This past week, two vibrant tech communities from the US and Ghana joined forces to exchange knowledge, culture, and shared dreams of shaping the future. Twelve Ghanaian university students collaborated hand-in-hand with mentors from Dartmouth College’s trailblazing DALI Lab in technology workshops aimed at developing key technical, startup skills and forging connections to fuel ongoing innovation.
Over five days packed with intensive training sessions, group work, discussions, and cultural activities, students were immersed in cutting-edge topics including Human-Centered Design, UI/UX, web and mobile app development, and lean startup methodologies. Applying their new expertise, Participants applied their new expertise by developing product concepts into prototypes. The program culminated in two live pitch competitions, TechniGhana, evaluated by experts from the DALI Lab and Silicon Valley. Feedback showed that the ideas pitched stood out for both ingenuity and potential for real-world impact in areas like mental health, hospitality, and education access.
The pitch competition included presentations from Techstripped’s Innovation Challenge’s demo day and was presided over by esteemed judges like Urban Innovation Fund Investor Jenieri Cyrus. Projects ran the gamut from AI-based health apps, like an inclusive speech accessibility system for mutism, to revolutionary virtual intelligence systems and hospitality management.
Keynote speaker Geoff Ralston, former President of accelerator Y Combinator, capped the event by sharing his wisdom from decades of launching startups. “Programs like these build pipelines of talent ready to revolutionize entire industries,” Ralston said. “There are so many opportunities to do things better, and by solving problems from your own experiences, I foresee some of the future giants of African innovation sitting in this very room today.”
Both formal and informal interactions throughout the week unlocked the power of cross-cultural collaboration between emerging Ghanaian creators and their Dartmouth counterparts. Meals, drumming and dancing around campfires, laughter-filled van rides, and tours of the breathtaking Volta Region landscape built bonds forming the foundation for future tech ventures spanning both communities. Students not only gained career-accelerating technical abilities but also inspiration by seeing first-hand how technology can uplift lives worldwide.
Speaking at the closing ceremonies, Kwame Owusu Ansah, founder of Techstripped Africa implored, “You give me tremendous hope.” Echoing this sentiment, Tim Tregubov, Director of Dartmouth’s DALI Lab added, “Our worlds feel much smaller and closer now thanks to the new friendships spawned – future innovators on both sides are already discussing ideas to pursue together.”
This exchange was infused with passion from students, fueled by expert guidance, and made possible with funding from the US Department of State, through IREX. This marks only the commencement of an ongoing alliance. Techstripped Africa and Dartmouth’s DALI Lab have cemented their commitment to propelling young scholars into leadership roles directing technology sectors in the US, Ghana and beyond.
