The Inception

SEMA's journey began against a backdrop of rising violent crime in Ghana, which peaked alarmingly in early 2021 with a 20% surge, notably in the Greater Accra region. It was a time when the statistics weren't just numbers—they were a clarion call for action. With the most prevalent crimes being armed robbery, assault, and a notable upsurge in the use of firearms, the urgency to innovate in the sphere of public safety was palpable.

From Academia to Entrepreneurship

As Computer Science undergraduates at the University of Ghana,we saw more than a challenge; we saw an opportunity to apply our expertise in AI to combat this societal menace. Our academic project aimed to to find out how AI could be used to control crime. But the project evolved beyond the confines of academia...

The Birth of SEMA

Upon our graduation in 2022, our refusal to let this spark of innovation fade away led to the birth of SEMA. Recognizing the potential impact of our work, Ghana Digital Centres Limited (GDCL) stepped in, providing both a co-working space and the business training needed to transition us from students to entrepreneurs. The initial founding team comprises Patrick Attankurugu, Prince Ntiamoah, Solomon Owusu Kobiri, Baah Adeline Bernice, and Fidelis Kenyenso who decided to come together to drive our mission forward.

Recognition and Growth

This venture into the world of entrepreneurship was met with encouraging recognition. By December 2023, Patrick was selected for Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship at Queen's University— SEMA was one of the top 200 startups from an initial pool of 1000 innovative startups across Africa.

The new year brought further validation of our mission as SEMA won the Google for Startups award, receiving $2000 in cloud credits, crucial for advancing our technological development. Our current focus is on procuring a high-performance GPU that will be instrumental in refining our predictive models and subsequently launching our MVP.

Innovating for the Future

Our work is heavily resource-intensive. As part of our strategies to raise the funds needed to support the development of our flagship product, We've initiated generative AI consulting services, to assist businesses in integrating AI for their growth while we fund our vision of a crime-free society. Our initial team—comprising of diverse talents and a shared passion for technology and community welfare—is SEMA's cornerstone, driving us toward a future where safety isn't just an ideal, but a tangible reality for all.