This Week in Startup Ghana Newsletter #5:  |Wahu Mobility opens its factory | Kofa Technologies journeys to the East | Access Bank backs female founders

Hello Friends, 

Welcome to the Ghana Innovation Journal newsletter. Blitz what happened in Ghana’s innovation landscape over the two weeks.

• 3 women-led businesses bag GHS 300,000 from Access Bank’s Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Thon program.
• TranSoniCa hits $13,000 crowdfunding target. 
• Wahu Mobility establishes its first electric vehicle assembly plant in Accra.
• Jetstream Africa launch AI-enabled platform to boost cross-border trade.
• Kofa and Autopax partner to produce affordable electric vehicles in Africa
• Swiss Namibian technology outsourcing startup, Adaire expands to Ghana. 
• Soronko Academy launch data platform to shape gender transformative programming.

Funding

• Three women-led agric-ventures, Tropical Snacks, Sava Shea Company Limited, and Ayden Ventures, have secured GHS 100,000 each as the Access Bank  Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Thon winners. The winners were part of 50 women-led businesses that participated in the intense training on scaling their businesses and being investor-ready.  Founded by Augustina Akosua Asor Tufuor, Tropical Snacks manufactures organic snacks from locally sourced roots, tubers, fruits, and vegetables. Sava Shea manufactures handcrafted premium skin and hair care products from unrefined shea butter and oils. Ayden Ventures is an integrated farm that cultivates vegetables and livestock.

• TranSoniCa, the mobility fintech company, has hit its $13,000 crowdfunding target on Ready For, the Japanese crowdfunding platform. The company extended its target to $20,000 after hitting the first milestone of $13,000. The company plans to improve its equipment, conduct market research and embark on promotional activities outside the University of Ghana campus.

Product Launch & Expansion

• Wahu Mobility, the electric bike manufacturer, has opened its first electric vehicle (EV) assembly plant in Accra.  The company currently boasts over 100 e-bikes and aims to sell over 2000 bikes due to its expanded capacity. Wahu is localising its knock-down assembly line and the manufacturing of various components. It seeks to achieve 50-80% parts localisation within 18 months.

• Jetstream Africa has launched its AI-enabled platform to boost cross-border trade. Jetvision, the software-as-a-service solution, simplifies supply chain management for importers and exporters by automating processes from trade finance to insurance and providing enhanced client support.

• The Swiss Namibian technology outsourcing startup Adaire has set up shop in Ghana. The software development and technology outsourcing company helps companies increase the quality, speed and scale of their software development work by taking advantage of its talent base of  Africa-based world-class top engineering talent. 

• Soronko Academy has launched a data knowledge platform to shape gender transformative programming and policy-making, highlight and showcase women trailblazers in STEM, and provide opportunities for women to connect to dignified and fulfilling work.

Partnership

• Kofa, the Ghanaian battery startup and Autopax, the Kenyan automaker, have partnered to produce affordable electric vehicles in Africa. As part of the partnership, Autopax will assemble and produce the bikes and components and establish distribution networks across Kenya and Eastern and Central Africa. Kofa will also set up its sustainable battery swap network alongside.