Prince Owoahene Acheampong, a final-year student of the Department of Food Science and Technology at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has secured $4,000 in seed funding after emerging as a winner at the Mastercard Foundation Nkabom Pitching Competition.

He won the grant under the Nutrition and Sustainable Agrifood Collaborative initiative with his startup, Owoahene Foods Enterprise.

The competition was open to young entrepreneurs who had participated in trainings organised by the Mastercard Foundation through its Nkabom Collaborative Initiative.

His winning pitch featured two of his homegrown products; Akrakro Mix, a convenient mix for preparing the popular Ghanaian delicacy, and a plantain-based Pancake Mix developed from ripe plantain and wheat flour.

The funding is expected to support the commercialisation and expansion of his growing agrifood enterprise.

Prince’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2021 after completing his secondary education at Asanteman Senior High School. During a gap year spent working with his uncle, he discovered what he describes as the “joy and freedom” of building something independently, an experience that shaped his outlook on entrepreneurship.

In 2022, he gained admission to KNUST to pursue a BSc in Food Science and Technology a programme he said he intentionally chose. Although he was initially not admitted as a regular student, he was offered admission as a fee-paying student, an opportunity he embraced.

“From my first few lectures, I knew I belonged in Food Science,” he said.

By his second year, Prince had begun experimenting with food product development. Several early attempts failed, largely due to limited equipment and funding. However, he documented each trial, refining his ideas through continuous improvement.

In his third year, he successfully developed three products: Akrakro Mix, Plantain Pancake Mix, and Prekese Drink all aimed at adding value to indigenous Ghanaian crops.

In his fourth year, he expanded his portfolio with Hausa Koko Mix and Marmalade. Commercialisation, however, remained a major hurdle due to financial constraints.

The breakthrough came when he was selected among 85 participants from over 800 applicants for the Mastercard Foundation Tertiary Entrepreneurship Training under the Nkabom Collaborative Initiative.

The programme equipped participants with skills in identifying gaps within the food value chain, building sustainable business models, financial management and developing bankable business plans.

Following the training, participants were required to pitch their business ideas. Out of 90 applicants, 28 were shortlisted for the final pitching competition and Prince was among them.

His presentation earned him the $4,000 seed funding to formally launch and scale Owoahene Foods Enterprise.

Prince has since commenced production of his Hausa Koko Mix but says scaling operations will require additional capital to acquire equipment and create employment opportunities.

His long-term vision is to build sustainable, locally driven food solutions by adding value to Ghana’s indigenous crops.

He expressed gratitude to the Mastercard Foundation, the Nkabom Collaborative Initiative team, and faculty mentors at KNUST who supported his journey.

“I welcome collaborations, mentorship and support from anyone who believes in transforming Ghana’s agrifood sector,” he said.

His story reflects a growing wave of student-led innovation within KNUST’s Food Science and Technology Department, where academic training is increasingly translating into entrepreneurial impact.