Hello everyone,
Welcome back to our weekly roundup of the biggest news and funding updates from Ghana’s startup ecosystem. We took a short impromptu break as we’ve been busy scouting innovative startups for a new fund deploying intelligent capital into Ghanaian ventures.
Now, let’s dive into the bold moves and major stories that have shaped the ecosystem over the past two weeks.
- Agricom Assurance wins $25,000 at the maiden Inclusive Insurance Innovation Challenge.
- Filmmakers Mart bags funding from IFC and Sony Innovation Fund to strengthen Africa’s creative economy.
- Sahara Impact Ventures secures funding from Heading for Change Endowment Fund.
- Clara Arthur appointed CEO of Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems.
- WAN-Hive’s Janat Issifu appointed to the Governing Council of University of Energy and Natural Resources.
- Ex-VCTF Investment Manager Abraham Mensah-Belly joins Stanbic Investment Management Services to deepen its alternative investment drive.
- Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh joins the National Information Technology Agency board.
- Ethel Cofie appointed to Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications’ board.
- BNPL startup Motito selected for Visa’s Africa Accelerator Program.
- Luxe Tribes acquires Ghana’s Sorted Chale in a seven‑figure deal.
- C & I Leasing to acquire 71.15% stake in Ghana’s Leasafric Logistics.
Accelerator & Incubator
BNPL startup Motito selected for Visa’s Africa Accelerator Program.
Ghana-based buy-now-pay-later platform Motito has been named to the prestigious Visa Accelerator Africa cohort, alongside 21 other fintechs across the continent. The biannual program offers 12 weeks of 1:1 mentorship and personalized training, providing seed to series A startups with exclusive opportunities to access funding, development, and resources.
Funding
Agricom Assurance wins $25,000 at the maiden Inclusive Insurance Innovation Challenge.
Agritech insurtech startup Agricom Assurance was crowned the overall winner of the maiden Inclusive Insurance Innovation Challenge (3iC) , walking away with a $25,000 prize to scale its insurance solution for smallholder farmers. It stood out for its localized, farmer-first insurance platform, which provides protection against drought, floods, pest infestations and plant diseases, all critical risks for Ghana’s agricultural communities.
WellMax Inclusive Insurance took home $15,000 as 1st runner-up for its low-cost coverage model targeting hospitalization and funeral care while IPAP Resolut received $10,000 as 2nd runner-up for its income-based insurance platform designed for farmers and rural households.
Filmmakers Mart bags funding from IFC and Sony Innovation Fund to strengthen Africa’s creative economy.
IFC and Sonny Innovation Fund have coinvested in Filmmakers Mart, Africa’s first integrated digital production platform to enhance access to production services in Africa’s film and entertainment industry
Led by Eric Kafui Okyerefo, Film Mart connects creatives to essential production services including location scouting, logistics coordination, catering, and permit acquisition through a centralized system. It replaces fragmented service sourcing with a cost-effective, time-saving model, using AI-powered tools and automated workflows to enhance service quality and ensure access to vetted providers and filming locations.
Sahara Impact Ventures secures funding from Heading for Change Endowment Fund.
Accra-based Sahara Impact Ventures has secured fresh funding from the Heading for Change Endowment Fund, the donor-advised vehicle founded by gender-smart investing veterans Suzanne Biegel and Daniel Maskit.
The fund backs climate-smart enterprises across Ghana and Nigeria. With Heading for Change on board, Sahara will double down on investing in tech-enabled African SMEs that are enabling climate resilience and increasing access to basic needs and essential services.
Talent Moves
Clara Arthur appointed CEO of Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems.
Clara B. Arthur will take over as Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems starting September 1, 2025, replacing long-time CEO Archie Hesse. With over two decades in finance and fintech—including roles at Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, CGAP, and UN Capital Development Fund, She returns to GhIPSS (where she previously served as GM for Business Development) to lead Ghana’s national payments infrastructure into its next chapter.
WAN-Hive’s Janat Issifu appointed to the Governing Council of University of Energy and Natural Resources.
Janat Issifu, founder of the female-focused entrepreneurship hub WAN-Hive, has been appointed to the Governing Council of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR). In her new role, she will represent the Alumni on the Council, building on her position as Global Chairperson of the UENR Alumni Association.
Ex-VCTF Investment Manager Abraham Mensah-Belly joins Stanbic Investment Management Services to deepen its alternative investment drive.
Former Venture Capital Trust Fund (VCTF) executive Abraham Mensah-Belly has joined Stanbic Investment Management Services (SIMS) to strengthen its push into private equity and alternative investments. With over 15 years of experience in fund allocation and deal execution across startups, growth, and buyouts in emerging markets, he brings deep expertise to SIMS’ expanding alternatives strategy.
SIMS has long positioned itself as a pioneer in Ghana’s private equity and alternatives space. In 2017, it became the first pension fund manager to channel retirement assets into private equity (PE) and back a Ghanaian PE fund, a move that cemented its role as the largest pension investor in PE today.
Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh and Estelle Akofio-Sowah join the National Information Technology Agency board.
Two of the country’s most prominent technology leaders, Estelle Akofio-Sowah and Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh have been appointed as governing board members of Ghana’s National Information Technology Agency.
Akofio-Sowah, West Africa Regional Manager at CSquared and former Google Ghana Country Manager, brings over 15 years of experience in Africa’s ICT ecosystem. Kyerematen-Jimoh, Founder and CEO of BrainWave AfricaTech and a former executive at IBM and Microsoft, adds deep expertise in digital transformation, AI, and cybersecurity.
Ethel Cofie joins Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications board.
Ethel Cofie, tech entrepreneur and founder of Edel Technology Consulting and Women in Tech Africa, has been appointed to the Board of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC). Her appointment comes at a pivotal time for GIFEC, the state agency tasked with driving universal access to electronic communications. The Fund supports nationwide ICT initiatives, from expanding infrastructure in underserved areas to advancing digital literacy and inclusion programs.
M&A Deals
Luxe Tribes acquires Ghana’s Sorted Chale in a seven‑figure deal.
Travel and lifestyle platform Luxe Tribes has acquired popular Ghanaian travel startup Sorted Chale in a deal reportedly worth seven figures. The move gives Luxe Tribes a stronger foothold in Africa’s youth-led travel market while providing Sorted Chale with operational scale to expand beyond its fan base.
As part of the deal, Sorted Chale’s CEO, Vidette Adjorlolo will now be the CEO of both Luxe Tribes and Sorted Charle.
C & I Leasing to acquire 71.15% stake in Ghana’s Leasafric Logistics.
Nigeria’s C & I Leasing is set to acquire a 71.15% majority stake in Leasafric Logistics, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals. The deal reflects continued consolidation in Ghana’s logistics sector, while C & I is also eyeing a ₦15 billion bond issuance to support the expansion.
📬 That’s all for this week. Want to feature your startup, funding round, or product launch? Subscribe and email us at info@theinnovationspark.com
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Curated by The Ghana Innovation Journal, tracking Ghana’s startup momentum.
