Aya Data Raises $900,000 to Expand AI Solutions, Talent Development in Africa

Aya Data, an artificial intelligence (AI) startup based in Ghana, has raised $900,000 in a seed funding round to support the expansion of its core products and the recruitment of new talent. 

This recent investment, a blend of debt and equity, brings the company’s total funding to $1.15 million. Key investors in the round include 54 Collective, alongside other angel investors, with previous backing from Savannah Fund and Microtraction.

The funding will enable Aya Data to scale its two flagship products: AyaGrow and AyaSpeech. AyaGrow provides AI-driven precision agriculture solutions, helping both smallholder and commercial farmers monitor crop health and field conditions. 

AyaSpeech, on the other hand, is a speech-to-speech platform that facilitates communication in local African languages, enhancing business, government, and consumer interactions.

Founded in 2021 by Freddie Monk and Ama Larbi-Siaw, Aya Data focuses on data collection and annotation services, essential for training large language models. The company employs a team of over 150 full-time data annotators, working towards building local expertise in high-demand technical roles such as data engineering and data science. 

Aya Data’s vision includes training over 1,000 data professionals in the near future, aiming to develop AI talent across Africa.

Aya Data is already working with a diverse range of global clients, including MIT, Unilever, and Nvidia, and generated $500,000 in revenue in 2023. While it currently serves around 20 active clients, the company is looking to expand its reach within Africa, supporting local businesses to become more competitive by leveraging AI technology.

In keeping its operations fully based in Ghana, Aya Data prides itself on delivering projects efficiently without relying on third parties. This in-house control is key to the company’s competitive edge, according to Gillian Hammah, the firm’s Marketing and Strategy Officer. 

The company also competes with global firms in consultancy work but maintains its core strength in managing all aspects of data collection locally, which ensures faster delivery times.

Aya Data’s founders are focused on building a centre of AI excellence in Africa, ensuring that the continent doesn’t just benefit from the technology but also contributes greatly to its development.

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