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Innovation for African Universities (IAU) holds 2022 Demo Day

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (RID), Prof. Felix Ankomah Asante, representatives of the sponsors and the contetestants 

Innovation for African Universities held the 2022 Demo Day as part of the connecting Accra project. The event was hosted by the University of Ghana to bridge the gap between stakeholders in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

In collaboration with the Office of Research, Innovation, and Development (ORID), Impact Hub Accra, and Imperial College London, the event was supported by the British Council.  

The project is a student enterprise pitch competition aimed at promoting enterprise skills development. Overall, 17 student entrepreneurial ventures onboarded for the project, participating in a rigorous two-month training and skills development programme held virtually and in person at Impact Hub Accra and the University of Ghana Business School’s Innovation and Incubation Hub. Areas covered include Business Development, Venture Financing, Business Model Validation, Advance Strategies and Investment Readiness.

The Demo Day event featured six finalists presenting as follows;

CARTAgro:     Leveraging technology to conveniently market and sell bulk farm produce to established urban clients

Agrimecarb: Providing feeding solutions to smallholder farmers whilst safeguarding the environment

Fihankra Comtech LLC:     Developing and creating personal security and safety products for clients.

Feathery Care:   Seeking to reduce chick mortality rate during the brooding stage

SteFarms:      Recycling of organic waste to produce organic mushrooms and soilless media for vegetable production.

Mam ne Fo:   Creating a financial application that seeks to enable the visually impaired to have access to ATMs.

In welcoming guest and participants to the event, Prof. Felix Ankomah Asante, Pro Vice -Chancellor, RID expressed his excitement about the creativity and innovation exhibited by all the contestants in the competition. Prof. Asante commended the partners for providing the platform for the students to share their creative solutions to societal challenges. He applauded the University of Ghana Business School’s Innovation and Incubation Centre, and for the initiative to create opportunities for students to be innovative, and gain access to technology-based entrepreneurship programmes. The Centre also facilitates practical application of knowledge for public use.

                    Pro Vice-Chancellor, RID, Prof. Felix Ankomah Asante

Mr. William Senyo, CEO of Impact Hub Accra was impressed with the efforts made by the University of Ghana to nurture young entrepreneurs.  He commended the British Council for making the project a reality.

                                Mr. William Senyo, CEO, Impact Hub Accra

Delivering the keynote address, Mr Ernest Akwasi Appiah, Director of Agriculture Manufacturing Group advised the participants to use the project as a springboard to turn their innovative concepts into tangible products and services.

 Mr Ernest Akwasi Appiah, Director, Agriculture Manufacturing Group

As the finalist pitched their ideas, they answered questions from the panel of judges and the audience. The panel was made up of Mr. Emmanuel Anim Acquah, Ms Pearl Budu, and Mr. Daniel Appiah.

                                                Mr. Emmanuel Anim Acquah, Ms Pearl Budu, and Mr. Daniel Appiah

The outcome placed Team Agrimercarb in the third position, followed by Team Fihankra in the second position with Team Feathery Care being adjudged the overall winners of the competition.

                                    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo presenting the award to Team Feathery Care

Presenting the award to the wining team, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo expressed her delight at the innovative ideas and the level of creativity displayed by the contestants through their presentations. She commended the contestants, partners, and sponsors for supporting the initiative and appealed for mentorship and the provision of resources to scaleup the ideas presented by the contestants. She called for continuous support to sustain the project and develop more entrepreneurs for the country.

                                                                                          a cross-section of the audience