With over 13 years of experience spanning Africa, Asia, and the US, Ashwin combines deep technical expertise with a passion for enabling startups to deliver meaningful impact. Beginning his career as a Computer Science graduate at Honeywell, he later immersed himself in Asia’s dynamic startup ecosystem before joining MEST Africa in 2015 as a Technology Teaching Fellow. At MEST, Ashwin progressed through roles including Incubator Manager, Director of Portfolio Support, and Country Director for Ghana, ultimately becoming Managing Director in 2019.

As Managing Director, Ashwin spearheaded MEST’s strategic vision, strengthening incubation programs, expanding into key African markets, and deepening partnerships with organizations like the Mastercard Foundation, UNICEF, and the World Bank. His leadership helped secure mentorship, funding, and resources for over 100 startups, including Complete Farmer and Wiflix, and guided ventures to scale their product development and market reach. Post-2022, Ashwin transitioned to advisory roles, focusing on portfolio strategy and donor-funded program design.

Ashwin loves tinkering on different problems and is currently interested in biometric solutions, stablecoins, and AI agents.

Beyond his professional pursuits, he enjoys crafting cocktails, indulging in TV marathons, taking long walks with his dog, Criminal, and occasionally testing his grilling skills.