Onwards and upwards (well, technically downwards) to Accra!

Tim Yuan - Ghana

Well folks, that's all she wrote for Kumasi! I had a great six weeks in the Central/Ashanti region getting ingrained with Ghanaian (and specifically Ashanti) culture and lifestyle.

During these six weeks I was also able to make significant headway on my internship. My biggest accomplishment was successfully completing over 50 interviews of potential customers (especially since most of these people only spoke Twi and not English). The interviewees included tro-tro drivers and mates (basically the public bus system composed of privately-operated shared vans; see video below), tricycle delivery personnel, taxi drivers, market vendors, and shop owners. While some instantly saw the value-add of the solar-powered electric vehicle, others were more dismissive. However, what struck me most was the willingness and excitement of most people to talk to me about their day-to-day and share information, even if they had no direct use for the product we are developing.

Tricycle taxi

Tricycle loaded with goods

By conducting these interviews of potential customers, three clear use cases arose and, with them, various design requirements. Furthermore, I have built a number of in-country connections within the solar space, including the former head of the Ghana Energy Commission. These points of contact help provide a picture of the current state of solar power within Ghana and can be leveraged when looking for in-country manufacturing partners.

Kumasi sent me off with a double rainbow

Oxford Street in the Osu neighborhood

Now, I'm wrapping up my first week in the bright city lights of Accra, Kumasi's big brother. In terms of infrastructure and development, Accra is much further along than Kumasi with numerous multi-story buildings, an international airport and bus network, and a number of westernized shopping centers. In addition, there's a large expat community and even a slow-pitch softball league! That's not to say you can't find the raw Ghana in Accra; turn off the main roads and you're on a street that could be anywhere in the country. You'll hear a variety of dialects spoken but, unlike Kumasi where almost everyone is Ashanti and speaks Twi, most people in Accra speak English as well due to the amount of ethnic diversity.

Being on the coast means BEACHES

(would not recommend swimming though)

In addition, most of the solar players in the country are based in Accra (or nearby Tema). Being Ghana's capital, this means that most of the relevant government ministries and international organizations are located here as well. This greatly facilitates my ability to get in touch with appropriate contacts given their proximity. Therefore, while I plan to repeat the customer interview exercise, I am also hoping to lay the groundwork for manufacturing and regulatory approval of the electric vehicle.

So here's to six great weeks in Accra!

Day One in Ghana

Greetings from Kumasi, Ghana!

That's me!

My name is Tim Yuan and I recently wrapped up my first year in the full-time MBA program at the University of Michigan – Ross School of Business. During my time at Ross, I’m transitioning into product management within technology startups from a prior career in management consulting. I am originally from Chicago and will enthusiastically support Chicago’s merits on all fronts, including the Cubs, the hot dogs, and deep dish pizza.

Anyway, day one here in Ghana has been eventful so here's a highlight reel of what happened...

View from the KNUST overpass into an unofficial market

• May is mango season in Kumasi! Mango trees are everywhere and many of them bear ripe and ripening mangoes. There's something to be said about freshly picked fruit and how much better it is than the supermarket stuff we get in the United States. However, one fell off a tree and missed my head by about four inches. On-the-job risk I guess.
• The lizards are out to play. During a delightful dinner of red-red, chicken, and plantains, a small lizard took a misstep on the ceiling and fell straight onto my lap, where he decided to camp out for a bit. Cheers mate.
• Care to trade your jeans for a shirt? I was offered an authentic Kente-cloth shirt along with an original painting for my jeans or maybe a pair of sneakers. When asked if he wanted the t-shirt I was wearing instead? "Maybe if you have four or five of them..." In the end, no deal was reached.
  

KNUST main gate

I also stepped foot onto where I'll be staying for most of this summer, the SMS and KCCR Guest Houses at KNUST. KNUST is an interesting place. The campus itself covers over 17 square kilometers (about 6.5 square miles) and is a mix of buildings, private farms, and jungle. To walk from the guest house I'm staying at (think motel) to the front gate or the engineering building takes about 30 minutes (the engineering building is actually not that far but there is a big swath of jungle in between). Outside of academic buildings and dormitories, the campus also includes elementary and secondary schools, privately owned hostels, and even a commercial area/mall. Fun fact: Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, was born in Kumasi and attended KNUST.

But on to the project. As mentioned, I'm working on a solar-powered mobility solution targeted towards emerging markets. The goal of the product is to provide motorized transportation and charging capabilities via the sun. Given the GDP per capita in Ghana is about $1,400 annually, the solution needs to be affordable and have low operating/maintenance costs, all while being durable and useful. My goal for the summer is to perform customer discovery, define product use cases, estimate the market opportunity, and identify potential supplier and manufacturing partners.

The Brew-Hammond Energy Center at KNUST

The Brew-Hammond Energy Center at KNUST

To accomplish this, the team in Michigan has partnered with multiple professors at KNUST, particularly within the Brew-Hammond Energy Center and the Center for Business Development. Furthermore, I have additional local support from a recently graduated KNUST MBA student. He will help me get a lay of the land, make introductions, and adjust to local working customs.

Anyway, I'm excited to get going but know that things move at a different pace here. I've started calling it Africa time (and it makes Michigan time seem like arriving early in comparison). It's all just part of the adjustment process and one of the nuances I have to get used to in order to be successful here. Only 11.5 weeks to go!