Kumasi: Three young innovators earn major grants at Youth Innovation Circles pitch day

Three exceptional young innovators have emerged victorious at the Youth Innovation Circles (YIC) Pitch and Demo Day, an initiative by Hapa Space in collaboration with UNDP and the Mastercard Foundation

The event, held on Wednesday (11 December), at the Golden Bean Hotel in Kumasi, celebrated creativity, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving among Ghana’s youth.

The competition featured 12 finalists, each presenting their innovative ideas in a five-minute pitch. This segment tested their presentation skills and offered valuable feedback to refine and strengthen their business ventures.

Joshua Yeboah, a level 300 student from Kumasi Technical University, won the top prize of GHC 10,000 for his Aboboya Electric Tricycle, a solution to transportation challenges in rural communities. The first runner-up, Deyok Foods, received GHC 7,000, while the co-founders of L & L Palace, Lois and Louisa Kyeretwie, took home GHC 5,000 as the second runners-up.

The winners were celebrated for their entrepreneurial drive, creativity, and commitment to addressing real-world challenges.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Gideon Brefo, CEO of hapaSpace, provided insights into the Youth Innovation Circles (YIC) program and its long-term impact. He emphasized the importance of young innovators creating job opportunities for others, fostering sustainable development in their communities.

Dr. Allen Anie, Chief Technical Adviser and Head of Experimentation at UNDP Ghana, highlighted the transformative power of fostering innovation through atypical innovators.

“We have seen a lot of amazing innovations in the agro-processing area. It is an amazing array of organic products…innovative ways of turning farm produce into powder form, preserve it for the wider market. It is often said that those closest to the problem often have an idea of the solution. It is just that they need a bit of help to bring that solution to life”, he said.

Other speakers included Mr. Albert Fritzel Abban of Pan African Savings & Loans and Mr. Daniel Tetteh-Wayo from GCB, who shared insights on opportunities available to MSMEs through their financial institutions.

The event was organized by hapaSpace in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation and UNDP Ghana under the Young Africa Innovates (YAI) initiative. This program is dedicated to empowering young Ghanaians with innovative solutions to tackle local challenges and drive positive change across the country.

The winner, Joshua Yeboah, shared his gratitude for the initiative and his vision for the future.

“My aim is to build an electric transport system that is environmentally friendly as well affordable to help farmers in the rural communities to transport their goods to the market and towns too.”

Reporting By Baaba Belinda Baidoo, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi

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