GCTU Hosts Startup Pitch Competition
GCTU has hosted a startup pitch competition on Friday, July 26, 2024, at the Florence Onny Auditorium. The event, known as the “Startup World Cup,” is a premier global conference and competition that brings together top startups, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and tech CEOs from companies such as Apple Inc., LinkedIn Inc., Netflix, and Tesla.
Organized by Data Today in collaboration with Pegasus Tech Ventures and under the patronage of the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Robert Ebo Hinson, the competition saw 10 selected startups pitch their businesses with the winner expected to represent Ghana at the Startup World Cup Global Regional Final in San Francisco.
A seven-member committee chaired by Dr. Doreen Odame was constituted to plan and implement the competition. The committee included representatives from diverse departments and an external partner, leveraging a broad range of expertise to drive the initiative forward.
In her remarks, Dr. Odame commended the young entrepreneurs for their outstanding pitches and presentations. She highlighted the University’s commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial spirit through local and international programmes that provide students with mentorship and global connections.
“At GCTU, we offer exceptional programmes, both local and international, combined with quality tuition, moderate fees, and top-notch facilities,” she emphasized. Dr. Odame added that GCTU is a hub for ICT, promoting entrepreneurship, and supporting startup ecosystems.
The Director of Partnership at Data Today, Mr. Kweku Frimpong, described the organization as focusing on technology research, solutions, and training. He highlighted that the Startup World Cup is the largest competition for startup companies worldwide, with thousands of startups participating annually in the grand finale in San Francisco for a chance to win a $1,000,000 investment. “The winner of this Ghana Regional event will represent Ghana at the global regional finals in San Francisco,” he said.
Mchan Cosmetics emerged as the winner of the startup pitch competition. In an exclusive interview, Ms. Emmanuella Ama Egyir, Finance Lead of Mchan Cosmetics, expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity to represent Ghana on the international stage.
“We at Mchan Cosmetics are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for this opportunity. This moment reflects our hard work, dedication, and deep passion for what we do,” she said. Ms. Egyir emphasized that achieving this milestone required tremendous effort and perseverance, and they are now gearing up for the Startup World Cup. “We are committed to rising to this challenge and making our country proud,” she added.
This event underscores GCTU’s dedication to nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship, providing a platform for young businesses to shine on the global stage.
