On the list of things, Ghana is notable for, two things are probably most popular; one is etched in stone as a proven fact while the other is arguably more sentimental. First is that the African country is one of the top 10 producers of Cocoa & Gold worldwide. Secondly is the constant Jollof supremacy wars between its citizens and Nigerians. In recent times, however, the technology scene has been buzzing taking centre stage with activities, and startups have sprung up nationwide.
In this article, we list out five startups doing innovative things on the Gold coast, what they are doing that’s so interesting, and how their activities impact the lives of Ghanaians positively.
Who are these Startups?
mPharma
Ever heard the slogan, ‘Health is wealth’? Well, mPharma took it quite literally. This Ghanaian health tech startup is on a mission to be the top-of-mind primary healthcare service provider in Africa. The startup recently raised $35 million in a funding round and is actively setting up a chain of community pharmacies across the continent.
At the core of mPharma’s vision is access to safe, affordable, and accessible healthcare solutions for Ghanaians, and Africans at large. mPharma is aiming to be so much in your face that, even before you fall ill, you think of solving your impending problem with their services.
Built
Built, which was recently listed among the startups benefiting from the ‘Google Startup Black Founders Fund‘, is a Ghanaian fintech company taking its name quite seriously, as they are building financial solutions for business owners within the region. This fintech, which caters to SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises), offers business owners a stack of digital tools needed for the optimal functioning of their business.
In simple terms, Built is aiming to digitize the entire business operations. From providing accounting tools to customer support, the startup is aiming to make the work desk of business owners free of paperwork clutter. Say bye-bye to that pile of books steadily inching sky-high on your work desk and say hello to having all that information in the cloud, all in one place. Pretty neat innovation, if you ask me.
Yemaachi
When physicians talk about cancer, the mantra is always, ‘early detection is key’. Well, the founders of Yemaachi probably heard this same phrase and decided to literally take the bull by the horns (in this case, cancer). This Ghanaian startup, fondly called ‘Africa’s Cancer Research Company‘ is a biotechnology company revolutionizing how Africans approach cancer detection and its treatment.
According to Yemaachi, its goal is to lower the economic burden of cancer on the continent. The biotech company combines cutting-edge technology with research to accelerate the development of cancer detection and cure strategies. This startup is doing ground-breaking pivotal work and I am excited for their future and what it would mean for Africans at large.
Jetstream Africa
One of the many problems the covid-19 pandemic left in its wake, was supply chain issues. Combine this with the already existing infrastructural issues in Africa, and I’m sure one can see how business operations could halt. Jetstream Africa, claims to solve these pesky supply chain issues for Ghanaians first, and then the larger African segment.
Jetstream offers businesses a stack of tech tools, from financing to real-time monitoring of goods; the startup’s ultimate goal is to ‘accelerate growth in small border commerce’. If you are a business owner, I hope you can see how Jetstream is offering to take supply chain headaches off your hands.
AgroCenta
This Ghanaian agrotech is bringing the farm to the city doorstep. This startup is an Agricultural technology platform that connects key players of the agricultural supply chain, all on one platform, effectively removing the middleman.
No longer will farmers have no knowledge or access to digital services necessary for their business growth, AgroCenta is empowering farmers by creating financial inclusion and access.
In 2022 alone, Africa has seen a tremendous boom in the number of startups springing forth while others receive funding, and Ghana has not been left out of the action. Whether it is new startups springing forth or others receiving funding, one thing is clear, the Ghanaian tech ecosystem is one to watch out for.
