The Chief of Staff at Telecel Group, who also oversees the Africa Startup Initiative Programme (ASIP), Eleanor Azar, has called for increased investment and consultative support to strengthen Ghana’s growing tech startup ecosystem.
“Ghana has immense talent and potential in the tech start-up space. We are happy to have supported 40 start-ups for the four cohorts of ASIP who are tackling local problems in their communities.
However, the reality is that startups still face barriers that prevent them from scaling, including access to sufficient capital and the strategic advice to grow and navigate challenges in their markets. These are critical gaps that need to be addressed,” she said.
In her keynote address at the opening of the Tech in Ghana Conference in Accra, she shared insights on ASIP, a corporate social responsibility initiative by Telecel Group, to set the tone for two days of discussions and showcase of Ghana’s talent in technology and innovation.
She highlighted the significant strides that ASIP has made in the last four years to accelerate the growth of high-potential tech startups across Africa through a blend of funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities, with a focus on underserved markets in countries including Ghana.
On the theme: “Security, Synergy and Storytelling”, the two-day conference and exhibition brought together entrepreneurs, investors, tech leaders, diplomats and policy makers across Ghana to discuss the future of digital innovation on the continent.
About ASIP
Since its inception in 2019, ASIP has provided financial and mentorship support to a diverse range of startups through its global network of over 3000 mentors and $750,000 in total benefits.
The beneficiary startups, with 70 per cent being women-led, have gone on to create about 4,000 jobs in the last four years.
Call for collaboration
Ms Azar advocated for collaborative efforts and partnerships to nurture the growth and innovation of African early-stage businesses, urging government bodies, investors, and corporate entities to work together to create a more conducive environment.
“We believe that sustainable collaboration between the private sector, government, and international partners will help create an enabling and supportive environment where startups grow and contribute meaningfully to the economy.
These startups are within the communities and know the existing problems better and their solutions can help tackle the challenges the communities face, if given the right investment and advisory support,” she added.
She said through ASIP, Telecel Group aims to provide African startups with access to both local and international investors, mentorship and capacity building programmes that can help them scale and compete globally.
She pointed out that ASIP has already seen success with several startups from the four cohorts, and it is committed to make a bigger impact in Ghana’s rapidly growing tech ecosystem.
