Last month, Amma Gyampo, the woman nicknamed ‘The Matchmaker’ and founder of AmDeCo, a network of business development, coaching, partnership and advisory consultants presented at African tech events such as Tech in Ghana Conference (TIGC), Kosmos Innovation Centre Business Booster and the High Growth Africa Summit 2017 educating startup founders and investors on Improving the Investor Pipeline and Funding Based On Business Development Needs of African Businesses.
“I am passionate about supporting African AgriBusinesses and Tech Innovators who are working to solve Africa’s problems,” says Gyampo, whose career spans 15 years executing, consulting and project management contracts with West African and European entrepreneurs, SMEs, government organizations and tech firms such as BlackBerry and Vodafone.
An area of strategic focus for Gyampo is promoting early stage African investment opportunities to global investors while encouraging more local participation and ownership from Angels and Corporates. Recent projects Gyampo has advised and provided business development, CEO support, funding preparation, skills development, and project management in Ghana and Nigeria include:
Swiftly: AmDeco has provided business advisory support for this Ghanaian/Nigerian shipping startup that has attracted the support of Microsoft with Sales, Marketing and technical resources and funding from the legendary Tim Draper of Draper Darkflow as well as securing further investment and business support from European accelerator, Zero Gravity.
MedRX: AmDeco’s engagement with MedRX led to the company evaluating its internal processes, preparing itself for funding and introductions to potential investors. MedRex is a mobile health application which assists patients to identify fake prescription/over-the-counter drugs and brings patients closer to their health professionals.
Malom Foods: Through advice and support from AmDeCo, this Agribusiness startup which produces, packages and distributes fruits, vegetables and herbs for the retail market successfully secured a grant to address production and quality needs.
Starta: a UK based firm that has partnered with AmDeCo to enter the Ghanaian market to offer tech enabled businesses support and access to African entrepreneurs, who have successfully scaled their businesses in Africa, through programmes such as Silicon Drink Up and the upcoming High Growth Ghana Accelerator.
Seycontech: AmDeCo and US-based firm, Seycontech have partnered to offer local Ghanaian business access to processing, packaging and technical support pertaining to value addition and light manufacturing of agricultural produce.
“There is a global business trend emerging where corporates and innovators are synergizing for mutual benefit. My mission is to secure corporate partners to accelerate African Tech enabled and Agri growth stage firms through AmDeCo’s unique accelerator model.
We want to further develop relationships with and encourage more West African Angel Investors, High Net Worth Individuals and Corporates to support or invest strategically in local tech companies that can also complement their own growth plans,” adds Gyampo.
