Accra, Ghana – May 6, 2024  – The UNICEF Startup Lab welcomes the 25 tech-enabled social impact startups selected for its highly anticipated Cohort 4 of the 2024 accelerator program. The six-month accelerator is designed to provide crucial support to social impact startups, empowering them to enhance their business models for maximum impact, access partnership and financing opportunities, establish market linkages, build networks, and receive personalized mentorship.

The UNICEF Startup Lab’s 2024 accelerator program kick-off marks a significant step forward in harnessing the power of technology and entrepreneurship to drive social change and improve the lives of children and young people across Ghana.

The UNICEF StartUp Lab programme is led by UNICEF in Ghana, supported by KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency), and implemented by MEST Africa. Throughout the program, the startups will collaborate with UNICEF program specialists to refine their products, ground-truth their solutions, and gain invaluable insights into market dynamics. Additionally, they will be exposed to international and national investment opportunities, with a gateway to the UNICEF Innovation Fund and the Digital Public Goods Alliance.

Fiachra McAsey, UNICEF Deputy Representative, Ghana

Speaking on the occasion, Fiachra McAsey, UNICEF Deputy Representative, Ghana, emphasized, “The UNICEF Startup Lab accelerates innovative, market-driven, transformative solutions developed by young Ghanaian businesses that aim to address some of the most complex challenges affecting the well-being of children and young people around the world, particularly the most vulnerable. We are excited to welcome this new Cohort of founders to the UNICEF StartUp Lab to support them in making a positive difference for every child.”

Bosung Jeang, Senior Deputy Country Director, KOICA Ghana

Bosung Jeang, Senior Deputy Country Director, stated, “KOICA is honored to support the UNICEF Startup Lab in nurturing the next generation of social impact innovators. We believe that investing in these startups is an investment in the well-being of Ghana’s children and the sustainable development of the nation.

Ashwin Ravichandran of MEST Africa and Ruth Nduta, CPO of Mundaly

Ashwin Ravichandran of MEST Africa added, “The startups we’ve selected for our 2024 cohort highlight the dynamic and prospering tech ecosystem in Ghana. At MEST, we are focused on supplying them with the critical tools and support they need to excel and broaden their impact. We are excited to see the groundbreaking solutions they will deliver to the Ghanaian and global market.”

Out of over 500 initial applications, the 25 selected startups represent a wide array of sectors, including education, health, agritech, frontier technologies, and assistive technologies for individuals with special needs, mobility, fintech, and climate action. The cohort is geographically diverse, covering regions such as Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern, Northern, Volta, Ahafo, and Brong Ahafo.

Selected Startups

RiviaCo operates a network of primary care clinics in Ghana, offering high-quality and affordable in-person and virtual doctor consultations, medication, and lab diagnosis services.

Craft Education Craft Education is a social enterprise that offers behaviour therapy centres and educators (providers) the tools they need to help children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism (ASD), thrive in school and life.  The product, Hunu, combines evidence-based approaches with messaging technology and in-person interventions to help children develop their foundational skills.

Geia Technologies works to strengthen coordination and collaboration standards across the African healthcare industry, to reduce errors and gaps in information.

STEMAIDE Africa is dedicated to addressing the critical challenge of limited access to quality STEM education in Africa. The STEMAIDE kit integrates hands-on learning experiences, interactive projects, and comprehensive curriculum resources to make STEM education more engaging, accessible, and impactful for learners of all ages.

MINAGIE Energy is a Ghanaian Climate Tech company specializing in wind energy generation and direct air capture technology. The TIDAL Wind Turbine aims to raise electricity access rates in Off-Grid energy-poor communities, making clean energy available to homeowners, schools and farmers, while contributing to a climate positive world through its Direct Air Capture systems.

Kodu Technology is an agribusiness and health technology startup that produces affordable and eco-friendly sanitary pads from banana and plantain fibers to help address period poverty.

AgriVest Africa offers a crowdfunding platform to increase access to finance for smallholder farmers in rural Africa. Farmers can showcase their agricultural projects and attract investments through a user-friendly web platform.

Alle-AI tackles misleading AI-generated information by simultaneously evaluating query outputs across multiple AI models.

MeSADA PCL develops farming equipment for smallholder and medium-scale staple grain growers in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa. iNtensifier Precision Seeder automates high-speed planting, with accurate seed spacing and planting depth control for improved yield.

Chalkboard Education leverages technology to increase access to quality education and effective learning experiences in emerging markets.

Farmercy Technologies retrofits domestic air conditioners into decentralized, solar-powered micro-cold rooms to addresses post-harvest loss.

Ozone Technologies Ghana Ltd increases access to prosthetics, targeting individuals in low and middle-income countries.

Husk Technologies manufactures agricultural machinery and software solutions for farmers and agribusinesses.

ThinkBikes Limited provides last-mile transportation, distributing clean, electric cargo bikes for affordable ride-sharing and leasing to individuals and businesses in urban and rural communities, using a mobile app.

Code Club Academy Code Club Academy focuses on assisting people with disabilities. The startup has created a prototype for visually impaired individuals, which includes smart spectacles and a stick to aid in navigation.

OGames Studio promotes African culture in the gaming industry by developing immersive games that celebrate African folklore and traditions.

AkooBooks Audio Ltd Ghana’s first audio publisher, offers a digital streaming platform for Black/African audiobooks and spoken word.

Eazzier Transpay Ltd is a fintech startup focused on empowering small and local merchants in Ghana who are currently underserved by payment service providers and banks.

FreshLine Post Harvest Solutions addresses postharvest loss faced by smallholder horticultural farmers in rural communities, which directly impacts their livelihoods, by providing a solar-powered mobile postharvest management facility with a packhouse, cold storage, and processing unit.

E-Africa Solutions Limited is a health technology company aimed at transforming healthcare records management and IT technology in Africa.

Nikasemo Technologies builds solutions to help basic schools integrate EdTech in teaching, learning, and school management.

Muna Kalati provides access to culturally relevant and diverse content to improve foundational literacy skills in children.

TECHAiDE is an EdTech startup dedicated to addressing educational challenges through technology. The flagship product, the ASANKA Device, is an offline Learning Management System designed to connect learners who were previously unreached due to limited internet access.

Mundaly Enterprise connects impact funders and facilitators directly to their communities and gives them affordable, evidence-based insights on specific community needs and contexts.

BenBen ensures bankable, and transparent large-scale land transactions through Keva, a web3-enabled land rights data layer to de-risk and safeguard land transactions between land investors and local communities.

About UNICEF StartUp Lab

UNICEF StartUp Lab, launched in 2019, is a six-month accelerator programme for impactful startups and businesses working to advance the Sustainable Development Goals for children and young people, and across several sectors, including education, health & nutrition, Water Sanitation & Hygiene, and child protection. Over fifty startups have already graduated across three cohorts. The initiative is supported through the UNICEF-KOICA partnership, entitled “Accelerating Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Ghana.”

From Kayayoo to a Startup

A Kayayoo carrying goods in one of the markets in Bolga.

Ms. Teni Agana, the Managing Director of Loozeele Initiative.

Teni Agana stopped going to school when she was 16 because her parents could barely make ends meet or take care of her and her two siblings. Teni decided to travel from Bolgatanga to Kumasi, a journey of about 10 hours to find work. With no professional training, she became a Kayayoo (female head porter) with the aim of saving money for her education.  Kayayei are women and young girls who migrate from the northern parts of Ghana to bustling capitals like Accra or Kumasi with the hope of earning a decent income. As they search for a livelihood, they also suffer a lack of access to safe housing, sanitation, and security. They are also intensely susceptible to theft, sexual and emotional abuse. Many become pregnant and lack facilities to support the upkeep of their children in the markets where they work as porters.

“Growing up, I had imagined myself in a graduation gown, and I wasn’t prepared to let go of that dream.”

Despite her arduous experiences as a Kayayoo, Teni pursued an education and was able to secure a scholarship to study at the prestigious Ashesi University in Accra. She later created a startup named Loozeele Initiative with the objective to support young girls facing the challenges she confronted.“My home had seen generations of head porters, from my grandmother to my mother and now me. As I looked at these young women and their predicament, I thought of my little sister, who could end up like them. I decided to help these young women. ‘Loozeele’ in my native language of Frafra means ‘it shall be well’. My company seeks to aid girls who want to return home and resettle with sustainable means of employment and avenues for education.”

Teni Agana’s startup provides opportunities for young girls to receive practical training in basket weaving, shea butter making, marketing, and selling their products so they can take up ventures that will be able to support themselves and their families. Her enterprise, Loozeele Initiative, was part of the third cohort of the UNICEF Startup Lab’s accelerator programme. Although it has been in operation for three years and supported 70 young women – 50 in Accra and 20 in Bolgatanga, Loozeele Initiative needed to ramp up  its operational standards.

“The UNICEF Startup Lab has allowed us to examine and reconfigure our operations for a more significant impact. The programme has been instrumental in our success as a company. We have seen a remarkable increase in our revenue and sales since implementing the strategies and advice of the UNICEF Startup lab programme. In addition, we have been able to develop a website and an e-commerce platform to showcase our products, which has helped boost our sales. We have also been able to use the funding we received to create a social media presence and promote our products and services. Thanks to the UNICEF StartUp Lab and all stakeholders, we’ve been able to develop Loozeele Academy of Excellence, a primary school that provides basic education to children of Kayayei and our impact as a company is now felt more in various communities. We sought to improve our marketing skills, and with a specialist provided by the UNICEF Startup Lab, we have seen a significant scale-up in our company” said Ms. Teni Agana Managing Director of Loozeele Initiative.

After being part of the six-month accelerator programme, Teni and her team are further equipped and motivated to expand their reach to more girls across Ghana.

DeafCanTalk CEO, Ike Agyei Mensah, sitting on bench.

Enabling Hearing Impaired to Access Information

In January 2020, Ike Agyei Mensah, a sign language translator, went to visit his friend, John Afriyie, in Kumasi, Ashanti Region. John had been born with a hearing impairment, and even though news was emerging from national and international media on the dangers of COVID-19, Ike realized that John had absolutely no information about the COVID-19 pandemic. Ike says that “During our conversation, John asked me what was wrong with people’s noses and why are people covering their noses. From that conversation, I noticed that information on the pandemic had not reached him. So, if I had not visited my friend John, he might have discovered the health crisis too late. I felt so sad about it’.As he returned home on that day, Ike – who is also an app developer – started looking for ideas on how to reduce the communication gap for deaf people and facilitate their access to information. He started a targeted outreach information in his city, Kumasi, where volunteers with sign language knowledge were ’speaking’ to deaf people sharing critical information about COVID-19. Ike quickly realized he was not able to mobilize enough qualified human resources, so he decided to leverage on his academic training to develop a scalable technology solution and came up with DeafCanTalk app.

The DeafCanTalk app – which was developed by both Ike Agyei Mensah and his co-founder Victor Wealth-Adankai – is an algorithm-based AI application that converts spoken speech into text and vice versa. It is the first of its kind in Ghana, launched in June 2023 during the UNICEF StartupLab demonstration day, the software currently has 87 active users, and this number is gradually increasing.

Ike Agyei Mensah affirms that the UNICEF Startup Lab programme was critical to the strengthening and development of this concept.  “Being part of the incubator has allowed us to work with world-class specialists in the field of software who have helped us build up the app to a point where consumers could use it,” Ike told UNICEF.

The UNICEF StartUpLab is an accelerator programme dedicated to support businesses working towards advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for children and young people. Ike and his team benefited from access to UNICEF StartupLab experts who gave advice on critical design thinking for the application. Derek Degbedzui and Daisy Ocansey, experts from the UNICEF StartupLab programme successfully provided guidance and strategy for DeafCanTalk to be ready for the market. The seed fund received from the UNICEF StartUpLab helped the DeafCanTalk to proceed with further app development and implement the market research and validation process that Ike Agyei Mensah learned as part of the UNICEF Startup Lab’s training.

DeafCanTalk CEO, Ike Agyei Mensah, pitching during the Demo Day and Graduation Ceremony of the UNICEF StartUp Lab Cohort3.

DeafCanTalk continues to achieve further success after graduating from the Lab. Ike says that “The UNICEF StartupLab made me investor ready for the annual Presidential Pitch Awards, which took place barely two months after graduating from the UNICEF StartupLab programme. I built on my Pitch Deck from the USL Demo Day to become a Top 5 winner of the Presidential Pitch which helped me secure 100,000 Cedis in funding to further develop my business.”

Today, the DeafCanTalk Software has a feature that helps organizations to be more inclusive in their communication with the public by offering the alternative services of professional Ghana Sign Language Translators. Ike and team hope that this app will help make communication between deaf people and people who are sign language illiterate more accessible and assist the auditory impaired in accessing otherwise impossible information. Truly realizing UNICEF goal’s to ‘Leave No One Behind’.

Acting Country Director of KOICA Ghana, Seungmin Oh, presenting souvenirs
to the UNICEF StartUp Lab participants during their visit to the KOICA Ghana office

The UNICEF StartUp Lab’s final week began with a visit to KOICA Ghana, one of the partnering entities supporting the initiative. The purpose of the visit was to share achievements and explore potential collaborations. The startups gained valuable insights and exciting collaboration prospects from KOICA Ghana’s impactful initiatives, leaving them inspired and prepared for new challenges.

The UNICEF StartUp Lab participants with Acting Country Director of KOICA Ghana, Seungmin Oh, Nirav Shah, Head – Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation at UNICEF Ghana, and Gerard Malah, Program Manager at MEST Africa, during their visit to KOICA Ghana

Baba Adongo, a representative from KOICA Ghana, leading a workshop on Agriculture

At MEST Africa later in the day, a representative from KOICA Ghana, Baba Adongo, led a session on Agriculture, providing valuable insights on opportunities in the agricultural sector.

Baba Adongo’s session explored the current state of the agricultural sector in Ghana and the potential opportunities for businesses to get involved. He discussed the challenges facing the sector and the potential solutions for addressing them, such as improved access to technology, credit, and market linkages. He also highlighted the potential of agribusinesses to create jobs in rural areas and provide essential services for food-insecure communities.

Adeline Asante-Antwi during the Business Health Check

Adeline Asante-Antwi, a marketing expert for the UNICEF StartUp Lab, also led a Business Health Check, emphasizing the importance of regular business health checks. During her session, Adelaide emphasized the importance of taking a comprehensive look at the business and the environment in which it operates. She advised the entrepreneurs to assess their mission and vision, their financial health, their operational processes and procedures, their human resources and personnel, their customer service and marketing, their legal and regulatory compliance, their technological capabilities, and their competitive positioning. Through the Business Health Check, Asante-Antwi helps entrepreneurs and business owners identify their strengths and weaknesses and develop strategies to address any potential issues.

The entire work week 6 was focused on investment readiness, led by Liana Ekuadzi-Tamakloe, Program Manager at MEST Africa. The participants learned about financial modeling and forecasting, effective bookkeeping practices, and received guidance on startup investment and deal sourcing. “We brought together a group of experts hailing from various fields such as accounting, law, and investment management who equipped the participants with essential knowledge and introduced them to invaluable resources like the Deal Source Africa platform,” Liana stated. By registering on the platform, Deal Source Africa connects eligible startups with investors, deal advisors, and local capital providers. Through their digital platform, in-person and virtual deal rooms, and Impact Fund showcases, businesses can meet potential investors and access professional support, saving time and money while contributing to the growth of the ecosystem.

UNICEF StartUp Lab participants during a workshop with facilitator Liana Tamakloe-Ekuadzi, Program Manager at MEST Africa.

UNICEF StartUp Lab participants during a group discussion

A legal clinic led by Emmanuel Saah covered legal requirements, founders’ agreements, and data room organization for due diligence. Successful founders from Swoove and Motito also shared their funding journey stories, offering valuable lessons on securing and maintaining investor support.

The whole week proved to be an exceptionally enriching and valuable experience for the participants, as they gained a profound understanding of capital investment. They delved into the intricate world of investors, explored the diverse range of investment products, and grasped the profound implications for their own businesses.

UNICEF StartUp Lab participants paying rapt attention during a workshop session

The participants also received invaluable insights into the essential considerations and preparations required to access funding. Liana emphasized the importance of the Lab in connecting participants with experts and resources to navigate the complex landscape of capital injection.

Afua Asarebea Opare-Baidu, co-founder of Trashsmart and a lab participant, expressed appreciation for the valuable insights gained during the program. Afua emphasized the lab’s significance in enhancing their pitch development skills, which she considered crucial for securing funding and garnering support for their vision. The availability of mentors who shared their own experiences of overcoming fundraising challenges and achieving success was particularly valuable.

Written by Ahobrase Forson & Funke Makinwa

Accra, 22 June 2023 – After an intensive six-month accelerator program focused on business and product development, 20 of Ghana’s most innovative entrepreneurs graduated today from the UNICEF StartUp Lab.

Led by UNICEF in Ghana and supported by KOICA under the “KOICA-UNICEF Accelerating Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Ghana” project, the UNICEF StartUp Lab is an accelerator program dedicated to support businesses working towards advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for children and young people. This milestone marks the culmination of a journey aimed at enhancing the business, technological, and communication skills of participating entrepreneurs, strengthening their product and businesses, and ultimately increasing their social impact.

UNICEF Deputy Representative in Ghana Fiachra McAsey said: “We continue to be inspired by this new cohort of talented startups, who are leveraging digital technology and their business acumen to build new products and services to tackle some of the most difficult challenges faced by young people in Ghana today.

Fiachra McAsey, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Ghana

“The 20 startups make up a cohort of resourceful, dedicated and talented individuals from across the country. It has been our pleasure to accompany them over the past six months through the UNICEF StartUp Lab Accelerator Programme, and we look forward to supporting them further, as they join our Alumni network, and continue to make a difference for children and young people in Ghana, and beyond. ”

The Acting Country Director of KOICA Ghana, Mr. Seungmin Oh said: “KOICA firmly believes in the transformative power of entrepreneurship and innovation. We recognize the importance of creating an enabling environment that fosters creativity, provides necessary resources, and encourages collaboration.

KOICA is proud to have been a part of the journey of the 20 startups, and we remain committed to supporting the growth of entrepreneurship and innovation in Ghana. We will continue to invest in programs that empower young entrepreneurs and equip them with the skills, resources, and networks needed to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.”

Mr. Seungmin Oh, Acting Country Director of KOICA Ghana

Lim Jung-Taek, Korea Ambassador to Ghana

The Korea Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Ambassador Lim Jung-Taek said, “The Republic of Korea is honoured to have been a part of this transformative initiative, which has nurtured the seeds of entrepreneurship and paved the way for a brighter future for these talented individuals. He said, “South Korea has long been a testament to the power of technology-driven progress which has seen it invest more than 4% of its GDP in research and development, fuelling groundbreaking discoveries and fostering an environment that thrives on innovation.”

“This commitment to technological advancement has yielded incredible results, giving rise to global companies that have left an indelible mark on various industries.”

The startups also gained valuable access to a network of experts from UNICEF, KOICA, and MEST, offering significant guidance and fostering networking and investment opportunities. Moreover, qualified companies were given dedicated assistance towards achieving recognition as a ​​UN-recognized Digital Public Good. Throughout the program, each selected startup was provided with up to GHS 25,000 in prototyping funding, in addition to immersive and hands-on business acceleration support.

Now in its third year, the UNICEF StartUp Lab has accelerated over 50 startups from across Ghana, including by investing over $100,000 in prototyping funding to support the development and impact of these businesses. The UNICEF StartUp Lab has been instrumental in equipping Ghanaian startups with the necessary skills, resources, and support to address pressing challenges faced by children and young people in the country. By aligning their efforts with the UN’s SDGs, these startups are poised to create lasting change and contribute to a better future for the nation’s youth.

“We are thrilled to witness the successful completion of another cohort in the UNICEF StartUp Lab,” stated Gerhard Malah, UNICEF StartUp Lab Program Manager at MEST. “As these entrepreneurs graduate from the program, we have full confidence in their ability to make significant strides in developing and refining their businesses, ultimately serving their communities in even more impactful ways.”

The UNICEF StartUp Lab Demo Day is the culmination of months of hard work by our talented graduates, who have been working tirelessly to bring their innovative ideas to life. Attendees had the opportunity to witness first-hand the incredible ideas and products that the participating impact-driven startups have developed as they work towards addressing some of Ghana’s and Africa’s most pressing issues.

The startups participating in the program’s third cohort are:

Loozeele Initiative trains and supports young Kayayei from Northern  Ghana with entrepreneurship skills and skills training in basketry, fabric weaving, baking, and shea butter making.

“The UNICEF StartUp Lab program has been instrumental in our success as a company. We have seen a remarkable increase in our revenue and sales since implementing their strategies and advice. In addition, we have been able to develop a website and an e-commerce platform to showcase our products, which has helped boost our sales. We have also been able to use the funding we received to create a social media presence and promote our products and services. Thanks to the UNICEF StartUp Lab and all stakeholders, our impact as a company is now felt more in various communities.” – Teni Agana (Managing Director)

Brox Technology helps students and parents access students’ results without the stress of looking for checker cards or an internet cafe. The service is accessed through different channels, including USSD for those that use feature phones, WhatsApp chatbots, and a Web app.

“The UNICEF StartUp Lab training program has enabled us to streamline our business processes, particularly in the areas of finance, marketing, and customer service. Thanks to this program, we have been able to design and implement systems that allow us to better manage our finances, develop effective marketing plans, and provide a higher level of customer service. We have been able to make the most of our resources, allowing us to save time and money while still providing a quality product or service.” – Samuel Owusu (CEO)

My Power App is a social connection platform designed for girls to connect with each other, learn new skills, and connect with mentors in a safer virtual space.

“The UNICEF StartUp Lab has been a great opportunity to access the right resources and support to scale your startup” – Aisha Addo (Founder)

Easimodation is a real estate company that creates sustainable housing alternatives for students while giving individuals the opportunity to invest in real estate projects.

“The UNICEF Startup Lab has provided me with an invaluable opportunity to improve my entrepreneurial and business acumen. Through the program, I have had access to a wealth of resources, from mentors with deep industry experience to workshops and seminars that have helped me develop a better understanding of the fundamentals of launching and managing a successful business. I have also been able to network with a diverse range of professionals and gain insights into the challenges and opportunities of launching a startup in today’s competitive environment.” – Gloria Norvor (CEO)

Nnoboa is a Human Resource company operating within the agricultural sector to help small, medium, and large-scale farmers and agribusinesses increase their productivity through the provision of quality and qualified human capital to the agribusinesses.

“It is essential to be conscious of the image we are projecting to the public as a brand. A picture can speak volumes, and if not carefully chosen, it can communicate the wrong message or give an incorrect impression. It is important to take the time to consider what message we are sending with the images we choose to display as a brand, as they can speak louder than words.” – Uriah Karikari (Founder)

NetLyfe is a health platform that provides medical assistance to patients dealing with malaria, hypertension, diabetes, and pneumonia. They provide consultations with licensed doctors, health tips and information, as well as access to prescribed medication for purchase and home delivery.

“NetLyfe has positively benefited from this program because, before entering the program, the business was still in the ideation and prototype testing stages. Through the active working sessions, support, and coaching we’ve received from the program have now projected the business to a growth stage whereby our product is fully live and generates direct revenue.” – Wisdom Lord Gah (Product Manager)

Bethniel Financial Technology builds financial services applications, tools, and infrastructure and provides financial technology consulting services for the African market. Essentially, Bethniel Finance helps young people learn about money and personal finance, track expenses and create budgets, access financial services like payments, advice, investments, and loans, and address many other personal finance needs.

“Through the program we have greatly enhanced our Investment Readiness. We received expert advice on our Investment Memo, Financial Model, Pitch Deck, and more broadly, our Data Room.” – Edward Akani (CEO)

ViztaEdu is a social media-based educational mobile and web-based app for tertiary-level students to share their educational journeys, share and collaborate on projects, access gamified learning features, and impact other students worldwide.  “The funds we received from the UNICEF StartUp Lab program have helped us develop our product from Test Bed Run (TBR) into a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Our mentors have been invaluable in guiding us through the process of strategizing our business plan and refining our business model. They have helped us gain a better understanding of who our target audience is and how to reach them, as well as develop a plan of action that will make our venture successful.” – Akweley Abena Okai (CEO)

Chestify AI Labs is building deep learning models that aid in diagnosing pathologies on medical images. They target highly marginalised communities in Africa and the Caribbean that do not have access to radiology infrastructure (health-tech) or seasoned radiologists.

“Through the support and funding provided by the UNICEF StartUp Lab, we have been able to make tremendous strides in our mission to provide equitable access to radiology infrastructure in underserved communities in Ghana and our target countries. The accelerator’s investment allowed us to further develop our technology as we pivoted our core product offering aftermarket discovery. We were able to build key partnerships, and expand our reach to areas in need. By providing essential resources and mentorship, the accelerator has helped us not only improve radiology healthcare access but also create meaningful change in the lives of individuals and communities. The work of the UNICEF StartUp Lab is a testament to the transformative potential of startup accelerators in fueling innovation, fostering growth, and improving the lives of entrepreneurs in Ghana.” – Michael Osei-Gyeabour (CTO)

Luminate Career Services is a career guidance company dedicated to providing students, from Junior High School to university, with the tools and resources they need to find fulfilling and relevant careers, guiding them into the world of work.

“Over the course of the program, I realised my team and I had been too focused on building our product and paid less attention to the other things that would come together to make us a successful business. We better understand ourselves as a business, our goals, and whether our solution fits the market we’re aiming for. We have a better understanding of how to get our products into the hands of our customers and users and how to effectively communicate our vision and ideas among ourselves and to our stakeholders.” – Desmond Adusah (Founder and CEO)

ELNAK Recycle is a textile waste management company that provides recycling and decluttering services for textile-centred businesses and households in Accra, Ghana.

“Participating in the UNICEF StartUp Lab has broadened my understanding of design thinking and marketing, expanded my network of impactful businesses, collaborations, and connected us with experts who have immensely contributed to our business. We are completing the UNICEF StartUp Lab with hopes of joining the digital public good community.” – Emma Forson (Founder and Team Lead)

Jowato is a technology startup founded to provide and equip small, rural, and household indigenous businesses with the digital skills and solutions needed to transform their produce to be globally competitive.

“The UNICEF StartUp Lab program has been a game-changer for Jowato. The program helped us define our offering, optimise our technology, and provide better service to our customers. We now record the highest rate of return orders and vendor subscriptions since the program assisted us in creating a customer and vendor management strategy. We are very grateful for the opportunity to have participated in the program and would highly recommend it to other startups.” – Jonathan Kojo (Team Lead)

EjumaHub is a platform that connects independent handyman service professionals with customers. They onboard a team of top-quality, pre-vetted independent service professionals to help households and businesses deal with cleaning, electrical, plumbing, painting needs and other jobs ranging in size and scope that require urgent attention.

“The UNICEF StartUp Lab program has provided us with a wealth of knowledge that has helped us completely restructure our company’s financial model. We now have a much better understanding of the costs and revenues associated with each aspect of our business. This has allowed us to make more informed decisions when it comes to our finances. With the insights gained from the UNICEF StartUp Lab program, we are now more confident and informed when it comes to our financial decisions.” – Hamza Osman (Product Lead)

TrashSmart is a digital waste management company that provides exceptional services in waste collection, the sale of cleaning items, and partnerships with key stakeholders in the waste industry, turning waste into value.

“TrashSmart is on a journey of innovation, collaboration, and compassion, thanks to the UNICEF Startup Lab. UNICEF Startup Labs has helped TrashSmart make a meaningful impact through innovation, collaboration, and compassion.” – Afua Asarebea Opare-Baidu (Team lead)

Heny is enabling individuals and SMEs to create and share authentic African experiences, where individuals and small businesses get to participate in the gig economy by sharing their experiences and culture with others.

“Joining the UNICEF StartUp Lab reminded and taught us that we are actually on a journey to solve problems for mankind. Making the world a better place by touching one life (Experience curator) at a time. Receiving the grant has also enabled us to increase our team. 4 more highly skilled professionals have joined Heny as a result of joining UNICEF startup lab, this brings us a step closer to achieving our vision of employing 100,000 Africans by 2030.” – Eugene Adortsu (CTO)

CTN Technologies provides training in new technologies such as 3D printing, robotics, and drone technology to equip young people between the ages of 16-30 with STEM educational system skills for the fourth industrial revolution.

“When we first joined the UNICEF StartUp Lab, our startup did not have a viable business model, but after joining the UNICEF StartUp Lab, we were able to narrow down on a feasible and profitable market strategy that promises to make our business sustainable and profitable.” – Ida Padikuor Na-Tei (CEO)

AkoFresh is a green cold chain solution offering sustainable preservation services to farmers to help reduce postharvest losses. This helps create lasting profits for smallholder farmers across Africa and reduces food waste GHG emissions.

“Participating in the UNICEF StartUp Lab program has been a game-changer for AkoFresh. We gained significant mentoring, network access, and advice on improving our tech-driven solutions as a result of the program. Not only has the UNICEF StartUp Lab validated our mission, but it has also connected us with important players and possible partners in the agriculture and technology sectors. The program’s comprehensive support has been instrumental in propelling AkoFresh towards greater success, creating a positive change in the lives of smallholder farmers and local communities in Ghana.” – Mathias Charles Yabe (CEO)

DeafCanTalk leverages technology that allows deaf people to access video content in sign language. They also provide TV services for people with hearing disabilities.

“Through the UNICEF StartUp Lab Program, our business has transformed by making fundamental changes in how it is conducted in order to help cope with shifts in the market environment.” – Ike Agyei-Mensah (Managing Director)

KoenaConcepts is a Pan-African technology company building innovative technology solutions for the socioeconomic challenges of West, East, and Southern African countries. They have built a data-free, zero-rated online platform that allows young people aged 18–35 from rural areas and townships to access free technology skills training and job opportunities in the technology industry.

“The USL program assisted us in refining our key customer personas, and that resulted in us being able to design and develop the SpanLula platform to meet the needs of our specific Customer Persona.” – Patience O. Benjamin (Territory Manager)

GAPHealth provides enterprise and patient-centred consumer software for digital health applications and research. Their software is disease and practice-agnostic, with easy, no-code customization to suit the needs of clinics and organisations. It also enables virtual health visits and the provision of prescriptions and labs to patients.

“We at GAPHealth are immensely grateful for the invaluable support and guidance we have received from the mentors in the UNICEF StartUp Lab program. Our comprehensive understanding of our positioning in the market was greatly influenced by the valuable insights provided by them, which in turn greatly influenced our marketing strategy. With their help, we have identified key areas of growth and pinpointed potential opportunities that we can capitalise on. We are now confident that our business strategy is well aligned with our target customers.” – Cephas Kofi Okyere (GAPhealth Marketing Consultant)

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About MEST

MEST is a pan-African software and entrepreneurship training program, seed fund, and incubator helping to launch technology startups across the continent. Founded in Ghana in 2008 by serial entrepreneur Jorn Lyseggen, MEST is a 12-month program that provides critical skills training in software development, business, and communications to Africa’s burgeoning tech talent. MEST provides seed funding for the best ideas coming out of the program and continues to support the growth and development of its portfolio companies.

To date, MEST has trained 1000s of entrepreneurs from across the continent and invested in over 80 startups across industries from Agritech, Fintech, SaaS, eCommerce, Digital Media, and Healthcare amongst others. MEST is fully funded by the Meltwater Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Norwegian company Meltwater; a global leader in social and media intelligence headquartered in San Francisco.

About KOICA

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) was established in 1991 by the Republic of Korea as a governmental organisation to implement the Korean government’s grant aid and technical programs. KOICA Ghana Office has been supporting and implementing developmental programs in Ghana in four key sectoral areas – Public Health, Agricultural, Rural Development, Education, and Governance.

Ongoing flagship initiatives include; the Implementation of the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) in Ghana to build the country’s’ capacity to prevent, detect, and respond rapidly to infectious diseases for greater global health security with the US CDC, CHPS + project with the Ghana Health Service to strengthen the capacity of health systems in the Upper East and North East Regions, Rice Value Chain Improvement Project aimed at increasing the production of rice in Central Region in collaboration with MoFA, and the Girls STEM Project with Ghana Education Service to support young girls to pursue STEM courses at the higher level.

About the UNICEF StartUp Lab in Ghana

The UNICEF StartUp Lab was established in 2019 in Accra, Ghana. It is an accelerator that supports early-stage, tech-enabled startups in the development of innovative, market-driven solutions that help address complex challenges impacting the well-being of young people and adolescents. The UNICEF StartUp Lab integrates business incubation with wide-reaching technical expertise and systems knowledge in the social sector.+++++++++++++++++++

During the fifth week of the UNICEF Startup Lab cohort at the MEST incubator, the entrepreneurs were filled with enthusiasm and eager to explore the communication module. BTL Africa, a Pan-African marketing agency, guided the startups throughout the week, covering topics such as product and service awareness, experiential marketing campaigns, leveraging digital technology, and stakeholder management.

Kojo Appaih Gabriel, CEO, BTL Africa

Kojo Appaih Gabriel, CEO of BTL Africa, emphasised the importance of investing in marketing and advertising campaigns to increase product or service awareness. Cynthia Kodowu, Country Director at BTL Africa, introduced the concept of experiential marketing campaigns that create memorable experiences to engage customers. Ebo Richardson, Group Director of Transformation and Enterprise Programs, highlighted the benefits of leveraging digital technology to personalise products, improve user experience, and stay innovative.

Cynthia Kodowu, Country Director at BTL Africa

Ebo Richardson, Group Director of Transformation and Enterprise Programs

Mark Nartey, Head of Procurement, Warehouse, and Fleet, BTL Africa

Lois Appiah, Group Head of Finance, BTL Africa

Mark Nartey, Head of Procurement, Warehouse, and Fleet, along with Lois Appiah, Group Head of Finance, discussed stakeholder management, emphasising the need to understand and address the demands and concerns of external parties like vendors, regulators, and shareholders. Kwesi Asomadu, a freelance creative and brand strategy consultant, discussed the significance of effective brand activation and event marketing.

Young Joo Lee and Sumin Han of UNICEF Ghana

Child protection and education were also addressed during the week. Young Joo Lee and Sumin Han from UNICEF Ghana presented on child protection and a new program aimed at transforming the community’s attitude towards child labour.

During presentations to the UNICEF team, three of the cohort’s entrepreneurs who are offering solutions within the industry pitched their products.

The startups were as follows:

Loozeele is a company that trains and supports young women from the northern part of Ghana with vocational skills to enable them to create a source of income for themselves and their families.

Nnoboa is a Human Resource company that helps small, medium, and large-scale farmers, and agribusinesses increase their productivity through the provision of quality and qualified human capital to agribusinesses.

My Power App is a social connection platform designed for girls to connect with each other, learn new skills, and connect with mentors in a safer virtual space.

Nathan Fletcher, Software Engineer at UNICEF Office Of Innovation

Nathan Fletcher, a full-stack software developer at UNICEF’s Office of Innovation, Ghana, was an active contributor to the discussion surrounding open-sourcing for Digital Public Goods (DPGs). He explained that open-sourcing is an important strategy for promoting the development and sustainability of DPGs. By allowing anyone to access and contribute to these resources, we can tap into the collective expertise and creativity of the global community to make them better, more secure, and more impactful. Twelve startups within the current cohort are aiming for and being prepared to be DPGs.

Tillman Guenther, an Education Specialist at UNICEF Ghana

Tillman Guenther, an Education Specialist at UNICEF Ghana, highlighted the challenges faced by children in accessing education in Ghana and the support provided by UNICEF. He discussed the various challenges that children in Ghana face when it comes to accessing education, such as poverty, a lack of resources, and inadequate infrastructure.

Startups within the UNICEF Start Lab cohorts presented their solutions, which address the challenges in the education sector, to the UNICEF team.

The startups included:

ViztaEdu is an educational mobile and web-based app for tertiary-level students to share their experiences, collaborate on projects, access gamified learning, and connect with other students globally.

Luminate Career Services is an AI-enabled career guidance company dedicated to providing students from Junior High School to University with the tools and resources needed to develop employable skills and launch careers that will improve their quality of life.

KoenaConcepts is a Pan-African technology company building innovative technology solutions to address the socio-economic challenges of West, East, and Southern African countries.

With the month of June drawing to a close, the participants of the accelerator program are in full swing, getting ready for their highly anticipated Demo Day. This event marks the pinnacle of their six-month-long journey, and they have been diligently preparing for it through practice sessions guided by MEST Africa and supported by expert facilitators.

The stage for this occasion will be the University of Ghana – Legon, where the Demo Day will take place on June 22nd, 2023. The months of hard work, dedication, and mentorship have led up to this moment, where the startups will showcase the development of their products and the impact they can create within their respective industries and communities.

Register here to join our Demo Day and Graduation livestream.

Written by Ilyich Tetteh Tagoe and Funke Makinwa

The fourth work week of the UNICEF StartUp Lab program was an intensive four days of hard work and learning. As the StartUp Lab founders converged at the MEST incubator once again, they were joined by the Entrepreneurs-in-Training (EITs) at MEST Africa for the start of a week-long collaborative learning and development workshop. This collaboration between the UNICEF StartUp Lab Cohort 3 and the Entrepreneurs-in-Training is the first of its kind. The two groups came together to exchange knowledge, work jointly to tackle one of the most crucial topics for startups i.e. Unit Economics, and benefit from each other’s experience as young entrepreneurs looking to make an impact.

The work week was jam-packed with intriguing and participatory events, such as case study deep dives and research presentations by the founders. They researched the revenue and costs associated with each unit of their business as well as the scalability and sustainability of their business model. These activities allowed the participants to gain a better understanding of the concepts being taught as they had the opportunity to apply their learnings from the training to real-world scenarios.

Focused on Unit Economics, several of the modules were taught by Femi Adewumi, MEST Africa’s Director of Programs. Covering a range of financial and operational areas of knowledge crucial to startup development, each module was designed to provide participants with a comprehensive overview of the essential tools and methods used in quantifying the value of a business. During one of these sessions, participants were given an interesting challenge: a case study on South African retailer Pick ‘n Pay that focused on understanding the finance and accounting processes used by the company. From the report, they were asked to draw five key insights for the CEO, CFO, and Chairman of the company. To complete the task, they had to analyse the company’s financial statements, study the company’s annual reports, and research the company’s history and current operations. Through this activity, participants learned about the accounting process, financial statements (balance sheet, profit and loss statements), forecasting, bookkeeping practices and techniques, and cash flow management. Femi Adewumi stressed the importance of using financial data to help companies identify trends, areas for improvement, and opportunities for growth in order for business leaders to make informed decisions about their financial plans and investments.

Femi Adewumi, Director of Programs at MEST Africa, leading a united economics workshop

Edward Meequaye, co-founder of Built Accounting

Edward Neequaye, co-founder of Built Accounting, an accounting software company, facilitated a session where he demonstrated how the solution can be used to make the bookkeeping process more efficient and accurate. From setting up their accounts to tracking their finances, he walked participants through each step of the process to ensure that everyone would be able to leverage the capabilities of the software for their startups.

“Investors will examine your company’s history, recorded via your bookkeeping operations. In order to gain a clear picture of how your firm has done in the past and to better understand how it could perform in the future, they will analyse the financial records. By supplying them with accurate information, investors can analyse your company’s potential and make wise judgements, resulting in profitable investments. Your bookkeeping has to be accurate and current in order to be effective,” he remarked.

“Numerous considerations should be made while choosing accounting software for your company. The most crucial factor is your financial capacity. You must ensure that the software you select is within your budget and will not place an undue financial burden on your business. Furthermore, think about your unique requirements and how the software will satisfy them. The technical implementation of the software, including how difficult it would be to install and use and the quality of technical support offered, must also be taken into account.“

Hamza Osman, co-founder of Ejuma Hub

Hamza Osman, co-founder of Ejuma Hub, a participating venture in the UNICEF StartUp Lab, appreciated the opportunity to work with the Entrepreneurs-in-Training (EITs) at MEST. He was impressed by the level of enthusiasm and passion displayed by the EITs and was truly inspired by the quality of their ideas. He believes that the collaboration was mutually beneficial, as the Entrepreneurs-in-Training had the unique opportunity to learn from the UNICEF StartUp Lab participants who have real world experience in the startup landscape. They were able to gain insight into how to leverage partnerships to increase revenue, the importance of building strong user acquisition and retention strategies, and, as a founder, the importance of understanding all operational aspects of your business. These lessons will serve as invaluable knowledge for the EITs as they aspire to start their own businesses.

“I observed that we in the UNICEF StartUp Lab approached ideas and the presentation of assignments in a distinctive way, emphasising more the practical than the theoretical elements. This was in sharp contrast to the Entrepreneurs-in-Training, who were more inquisitive and applied more logic. However, the diverse approaches to collaborative learning made the experience at work week 4 memorable for us all,” said Hamza.

Jentrix Wanyama, an Entrepreneur-In-Training at MEST Class 2023

Jentrix Wanyama, an Entrepreneur-in-Training at MEST, had this to say about collaborative learning with the UNICEF StartUp Lab Cohort during work week 4:

“This week’s Unit Economics session with the UNICEF StartUp Lab Cohort was both invigorating and eye-opening for me. The focus was on finance and business, which are critical for startups.

The sessions provided were practical and well-structured which enabled me to end the week with a new wealth of knowledge. It has been an incredible privilege to be able to learn about the businesses the UNICEF StartUp Lab Cohort founders have created as well as the positive changes they are already making in their communities. I am truly inspired by their stories, and it has been an invaluable experience to witness their hard work and dedication firsthand. It has been incredibly motivating to see their success, and I am grateful for the chance to have heard their stories and gained insight into what it takes to make a difference in the world.”

Participants during a Work Week 4 workshop

The UNICEF StartUp Lab participants are eagerly anticipating the upcoming work week in-person training, which will be focused on business communication. The training sessions will equip them with the information and resources they need to develop successful communication methods, allowing them to become more effective communicators in their professional lives.

Written by Ilyich Tetteh Tagoe & Funke Makinwa

The anticipation of the entrepreneurs of the various startups for UNICEF StartUp Lab work week three, which commenced on March 7th, 2023, was palpable. Upon their arrival, the energy was electric, and the enthusiasm was infectious. The entrepreneurs, who had traveled from all corners of Ghana, were ready to learn, share, and collaborate once again.

Gathering at MEST for the third time since the start of the program this year, the cohort met to gain a deeper understanding of how to position their products competitively in the market. The week was packed with various sessions designed to provide an opportunity for the startups to sharpen their sales and marketing skills, allowing them to refine their go-to-market strategies, enhance their growth, and increase their client retention rates.

Adeline Ashanti-Antwi, Growth Marketing expert

Adeline Ashanti-Antwi led the Business Module for work week three, which was an insightful and informative session that provided valuable information for participants. She is a Growth Marketing expert with over six years of experience in this field, providing strategic advice and creating effective marketing strategies to improve her customers’ output. The module focused on the importance of developing strong business acumen in the corporate world, covering subjects such as situational analysis, consumer personas, goal formulation, developing a go-to-market strategy, and evaluation metrics to help participants effectively navigate the complicated business landscape and tackle difficulties that may occur.

“As a startup, it is essential to stay focused on your core business and not lose sight of what you are trying to achieve,” noted Adeline. “Keeping your focus narrow and staying true to your core business will help you achieve your goals more effectively and efficiently in the long run.”

The International Women’s Day celebration was an integral part of the work week as the female founders within the cohort were celebrated and recognized for their achievements. To recognize these inspiring women, UNICEF StartUp Lab took the initiative to feature them on their various social media platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Through this, they were able to gain more exposure and recognition for their hard work and dedication.

Women founders from the cohort share their experience as entrepreneurs in Ghana in celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s Month

As the training progressed, Bhavik Doshi, Research and Impact Manager at MEST Africa, and his team held an insightful session on Social Impact Measurement. In this session, he highlighted the importance of being able to effectively communicate the impact of their work to their respective stakeholders – the general public, partners, and funders. He further elaborated, “It is essential to be able to capture the impact of a social initiative or project in a tangible form that can be shared with others.” Bhavik emphasized the need for businesses to have clear and concise messaging that concisely describes and demonstrates the impact of their efforts.

Bhavik Doshi, Research and Insights Manager, MEST, assisting a UNICEF StartUp Lab participant during his session

Rounding off the week, the Health and Nutrition (Survive and Thrive) session was anchored by Dr. Felix Osei Sarpong, a health professional from the UNICEF Ghana team. He indicated that UNICEF works to uphold the rights and well-being of all children in Ghana across health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene, education, child and social protection, and influencing policy. Dr. Felix and his team also heard presentations from entrepreneurs whose initiatives revolved around health and nutrition. They were eager to learn more about the projects these entrepreneurs were working on and the positive outcomes they had already achieved. Akofresh, Chestify AI Labs, GAPHealth Technologies, Nnoboa, and Netlyfe were among the firms that presented.

Work week three of the UNICEF StartUp Lab was a rewarding experience for Akweley Abena Okai, CEO and Founder of ViztaEdu. Akweley said, “I have learned how to effectively communicate the value our business offers while developing a market entry strategy through organizing various workshops for our target audience. Thank you, UNICEF, MEST Africa, KOICA, and all other partners who provide helpful resources for us as startups.”

The fourth work week of the UNICEF StartUp Lab will be dedicated to exploring the topic of Revenue and Finance. This module is designed to provide startups with insight into the fundamental principles of revenue and finance, helping them better understand how these concepts apply to business operations. By the end of this work week, the startups should have a better grasp on how to generate revenue and manage financial resources effectively.

Written by Ilyich Tetteh Tagoe & Funke Makinwa