Francis Ntow
Accra, Aug. 28, GNA – Askya Investment Partners, an African venture capital firm, is making US$200,000 available to Ghanaian and other African artificial intelligence (AI) startups to support their growth across the continent.
The firm, in partnership with Magna Collective, will select 10 AI-focused startups for a six-week accelerator programme, with participation offered without an equity stake.
Askya said in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency that the first cohort would be inaugurated at Moonshot by TechCabal in Lagos on October 28 and 29, 2026.
The initiative, known as the Askya AI Growth Platform, is designed to provide funding, coaching and company-building support in technology, product development, business and distribution, alongside access to cloud infrastructure, computing resources, corporate customers and talent.
The firm said African entrepreneurs were already developing technology at scale, but limited access to distribution, reliable infrastructure and practical experience from successful operators continued to constrain growth.
The initiative comes amid growing expectations of AI’s contribution to Africa’s economic growth.
The African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Africa AI Productivity Gain report estimates that AI deployment could add up to US$1 trillion to Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2035, equivalent to nearly one-third of the continent’s current output.
The Growth Platform was unveiled at the Deep Learning Indaba 2026 at Pan-Atlantic University in Lagos.
Under the six-week hybrid programme, participating founders will commit three to six hours per week and receive masterclasses, product development support and guidance on demonstrating early commercial traction through at least one paying customer or active pilot.
“Africa can either become a producer of AI technology, capturing the tremendous value it creates, or remain a mere importer, watching its productivity gap with other economies widen even further,” said Babacar Seck, Founder and Managing Partner, Askya Investment Partners.
He said Askya had, since 2024, advocated an ambitious approach to African AI, with the Growth Platform seeking to “put our money where our mouth is: backing founders building generational AI companies that solve Africa’s biggest needs.”
“We open on Africa’s biggest stage in Lagos, then we get to work. Every week that follows is built around one thing: getting founders closer to a signed contract,” said Femi Awoniyi, Co-Founder and CEO, Magna Collective.
The Growth Platform’s founding partners include the Deep Learning Indaba and Big Cabal Media, with Magna Collective serving as programme design and delivery partner.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Francis Ntow