Meltwater EntrepreneurialSchool of Technology (MEST)

Training and mentoring future software entrepreneurs

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MEST is a not-for-profit NGO fully fundedby Meltwater Group, a Norwegian softwarecompany headquartered in San Francisco,USA.

MEST was established in Accra, the capitalof Ghana, in August 2007 with the purposeto train and mentor young Africans tobecome future software entrepreneurs inthe global market space.

By contributing to the creation of successfulAfrican software companies, it is MEST'slong term objective to create wealth andjobs locally inAfrica.

MEST was founded on the belief that themost valuable resource in Africa is the vastpotential of its people. It is Meltwater's hopethat the companies hatched through theMEST training program will inspire a future,prosperousAfrican technology industry.

Introduction

1. MEST

MEST is the first phase of Meltwater's three-phaseentrepreneurial training program.

MEST is a two-year, full-time, paid traineeship in whichparticipants are trained by world-class internationaltrainers, each with 20 years of experience in commercialsoftware development from the USA.

The MEST program provides rigorous entrepreneurialtraining, extensive hands-on project work, and mastery ofindustry-proven methodologies for sof twaredevelopment.

The MEST program also includes a series of 8 guestlectures annually, in which internationally recognizedexecutives, professors and entrepreneurs share theirexperiences and insights.

An entrepreneurial training program in three phases

IncubationMEST Mentoring

2. Incubation

The purpose of the Meltwater Incubator is to helpMEST graduates validate their business ideas andto get their ideas off the ground.

Enrollment is based upon approved businessplans. Participants will be awarded initial seedfunding by Meltwater (for a minority equity stake) inaddition to office space in the Meltwater Incubator.

The Meltwater Incubator has office space andinfrastructure in three locations: Accra, London,and San Francisco. These are strategic locations,enabling easy access to the global markets.

3. Mentoring

Each company will be offered a set of internationalmentors, who will serve as board members orcompany advisors, in order to optimize thechances for international commercial break-through. Mentors will be recruited among world-class executives and successful entrepreneurs.

These mentors will have relevant experience fromidentified target markets.

Who is a MEST Trainee?

Every year, MEST Trainees are recruitedfrom among the brightest and most drivenuniversity graduates in Ghana. They comefrom diverse academic backgrounds,including computer science, engineering, andthe social sciences.

Prior training in the field of technology is not arequirement. However, MEST Trainees musthave the following qualities:

Adesire to make a differenceA strong interest in technology andentrepreneurshipDemonstrated personal drive and selfmotivationConfidence and independent thinkingExcellent people skillsAkeen interest in team workAbility to communicate candidly andpersuasivelyProven academic excellence

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Our Motivation

Meltwater Group is a company that startedout with a very humble beginning. Withinitial funding of only 15,000 USD andagainst all odds, Meltwater has become aglobal software company with 50 offices onfive continents.

At the root of Meltwater's success is afundamental belief in people and theirpotential. Once talented people get the rightsupport, guidance, and encouragement,they can accomplish extraordinary things.

Meltwater is an organization consisting ofcompassionate people with an interest andcommitment that goes far beyond merecommercial objectives and aspirations.

We set up this entrepreneurial trainingprogram because we believe we havesomething valuable to offer.

We believe that by passing on the skills andcompetencies that made us commerciallysuccessful, we can make a difference.

Trainers

MEST Trainers are carefully selectedbased on their track record in developingcommercial software, and their keeninterest and passion for coaching andtransferring their expertise to others.

Trainers each have about 20 years ofindustry experience under their belts. Theirbackgrounds include careers withinternational consulting firms, innovativeSilicon Valley start-ups, and some of themost admired software companies in theworld.

They are compassionate and adventurousleaders, eager to make an impact in Ghana.

MEST Teaching Fellows are engineering,computer science and business students recruitedfrom top universities in the United States, Europeand Ghana.

MEST Fellows are characterized by strongmanagement qualities and a keen, developedinterest in people and teaching. They are studentleaders who are driven, entrepreneurial andambitious.

Teaching Fellows provide critical support,feedback, international perspectives, enthusiasm,and endless amounts of energy at MEST.

Teaching Fellows

MEST values strong partnershipswith the right organizations inorder to support the training anddevelopment of young people andt o e n c o u r a g e r e s e a r c h ,education, entrepreneurship andtechnology development throughskills transfer and training. Ourpartners help us collaborateefforts and mutually benefit in thisunprecedented project to developAfrica's future technology leaders.

Partnerships

Opening Ceremony

February 11th, 2008

The afternoon celebration was acollective gathering of influentialsupporters from the government,education, public and privatespace.

Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST)

+233 (0)21 52 04 66

+233 (0)21 52 04 67

20 Aluguntuguntu St. PMB CA 13Ambassadorial Enclave CantonmentsEast Legon AccraAccra GhanaGhana

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physical address: mailing address:

http://meltwater.org/

info.mest@meltwater.com

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