Kenya Among Top 20 Finalists in 2025 MEST Africa Challenge
Nairobi, Kenya, October 22, 2025 — Kenya has once again cemented its place on Africa’s innovation map, with three of its startups making it to the list of top 20 finalists in the MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) 2025, a prestigious pan-African tech and entrepreneurship competition organized by Absa in collaboration with the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa).
The competition, which seeks to identify and support groundbreaking startups across the continent, drew entries from eight of Absa’s nine Regional Operations (ARO) markets Botswana, Uganda, Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia, and Ghana. This year’s finalists represent the rich diversity and dynamism of Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Kenya’s three representatives Logistify AI, Farmsky Ventures, and Investa Farm stood out for their innovative solutions addressing challenges in agriculture, logistics, and financial inclusion. Logistify AI is leveraging artificial intelligence to help SMEs and cooperatives streamline procurement and supply chain operations; Farmsky Ventures provides digital lending and crop insurance services aimed at enhancing productivity among smallholder farmers; while Investa Farm offers voucher-backed loans for climate-resilient farm inputs, empowering farmers to adapt to the changing climate.
Speaking during the announcement, Tawanda Chatikobo, Head of Digital for Absa Regional Operations (ARO), Retail and Business Banking, lauded the calibre of this year’s submissions.
“Our partnership with MEST Africa reflects Absa’s commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators and creating more accessible, relevant financial solutions. The quality of submissions has been exceptional, showcasing the depth of innovation and entrepreneurial drive across Africa,” he said. “These ventures are tackling real challenges and creating pathways for more inclusive economic growth.”
The MEST Africa Challenge 2025 focuses on solutions advancing digital financial inclusion, alternative lending, AI-driven innovation, data security, digital payments, and InsureTech. According to Ashwin Ravichandran, Portfolio Advisor at MEST Africa and MAC Lead, this year’s finalists are redefining how technology can transform financial ecosystems across the continent.
“Each of these founders represents a unique path toward reimagining how finance works for Africans,” he said. “Their ideas pair technology with empathy, showing that lasting change comes from solving real problems within their own communities.”
Other startups making the top 20 include mystock.africa from Botswana, Brydge and Kutana Technologies from Ghana, Black Swan from Mauritius, and Fusepay from Seychelles. Uganda led with the highest representation, featuring five startups including Kanzu Finance, eMaisha Pay, and Axiom Zorn.
The 20 finalists will now advance to the next phase of the competition, where they will be further shortlisted to the top 10 who will compete in the Grand Finale in November. The ultimate winner will receive a USD 50,000 seed equity investment to scale their business and collaborate with Absa in addressing real-world financial and technological challenges.
Tamu Dutuma, Head of Strategy and Transformation for ARO Technology at Absa, emphasized that the challenge plays a pivotal role in Africa’s digital transformation.
“Through this challenge, we’re seeing solutions that are not only innovative but also strategically aligned with Africa’s evolving technology landscape. Some of these ideas have the potential to accelerate digital transformation and unlock new value for our customers,” she said.
By investing in emerging entrepreneurs and nurturing ideas with high growth potential, Absa and MEST Africa are driving forward the continent’s innovation agenda.
“Africa’s startup community is no longer on the sidelines it’s stepping forward with ideas, leadership, and global potential,” Dutuma added. “We look forward to supporting the winning venture and helping to create lasting impact across Africa.”
The MEST Africa Challenge has grown into one of the continent’s most influential platforms for early-stage startups, connecting founders with investors, mentors, and global markets and this year, Kenya’s strong showing reaffirms its place as a key player in Africa’s tech revolution.
