AyaHQ x Lisk Onchain Incubation Program: Empowering the Next Generation of Web3 Innovators building on Lisk longterm
Introduction
AyaHQ x Lisk Incubation Program is an initiative that focuses on empowering and accelerating African onchain startups. Launched towards the final quarter of 2024 as a collaborative effort between AyaHQ and Lisk, the program provides early-stage blockchain founders with mentorship, funding and resources essential to develop scalable impact-based solutions.
Over the course of four months, a select group of startups were provided with business, technical and marketing guidance on a hands-on level to enable them thrive in the Web3 ecosystem. The first cohort ended with 12 high-potential ventures passing through the program which concluded with a Founders Summit in Kilifi, Kenya, where they were immersed in workshops and collaboration with one another, and ultimately provided with the opportunity to pitch their projects to a broad audience of stakeholders that included investors. It was a milestone event in African-focused Web3 incubation on the continent.
Program Overview
The program received 116 applications from 10 countries, with 25 promising projects across multiple Web3 sectors such as DeFi, digital identity, tokenization, and supply chain being selected to participate. The program had three phases to ensure that the teams received support across multiple areas critical to the advancement of their projects. They included:
Round 1: Laying the Foundation (October 21 – November 15, 2024)
Focused on problem and solution exploration, business model development, and early customer validation ( 2,610 minutes of advisory and work sessions).
Round 2: MVP Development & Market Readiness (November 25 – December 13, 2024)
Focused on customer acquisition and iterative technical refinement. (2,475 minutes of advisory and work sessions).
Round 3: Founders Summit (January 13 – February 8, 2025)
Focused on corporate governance, pitch refinement, and investor engagement.
(3,240 minutes of immersive in-person work and advisory sessions).
Final Projects Overview
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CryptoMomo: Simplifies crypto use in Africa with a USSD-based product, making digital asset transfers as easy as sending mobile money using phone numbers.
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LearnWay: Simplifies crypto education through interactive, gamified, and reward-driven learning experiences, empowering users in Africa with knowledge in their local languages.
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Fiatsend: A stablecoin network that facilitates payments using tokenized fiat.
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Euterpe: Helps music artists with under 1,000 fans grow to 25K fans with matching revenue, while our blockchain layer enables fans to earn royalties through token ownership.
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Project Mocha: Unlocking access to finance for coffee farmers through tokenization.
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CoinSafe: A decentralized platform offering effortless crypto savings with automatic saving options and personalized plans.
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Pesabits: A peer to peer lending platform where Africans can access emergency loans by using their crypto assets as collateral.
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GuardZero: A decentralized KYC solution using blockchain for secure identity verification, protecting sensitive information.
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DigitPay: Enables direct spending of crypto for fiat-based purchases, avoiding the cumbersome process of off-ramping.
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Pepper: A prediction market platform where users can bet on real-world event outcomes using cryptocurrencies.
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AudioBlocks: A streaming platform that offers better earnings for artists and a seamless listening experience for users.
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Faitto: A blockchain-powered marketplace for traceable and authentic medicines.
Check out the Cohort Brochure for Product Link and Founders’ Information.
Impact Assessment
An impact assessment survey to measure the program’s effectiveness across key areas, including management, product development, marketing, governance and strategy, leadership, and ecosystem growth was conducted at the program’s conclusion.
The survey consisted of quantitative ratings (on a scale of 1 to 5) as well as qualitative feedback, in order to provide comprehensive insights into program outcomes and participant experiences. A total of 17 participants were surveyed with 5 from the penultimate round and 12 from the final round.
The survey revealed highly satisfactory outcomes with a majority selecting “Agree” (4) to “Strongly Agree” (5) in all areas that were targeted, as can be seen in the charts that follow. The feedback speaks highly about the difference that the program made in empowering the founders with skills, knowledge, and networks that are essential in scaling projects successfully.
Additional Highlights:
Thematic Content: Different thematic topics were rated as ‘Most Valuable’ indicating that most participants found the sessions crucial to their projects’ advancement.
Other Components: Other aspects of the program like the cohort’s participants, one-on-one sessions, templates, and pitch practice were highly valued.
Likelihood to Recommend Program: The majority responded that they are likely to recommend the program highly, which is a measure of overall satisfaction. The program evidently had a positive impact, with a high majority selecting either “4” or “5” on the rating scale.
Expectations: The program exceeded expectations for most participants. Very few rated it as “met expectations”, with none rating it as below expectations, suggesting the program delivered beyond what was initially anticipated.
Overall, these insights indicate a well-received program with strong points in mentorship, networking, and practical learning.
Founders Summit:
The summit proved impactful with positive responses from participants on its impact and organization, some of which are highlighted below.
All respondents rated the summit as absolutely impactful to their projects.
Various components of the summit were also highly rated with most of the respondents rating them as excellent.
All respondents stated that the summit provided them an opportunity to make valuable connections with mentors, investors and other founders.
Testimonials
The Aya x Lisk Incubation Program has been an incredible experience, providing invaluable mentorship, networking opportunities, and strategic guidance. The program not only helped us refine our product and team structure but also deepened our understanding of governance, partnerships, and user engagement in the Web3 space. We highly recommend it to any startup looking to scale and make a real impact in the blockchain ecosystem.” – Francis Owusu-Mensah, LearnWay.
Getting into the program, my thoughts were to get a grant and grow my startup. I have since realized what it actually takes to be a founder. The grit, the persistence, speed and doggedness that I must possess. I am leaving the program knowing that I now belong to a family of beautiful people. I know now that I am part of a collective, one that supports, guides and strengthens, and that gives me all the courage and confidence I need. Above all I have learnt that as a founder, I’ll mostly have to eat last, and I have made peace with it.” - Michael Nwachukwu, Coinsafe
I truly love what AyaHQ is doing for builders, especially in Africa. Their support, community, and structured approach make a real difference in helping entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life. It’s an incredible program driving meaningful impact." – Ugwu Jude, DigitPay.
The program was a truly transformative experience. The sessions by Aya HQ were eye-opening, providing invaluable insights and clarity on scaling impact-driven ventures. Huge thanks to Aya HQ and Lisk for creating a space where African innovators can connect, learn, and build the future together!” – Dawit Mellese, Faitto.
This program will change your life. Aya has completely reshaped my perspective, pushing me to question everything I thought I knew while giving me the tools to move forward with clarity. I used to think conscious capitalism was just another buzzword, but Aya brings it to life with a level of intentionality that’s truly unmatched.” – Toluwani Olugbesan, Euterpe.
My journey with Aya has been transformative and inspiring. Through their exceptional training and support, I gained the entrepreneurial skills and insights needed to grow MaishaCare from a hackathon concept to a near-launch business. Aya’s dedication opened doors to resources and opportunities I never thought possible, empowering me to envision and achieve greater possibilities”. – Andre Owano, Maisha Care.
The AyaHQ incubation program has been a game changer for me. When I started, I had no idea how to navigate the business world, but their mentorship and hands-on guidance helped me build confidence and develop the skills I needed to grow my venture. I’m incredibly grateful for the support and practical knowledge I gained through the program!” – Samuel Anthony, Thellex.
Join the Movement
The AyaHQ x Lisk Onchain Incubation Program is committed to accelerating blockchain adoption in Africa. If you’re an aspiring founder looking to scale your onchain solution, stay tuned for the next cohort!
Join the Waitlist
Conclusion
We are grateful to Lisk team and the entire community for your continued support. Six final projects will be receiving 16K USD from Lisk and support with their fundraising. As a thank you to the community for their continued support most of these projects will give allocated airdrops to Lisk communities. So don’t sell those LSK folks and keep your eyes on the ground for future announcements. Together we will grow the Lisk global ecosystems.
Media Links
Demo Day Recording: Watch Here
Founders Summit Photo Album: View Here
Cohort Brochure: Download Here