Aya Data, a fast-rising AI consultancy firm based in Ghana, has successfully secured $900,000 in seed funding, combining both debt and equity. This latest investment will drive the expansion of its two flagship products, AyaGrow and AyaSpeech, while enabling the company to recruit additional skilled personnel to scale its operations.
Funding Boost Elevates Total Capital Raised
With this new financial boost, Aya Data’s total capital raised reaches $1.15 million. The company’s first funding round saw a $300,000 investment from backers such as Microtraction, Savannah Fund, and UK-based investors. The most recent round was led by 54Collective and featured contributions from several angel investors.
Pioneering AI Data Solutions for Africa
Founded in 2021 by Freddie Monk and Ama Larbi-Siaw, Aya Data specializes in the procurement and categorization of diverse data types—such as images, videos, and text—used to train Large Language Models (LLMs) similar to ChatGPT and Gemini. The company also focuses on developing its workforce, training data annotators for advanced technical roles like data engineering and data science. Currently, Aya Data’s team consists of 11 skilled professionals.
AI-Powered Products: AyaGrow and AyaSpeech
Aya Data’s AI product lineup includes:
- AyaGrow: A precision agriculture tool that uses AI to help commercial and small-scale farmers monitor crops and fields, enhancing productivity and sustainability.
- AyaSpeech: A speech-to-speech platform designed to support communication in local African languages for businesses, consumers, and government organizations.
These AI-powered tools are tailored to meet the specific needs of African enterprises, positioning Aya Data as a key player in driving AI adoption across the continent.
Leading the Way in Global Data Annotation
Aya Data is part of a growing ecosystem of AI startups, including Shaip, Sama, iMerit, Cloudfactory, and Dataloop, that provide essential data collection and labeling services for global tech giants like Meta and OpenAI. Unlike many competitors that outsource operations, Aya Data handles all its data collection, annotation, and AI solutions in-house from its Ghana base, enabling greater speed and efficiency.
Co-founder and COO Ama Larbi-Siaw emphasized the company’s dedication to building local expertise, with a vision of using AI to solve some of Africa’s most pressing challenges. Gillian Hammah, Aya Data’s Marketing and Strategy officer, highlighted the company’s unique approach of managing operations locally, which sets it apart in the competitive AI consultancy landscape.
Revenue Growth and Expanding Client Base
Aya Data reported earnings of $500,000 in 2023, primarily through its data annotation services. The company serves around 20 active clients, including notable names like MIT, Seedtag, Unilever, and Labelbox. As it continues to grow, Aya Data’s mission is to equip African businesses with AI tools that will enhance their competitiveness on a global stage.
Ambitious Future Goals for African AI
Looking ahead, Aya Data plans to train 1,000 data annotators, engineers, and scientists and enhance its product offerings. The company’s overarching goal is to democratize access to AI, ensuring that businesses and individuals across Africa can quickly harness the power of AI for social and economic advancement.
Aya Data is set to establish a foundation for world-class AI development in Ghana and beyond, bringing the continent closer to realizing the full potential of artificial intelligence.