Ghana-based AI consultancy startup Aya Data has secured $900,000 in seed funding to scale its two key products—AyaGrow and AyaSpeech—and expand its talent pool. The investment, a combination of debt and equity, brings the startup’s total funding to $1.15 million, after an earlier raise of $300,000 from Microtraction, Savannah Fund, and UK investors. This latest round was led by 54Collective, with contributions from other angel investors.
Founded in 2021 by Freddie Monk and Ama Larbi-Siaw, Aya Data has positioned itself as a critical player in Africa’s growing AI sector. The startup specializes in collecting and labeling data—images, videos, and texts—necessary for training large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Gemini. It also focuses on developing local talent, training workers in technical roles like data engineering and data science. Currently, the company employs 11 individuals in such roles, with plans to scale that number as the business grows.
Aya Data’s broader mission is to build AI solutions that meet the needs of both global and local markets. The startup’s two core products, AyaGrow and AyaSpeech, are designed with this goal in mind. AyaGrow is an AI-powered crop and field monitoring solution that aims to support both smallholder and commercial farmers through precision agriculture. AyaSpeech, on the other hand, is a comprehensive speech-to-speech solution that enables businesses, governments, and consumers to communicate in local African languages, offering an essential service in a continent with vast linguistic diversity.
While Aya Data is primarily focused on data collection and annotation, its reach extends beyond this core function. The startup also builds custom AI solutions for businesses, helping them adopt cutting-edge technologies to improve their operations. This positions Aya Data alongside other global players like Shaip, Sama, iMerit, and Cloudfactory, who play a critical role in supporting the development of AI systems worldwide. Large language models rely heavily on accurately labeled data, a task often outsourced by major tech companies like Meta and OpenAI to firms in developing regions. These firms, in turn, provide employment opportunities for individuals in countries such as Ghana, India, and Kenya, helping to bridge the digital skills gap in these markets.
Co-founder and COO Ama Larbi-Siaw emphasized Aya Data’s commitment to leveraging AI to address Africa’s most pressing challenges. “We are dedicated to building local expertise that can tackle real-world problems across the continent,” she stated, reinforcing the company’s vision of creating sustainable, tech-driven solutions for African markets.
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