors and contacts that will help each business flourish. Meltwater also partners with local incubators in San Francisco and London for additional support and access to important startup markets.

MEST’s vision is to create wealth and jobs locally in Africa. By training and mentoring young Africans to start their own software companies that compete successfully in the global marketplace, MEST aims to establish a generation of software entrepreneurs who inspire generations to follow in their footsteps. The first MEST class began school in February of 2008 and graduated two years later.  Two of the business ideas currently in the incubator are a business that will allow companies to address a number of customer service complaints via SMS and a business that will build a web application that will make online teaching as easy and intuitive as blogging.

The diverse faculty comes from over the entire world and brings a wide breadth of experience. MEST also has a quality list of MBA Consultants which participate in the program as advisors and counselors, offering timely advice and assistance to the students. Interested in participating in a teaching or counseling role? MEST welcomes anyone with the proper experience to contact them and inquire further. Guest lecturing opportunities are also available.

MEST is another example of the thriving technology scene in Africa. All that is left is for one of their incubator business to hit it big across the world. I am willing to bet it will be sooner than we think.

About the Author
I am a developing social and digital media junkie on an adventure through life. Right now I am on the chapter in the book where I live in Los Angeles. Reach me on twitter @ahr19. Thanks for reading my post.
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