Ghanaian AI consultancy and data firm Aya Data has successfully raised $900,000 in a fresh seed funding round. This capital injection is designed to accelerate the commercial scaling of its proprietary AI products, AyaGrow and AyaSpeech, while expanding its technical team to meet the growing demand for localized artificial intelligence across the continent.
The round was led by the prominent venture firm 54Collective (formerly Founders Factory Africa), with participation from several strategic angel investors. This follows an initial $900,000 raise in late 2024, bringing the company’s recent funding momentum to a total of $1.8 million.
Founded in 2021 by Freddie Monk and Ama Larbi-Siaw, Aya Data began with a focus on the most critical bottleneck in AI development: data annotation.
- The Engine of AI: The startup employs a specialized workforce to meticulously label images, videos, and text. This high-quality data is essential for training Large Language Models (LLMs) and computer vision systems.
- Upskilling Mission: Unlike traditional “click-farm” models, Aya Data focuses on transforming its workforce by providing pathways for data annotators to transition into higher-value technical roles in data engineering and data science.
Product Deep-Dive: AyaGrow and AyaSpeech
While the company continues to provide custom AI consultancy for businesses, the new funding is specifically earmarked for two flagship products designed to solve African-specific challenges:
- AyaGrow (Agri-Tech): A sophisticated crop and field monitoring solution. It leverages computer vision and satellite/drone data to provide farmers with real-time insights, helping to optimize yields and detect diseases early in a region where food security is a top priority.
- AyaSpeech (Linguistics): An end-to-end speech-to-speech platform. This tool allows governments and businesses to interact with citizens and consumers in local African languages. By bridging the linguistic gap in digital services, AyaSpeech facilitates financial inclusion and improves the accessibility of public information.
The investment underscores a shift in the global AI narrative, moving from generalized models toward specialized, localized applications.
Ama Larbi-Siaw, Co-founder and COO, stated:
We are dedicated to building local expertise that can leverage AI to tackle the continent’s most pressing challenges.
By combining its data collection roots with its new product-led approach, Aya Data is positioning itself as an “AI powerhouse” for West Africa. The company plans to use the new funds to hire top-tier engineering talent and expand its operations into new regional markets where localized AI can drive significant economic impact.
