Local Startup Summit 2022: Mobile Applications For Sustainable Business Development And Job Creation In “Your City”

With the rapid growth in technology, mobile phones have become a vital part of human life in recent years. Mobile Applications have transformed the way we handle our mobile phones and, as a result, how companies manage their businesses. Whether using apps for communication, shopping or transportation, consumers today prefer to solve their problems on their mobile phones. Given these new consumer habits, businesses ought to be reinvented to meet customers’ needs and be present in the best way possible.

In Ghana, for instance, there has been increasing growth in the number of businesses that require online visibility, particularly mobile apps, to propel customer acquisition and reach. COVID-19 limited businesses from operating physically to virtual means. For customers to remain loyal and committed to a business, there is a need to create remote access to the business via the customer’s mobile phone. This and many other factors have increased the demand for mobile applications for businesses to thrive. Hence, the need to equip the next generation with mobile app development skills to be employable or create business solutions in the form of apps for existing enterprises to stay relevant.

In November 2021, Ghana Tech Lab organised the National Mobile App Development Training with Flutter Program that trained about 300 young entrepreneurs in mobile app development skills with the latest google Flutter to build solutions that solve specific societal problems. The one-month training program equipped the young individuals with relevant skills that accelerated the development of cross-platform mobile applications, which will be launched and used across the globe.

Between 10th-15th January, the open, collaborative organisation and its partner hubs began the local startup summit themed Mobile Applications for Sustainable Business Development and Job Creation in “your city”

The Local Startup Summit (LSS) is an excellent opportunity for startups from the mobile app training to be propelled to the next level through constructive business development and investor-readiness feedback that engender possible funding from the community of local investors.

LSS absorbed a little over 90 startups where they pitched their innovative ideas to local investors, business leaders and the local community. After rigorous pitching and judging sessions, 23 teams emerged winners. In Accra West, Tourizila, Kiddie App, and Di Dwa emerged winners.

The Tourizila group emerged first with its mobile app resource that serves as one-stop information on tourism destinations in Ghana. In contrast, the Kiddie app group came second for developing a child-friendly education app. Di Dwa group emerged third for its mobile app that brings supermarkets to the consumer’s doorstep.

The winners will have the opportunity to move on to the incubation stage, a two-month program to help these young entrepreneurs define their business model and create innovations that transform lives.

(DT Africa will update this piece with all winners of the LSS)