Launched in 2008 by the Founder of Meltwater, Jorn Lyseggen, and recognized as one of Fast Company's "Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Africa", The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) is the launching point for tomorrow’s globally successful tech entrepreneurs. MEST is an Africa-wide technology entrepreneur training program, internal seed fund, and network of hubs offering incubation for technology startups in Africa.
MEST provides critical skills training, funding, and support in software development, business, and communications to Africa’s tech entrepreneurs. Hubs are located in Accra, Ghana; Lagos, Nigeria; Cape Town, South Africa; and Nairobi, Kenya. MEST has trained over 400 aspiring entrepreneurs in tech, business, and communications and welcomed expertise from 50+ fellows from across the world, invested in over 40 seed-stage startups, and is now scaling up alongside its portfolio as the first truly Pan-African community of its kind. MEST is funded by the Meltwater Foundation, the non-profit arm of Meltwater, a global leader in media intelligence and Outside Insight. MEST is seeking a Chief Technology Officer to join their leadership team.
Purpose:
You will nurture MEST's entrepreneurs in training and portfolio companies with the right technology support, and provide the consulting division at MEST with strategic support.
Role Responsibilities:
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The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) and the MEST Incubator program provide training, investment and mentoring for aspiring technology entrepreneurs with the goal of creating globally successful companies that create wealth and jobs locally in Africa.
Established in Ghana in 2008, MEST offers aspiring African entrepreneurs a fully sponsored a twelve month, intensive full-time program. Sourced from top graduates in from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Cote d’Ivoire, 60 of these Entrepreneurs-In-Training (EITs) are selected each year and receive comprehensive training across the spectrum of skills required to build successful tech businesses, including computer programming, software development, product management, finance, marketing, sales and leadership best practices. To date, MEST has trained over 400 aspiring entrepreneurs, and invested in over 40 seed stage startups.
After completion of the program, the EITs have the opportunity to pitch a concept. Winning teams receive a seed round from the MEST incubator to pursue their idea.