Ghanaian startup Aya Data, specialized in data annotation and collection, announces a $900,000 funding round in equity and debt to support its expansion. This seed round, led by 54 Collective with contributions from several business angels, marks a new milestone in the company’s ambition to become a major AI player in Africa. With this new investment, Aya Data brings its total funding to $1.15 million following an initial raise of $255,000 in 2021 from Microtraction, Savannah Fund, and Scott Bell.
The funding will be used to expand Aya Data’s two flagship products: AyaGrow, an AI-based agricultural monitoring solution, and AyaSpeech, a speech-to-speech tool that facilitates interactions in local African languages. By integrating AI into agriculture and communication, Aya Data positions itself as a key player within the African and global AI ecosystem.
Strengthening Africa’s AI Ecosystem through Local Expertise
Founded in 2021 by Freddie Monk and Larbi-Siaw, Aya Data addresses the growing need for annotated data among major tech companies. The company offers comprehensive data collection and annotation services to organizations such as OpenAI, Meta, and MIT, supporting the training of AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini. Experiencing rapid growth, the startup plans to recruit and train up to 1,000 annotators and data engineers over the next few years, thus contributing to the emergence of local expertise for high-level technical roles.
“We are committed to building local expertise that can leverage AI to tackle the continent’s major challenges,” said Larbi-Siaw, co-founder and COO of Aya Data. With projects like AyaGrow and AyaSpeech, the company aims to enhance the competitiveness of African businesses while facilitating interactions between citizens, governments, and companies.
Technology Solutions for Local Needs
AyaGrow is a prime example of Aya Data’s commitment to AI adapted to African needs. This innovative product, designed to assist farmers and local cooperatives, utilizes predictive data and analytics to optimize agricultural production. AyaSpeech, on the other hand, enables the integration of African languages into voice recognition technologies, filling a critical gap in technology tools adapted to the continent’s cultural and linguistic specifics.
Through these solutions, Aya Data supports both small and large African enterprises in adopting artificial intelligence, creating a virtuous cycle in which AI directly contributes to local economic development. According to Gillian Hammah, the company’s Marketing and Strategy Officer, “We are increasingly focused on helping African businesses leverage AI to increase their competitiveness.”
A Business Model Focused on Training and Service for Enterprises
Aya Data also stands out for its business model, focused on selling data annotation services to leading tech companies. The startup also offers training for its workforce, thus developing a skilled labor force for roles in data engineering and data science. In 2023, Aya Data generated $500,000 in revenue, a figure that is expected to grow as demand for data annotation services increases and its products gain traction.
The company aims to train a 1,000-strong workforce, a project that meets the growing needs of the African ecosystem for advanced technical skills. This integrated development model strengthens local expertise, thus avoiding reliance on external solutions and contributing to the region’s digital autonomy.
A Strategic Vision for the Future of AI in Africa
As artificial intelligence plays an increasingly prominent role across sectors, Aya Data envisions a future where Africa will not only be a consumer of technology but also a producer of innovative solutions adapted to local needs. With prestigious clients such as Nvidia, Seedtag, and Unilever, the company aims to position itself as a trusted partner for data projects on a global scale.
