20 of Ghanaian’s most innovative
entrepreneurs have graduated from the
UNICEF StartUp Lab after an intensive six-month accelerator program focused on
business and product development.
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 supporting
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
products 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.
“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.”
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 an 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.
