Youth-led innovation, Nalop Technologies, a freelance web development studio founded by Level 200 Computer Science students at KNUST has been crowned the champion of the MTN Business Pitch Challenge during AshantiFest 2026.

Nalop Technologies rose to the top of a competitive field of five startups, including Vynix Tech, AgriHub, AgriFirmex, and PayAlert.

The team secured the first-place spot after an impressive presentation of their flagship product, NOLAP Prep.

The Winning Innovation:

The core of Nalop’s success lies in its AI-powered exam preparation platform.

NOLAP Prep is designed to revolutionize how students study by offering:

AI-Generated Practice Questions: Tailored tests based on user needs.

Material Integration:

Ability to upload personal study documents.

Progress Tracking:

Comprehensive analytics on academic performance.

Widespread Adoption:

The platform is already actively serving students across Ghana.

Awards and Recognition

For their first-place finish, the Nalop Technologies team received:

GH¢30,000 in seed funding to scale their platform.

MTN Gift Packages and exclusive souvenirs.

Final Rankings:

Nalop Technologies (Winner)

PayAlert

AgriHub

AgriFirmex

Vynix Tech

Commitment To SME Ecosystem:

Eric Antwi, Sales Manager for MTN Ghana’s Northern Business District, emphasized that this challenge is more than a competition, adding that it is a strategic engine for real-world problem-solving.

He noted that MTN’s SME initiatives have reached over 100,000 small businesses in the last three years, with a strong focus on supporting women-led enterprises.

“The GH¢30,000 prize serves as seed funding to help the winning startup grow. We are committed to supporting impactful and practical business ideas,” Antwi stated.

Regional Minister’s Endorsement:

The event also saw praise from the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Frank Amoakohene, who lauded MTN for creating a bridge between young entrepreneurs and the economic resources they need to thrive.

Vision for the Future:

Founder of Nalop Technologies, Mortoti-Agogyi Jephthah Lorlornyo, expressed deep gratitude to MTN Ghana for the recognition.

He confirmed that the cash prize would be used strategically to enhance the NOLAP Prep user experience and expand its reach to more students nationwide.

MTN Business Pitch Challenge:

The initiative remains a cornerstone of MTN Ghana’s support for startups, providing mentorship, funding, and access to digital growth tools like Ayoba, Chenosis, and MoMo to help local businesses scale in a digital economy.

 

Story By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie,

Kumasi