By Buertey Francis BORYOR
AyaHQ, Africa’s leading blockchain incubator, has showcased eight promising startups at its Demo Day in Accra, after a rigorous selection process that began with more than 300 applications.
The event marked the close of the second cohort of the AyaHQ and LISC incubation program.
According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of the company, Eric Annan, the aim of the initiative was to give young Africans both the opportunity and the resources to build scalable tech companies.
“We started with over 300 applications, shortlisted 25, filtered to 12, and then arrived at these final eight founders who pitched to global investors today.
“What we do at AyaHQ is to make sure young people not only dream but also have the tools, mentorship, and funding to push those dreams into reality,” Annan said.
He explained that the program is run in partnership with LISC, a layer-2 blockchain built on Ethereum, and provides up to US$20,000 in grants with access to further funding.
Annan emphasised that the incubation goes beyond money, focusing on knowledge, environment, and mindset.
“AYA is Africa’s largest early-stage blockchain incubator. We believe the African child has the knowledge and capacity, but often lacks the audacity to dream. Our role is to provide that environment where they can take bold steps to build companies that will not only transform their lives but also generate economic value for the continent,” he elaborated.
He also said that over the last 18 months, the company has incubated 50 startups from 34 African countries, raising more than US$500,000 in combined funding.
He said the potential impact of supporting startups at this stage is enormous, pointing to examples from the global tech industry. “Elon Musk created over a trillion dollars in value for the U.S. economy. Brian Armstrong built Coinbase into a hundred-billion-dollar company. These are individuals like us, and Africa has talent that can achieve the same,” he stressed.
Kwame Stalwart, Hub Manager of the AyaHQ Builder Hub at Abokobi Accra, explained that AYA operates three core services: AyaVersity, AyaLabs, and BuilderHubs.
“AyaVersity runs the incubation programs, AyaLabs provides hackathons and innovation platforms for problem-solving, and the Builder Hubs serve as live-in innovation centers.
“This hub has hosted founders from more than 25 countries in just over a year. We provide 24/7 internet, workspace, and residency. Our mission is to create spaces where people can come together and build the future of Africa. A similar facility has been established in Kilifi, Kenya, ” Stalwart said.
Furthermore, he revealed that the company has already secured land in Accra to build a much larger tech campus, with capacity for over 1,000 innovators.
Michael Awal, Manager of Global Partnerships at AyaHQ, highlighted the philosophy behind the initiative. He said the company was created to stop the continent’s youth from waiting for miracles or foreign aid and instead to build their own wealth and opportunities.
“The time of waiting for handouts is over. We have to be part of the solution. We want to see the day when African billionaires donate millions to our own countries, instead of always waiting for Bill Gates or others,” Awal said.
He noted that AyaHQ’s approach has already shown results, with young citizens raising capital locally, creating jobs, and paying taxes without leaving the country.
Awal moreover said that while the company welcomes collaboration, it is not interested in lobbying for political favours.
“What we want are serious partnerships with individuals and institutions who share our vision,” he said.
The Demo Day gave the final eight startups from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda the chance to pitch their ideas to investors after two weeks of residency at the hub.
The post AyaHQ “Demo Day” spotlights eight startups shaping Africa’s tech future appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.
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