Aya Data, a Ghana-based AI consultancy, has raised $900,000 in a seed funding round, a combination of debt and equity. This funding will be used to expand its flagship products, AyaGrow and AyaSpeech, while also bringing in new talent.
With this latest investment, Aya Data’s total funding has reached $1.15 million. The startup had previously secured $300,000 from Microtraction, Savannah Fund, and UK-based investors. This recent round was led by 54Collective, alongside contributions from other angel investors.
Founded in 2021 by Freddie Monk and Ama Larbi-Siaw, Aya Data specializes in collecting and labeling data—such as images, videos, and text—essential for building large language models like ChatGPT and Gemini. In addition to data annotation, the startup also upskills its workforce, preparing them for advanced roles in data engineering and data science.
Aya Data’s services extend beyond data labeling. The company develops tailored AI solutions for businesses, with its two main products being AyaGrow, a precision agriculture tool that uses AI to support commercial and smallholder farmers, and AyaSpeech, a speech-to-speech solution enabling interactions in local African languages.
Aya Data joins the ranks of global AI service providers like Shaip, Sama, iMerit, Cloudfactory, and Dataloop, all crucial to training large language models by accurately collecting and labeling data.
International tech giants, such as Meta and OpenAI, often outsource these tasks to firms in developing regions, including Ghana, India, Kenya, and Lebanon, where companies like Aya Data employ local talent to handle data annotation.
“Our mission is to build local expertise that can harness AI to address Africa’s most urgent challenges,” said Ama Larbi-Siaw, co-founder and COO of Aya Data.
While Aya Data competes with international AI consultancy firms like Brainpool.ai, Deeper Insights, and Faculty AI, it differentiates itself by managing its entire operations within Ghana, allowing for faster, more efficient service delivery. “By keeping everything in-house, we avoid the delays and complications that come with third-party involvement,” added Gillian Hammah, the startup’s Marketing and Strategy Officer.
Aya Data charges clients for its data annotation services, generating $500,000 in revenue in 2023. The company currently works with around 20 clients, including MIT, Unilever, Seedtag, and Labelbox.
While a significant portion of its business comes from global clients, Aya Data is increasingly focused on helping African businesses leverage AI to enhance their competitiveness.
Looking ahead, Aya Data plans to train 1,000 data annotators, engineers, and scientists, while continuing to improve its products. “Our goal is to ensure that the capability to build world-class AI technology exists in Ghana and similar markets, enabling businesses and individuals to benefit from AI as quickly as possible,” said Larbi-Siaw.