AyaHQ has presented eight startups at its fifth cohort Demo Day held in Accra, as part of efforts to support early-stage ventures developing technology-driven solutions across Africa. The event brought together founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders from across the continent, with participating startups pitching business ideas refined during the incubation period.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AyaHQ, Eric Annan, revealed that AyaHQ’s early-stage funding and incubation model is designed to shift the mindset of young Africans by helping them believe their ideas are valid and capable of creating impact at scale.
Mr. Annan said the initiative also seeks to bridge generations of wealth by creating opportunities for established investors to support younger entrepreneurs with commercially viable ideas. He urged founders to use technology as an enabler for solving real social and economic problems, stressing that innovation must move beyond small experiments to scalable solutions capable of transforming communities.
Reflecting on the ecosystem’s growth, Mr. Annan said seeing young Africans gather to learn, build, and collaborate gives him hope, noting that such opportunities were limited for earlier generations. He cited Paystack and Moniepoint as examples of African startups proving that technology-driven businesses can scale globally, adding that Ghana is increasingly producing young people who now see entrepreneurship as a serious path to development.
“We must build a society where failure is normalized, because failure is part of learning and creating success that can be repeated,” he stated.
According to Mr. Annan, several ventures emerging from previous cohorts in Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana already demonstrate that African founders can build practical solutions when provided with the right support.
He noted that trust remains one of the biggest barriers to startup financing on the continent, as many investors still perceive Africa as high risk due to weak accountability systems. Mr. Annan argued that stronger systems reduce risk, lower the cost of capital, and improve investor confidence, adding that the model now requires stronger institutional backing and commercially driven investment rather than aid. He maintained that Africa’s long-term goal should be to create sufficient economic opportunity for young people to remain on the continent and build prosperous futures without feeling forced to migrate.
Vice President for Global Strategy and Partnerships at AyaHQ, Michael Lawal, explained that the incubation programme is designed not only to teach entrepreneurship but also to challenge internal barriers that often limit ambition and innovation among young Africans. He said building legacy companies remains essential if Africa is to compete globally, noting that even where participants do not immediately launch businesses, the experience permanently changes how they think about wealth creation, leadership, and innovation.
Mr. Lawal added that this year’s edition strongly focused on what he described as “operation mind fork,” a process aimed at confronting generational trauma, self-doubt, and inherited limitations affecting African youth.
“Young innovators, investors, and builders must step forward because the future of Africa depends on our willingness to create our own systems,” he stated.
He also urged governments to better understand emerging technologies, especially blockchain, and support young founders through policy and targeted investment.
Among the founders who pitched at Demo Day was Anthony Kumako, who described the programme as transformative for both his product and personal growth. According to Mr. Kumako, BlockFinaX helps businesses manage currency risk in cross-border trade by allowing traders to select currency pairs and purchase protection against exchange-rate volatility.
“BlockFinaX enables businesses to select currency pairs and buy protection against possible changes in exchange rates, so that if the rate moves against them, they are settled and protected,” he said.
Mr. Kumako further noted that “the programme made me understand that building a product is not only about technology; it is also about understanding people, how they think, how they react, and how they accept solutions.” He added that peer learning during the incubation created opportunities for collaboration and stronger product thinking. Encouraging other founders, he revealed that he only gained admission after applying twice.
“I always tell builders to apply, even if they are not selected the first time. I got in after my second attempt, and it has been worth every effort,” he said.
Also presenting at the event was Ada Obi Orajiako, who said the incubation programme significantly reshaped her business direction and founder mindset.
“The programme is looking for grassroots-level projects with a focus on impact streaming. It is not just about providing money, but also the training and support that come with it. One major takeaway for me was learning how to understand market channels and distribution better. That has already changed how we approach our business,” she said.
She noted that the founder summit particularly strengthened her resilience for operating within Africa’s challenging startup environment.
Ms. Ada said her company, ATSUX, is building digital infrastructure for record-keeping in fine arts to preserve provenance and long-term asset value, drawing comparisons with the documented history behind the Mona Lisa.
She said the company is seeking $500,000 to scale operations, onboard more workers, and expand education among artists and galleries.
AyaHQ incubation model continues to empower a new generation of founders to create sustainable businesses, solve pressing social and economic problems, and contribute to Africa’s long-term development.