On February 7, 2026, Ashesi students visited three ventures — 8th Urban Studios, APPSOL, and CIPA — through the Ashesi Center for Entrepreneurship Sector Deep Dive program. Designed to extend learning beyond the classroom, the Sector Deep Dive program gives students direct exposure to how ventures are built, run, and sustained in real market contexts. 

The visit to 8th Urban Studios, a real estate development firm working in sustainable urban design and project financing, where students learned how long-term planning, financing models, and design choices influence the built environment. 

For Judith Appiah ’26, a Business Administration major, the visit prompted a rethink of her affordable rental housing project for young professionals. Conversations around supply chains, cost structures, and real estate feasibility pushed her to reassess her sourcing strategy, her approach to investors, and the technical expertise she would need going forward. 

Conversations at CIPA, a renewable energy venture, reshaped how Obadiah Safi ’26, an Electrical and Electronic Engineering major, approaches constraints in the development of his solar geyser project. 

“I used to think constraints meant something wasn’t working well,” Safi said. “Now I see them as indicators of where I need to think deeper, work harder, and design better.” 

He left the session determined to treat the limitations in his project as design inputs and to centre user needs more intentionally in every technical decision going forward. 

APPSOL gave students a deep dive into the world of digital payments and software solutions, where they examined how secure, scalable platforms are developed to support seamless financial transactions. 

The Sector Deep Dive runs throughout the academic year, connecting Ashesi students with operating ventures across industries and helping them build the market literacy and judgment that venture-building in African markets demands. 

Partner with Ashesi to host students for an industry visit. Contact the Ashesi Center for Entrepreneurship at ace@ashesi.edu.gh