Ashwin Ravichandran is a Partner with over 13 years of experience across Africa, Asia, and the US. With a background in computer science, he combines deep technical expertise with a passion for enabling startups to scale and deliver meaningful impact. After starting his career at Honeywell, Ashwin immersed himself in Asia’s vibrant startup landscape before joining MEST Africa in 2015 as a Technology Teaching Fellow.

At MEST, he progressed through key leadership roles—including Incubator Manager, Director of Portfolio Support, and Ghana Country Director—before being appointed Managing Director in 2019. In this role, Ashwin led MEST’s strategic growth across Africa, strengthening incubation programs, deepening partnerships with global organizations like the World Bank, Mastercard Foundation, and UNICEF, and expanding MEST’s footprint across the continent. Under his leadership, MEST supported over 100 startups with funding, mentorship, and go-to-market guidance, including notable ventures like Complete Farmer and Wiflux.

Since 2022, Ashwin has transitioned into advisory roles, focusing on portfolio strategy, ecosystem development, and donor-funded program design. He is currently exploring emerging areas like biometric solutions, stablecoins, and AI agents.

Outside of work, Ashwin enjoys long walks with his dog, Criminal, tinkering with side projects, crafting cocktails, watching TV marathons, and refining his grilling skills.