Eleanor Azar, Chief of Staff at Telecel Group and overseer of the Africa Startup Initiative Program (ASIP), has called for increased investment and consultative support to strengthen Ghana’s growing tech startup ecosystem.
In her keynote address at the opening of the Tech in Ghana Conference, Azar highlighted ASIP as a corporate social responsibility initiative by Telecel Group designed to support high-potential tech startups across Africa, with a particular focus on underserved markets, including Ghana.
The initiative, which has made significant strides in the last four years, combines funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help startups scale.
Azar emphasized the immense potential of Ghana’s tech sector, noting that ASIP has supported 40 startups tackling local challenges. However, she pointed out that barriers such as limited access to capital and strategic advice still hinder their growth. These gaps, she argued, must be addressed for startups to thrive.
The Tech in Ghana Conference, held at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra, brought together entrepreneurs, investors, tech leaders, and policymakers to explore the future of digital innovation in Africa. The event included panels, presentations, and sessions aimed at fostering collaboration.
Since its launch in 2019, ASIP has provided financial and mentorship support to startups, with 70% of the beneficiaries being women-led. These startups have created approximately 4,000 jobs over the past four years.
Azar concluded by calling for greater collaboration between government bodies, investors, and corporate entities to create a supportive environment for the growth of African startups.
“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 needed to grow and navigate challenges in their markets. These are critical gaps that need to be addressed.”
Hosted at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra on the theme: Security, Synergy and Storytelling, the two-day Tech in Ghana conference and exhibition brought together entrepreneurs, investors, tech leaders, diplomats and policymakers from across Ghana to discuss the future of digital innovation on the continent through panels, presentations, showcase and breakout sessions.
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% being women-led, have gone on to create about 4,000 jobs in the last four years.
Eleanor 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.”
Two startup founders from ASIP, Motito and BD Waste, were present to share their experiences and expertise on panels and at the exhibition booth with early-stage business owners.
Another alumnus of ASIP and a sponsor of Tech in Ghana, eCampus, also showcased their contributions to Africa’s education sector.
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.
Eleanor Azar pointed out that ASIP has already seen success with several startups from the four cohorts, and it is committed to making a bigger impact in Ghana’s rapidly growing tech ecosystem.
