Isaac Sesi, a 2016 BSc Electrical/Electronic Engineering graduate from KNUST, grew up as the son of a farmer and witnessed firsthand the struggles smallholder farmers faced, working tirelessly yet reaping little reward. This experience, combined with his fascination for technology as a tool for real-world change, inspired him to pursue engineering at KNUST. His time on campus not only equipped him with technical skills but also shaped a strong entrepreneurial mindset. Through collaborations with lecturers like Prof. E.A. Frimpong and Prof. Joseph Akowuah, and hands-on research projects, Isaac learned to develop practical solutions that could extend beyond the classroom.
One standout memory that continues to guide him was co-organizing the first GESA Makers Fair in 2015. The event brought together students from across the College of Engineering to transform raw ideas into working prototypes, fostering collaboration, leadership, and innovation — skills that proved invaluable in his entrepreneurial journey.
KNUST’s rigorous training in structured problem-solving, systems thinking, and perseverance laid a solid foundation for building and scaling a business. Courses such as Digital Communication Systems by Prof. J.J. Kponyo and Linear Electronics by Dr. Agbemenu deepened his understanding of technology, while his involvement in the Creativity Group — a collective of like-minded students passionate about real-world applications — further fueled his entrepreneurial drive.
After graduation, during his national service at UITS, Prof. Joseph Akowuah invited Isaac to lead the hardware team on a post-harvest management project. The team developed an affordable grain moisture meter for smallholder farmers. Determined not to let the innovation gather dust, Isaac founded Sesi Technologies to commercialize the device. What began as a single product has grown into a leading agritech company developing tools that help African farmers improve yields, reduce losses, and boost productivity.
Sesi Technologies’ flagship solutions include GrainMate for grain moisture and quality monitoring, FarmSense for soil intelligence and fertilizer recommendations, ZeroFly for long-term grain storage, and VerraOS — an integrated digital agriculture platform that brings these technologies together. The company addresses critical gaps in soil health, grain quality, and crop management that often lead to low yields and post-harvest losses for smallholder farmers.
Key milestones include securing over $700,000 in funding (including a £250,000 Innovate UK grant), deploying solutions to more than 100,000 farmers across Ghana and beyond, establishing international collaborations, and creating employment for over 130 young people — many of them KNUST students and alumni. Isaac has also had the honour of meeting global leaders such as Angela Merkel, King Charles, and President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Engineering principles remain at the core of the company’s operations. Isaac applies user-centred design, systems thinking, iterative testing, and field validation to ensure solutions are practical and effective in real African contexts. However, the journey has not been without challenges. Funding constraints, slow market adoption, and building trust with rural users tested the team’s resilience. Early assumptions about customer behaviour led to important pivots — shifting focus from individual farmers to partnerships with agribusinesses and organizations serving large farmer networks. These adjustments strengthened both impact and sustainability.
Through their technologies, Sesi Technologies has significantly reduced post-harvest losses, improved soil management, enhanced food security, and created meaningful employment. Isaac continues giving back to KNUST through collaborations with the DIPPER Lab, mentorship, internships, and job opportunities for students.
Looking ahead, the short-term goal is to scale the VerraOS platform to reach an additional 100,000 farmers through major agribusiness partnerships. In the long term, Isaac envisions Sesi Technologies becoming a leading African agritech company that empowers millions of farmers with data-driven insights for greater productivity, profitability, and sustainability.
His advice to current KNUST engineering students is clear: focus on solving real problems, build practical skills through projects and internships, and create a strong portfolio while still in school. To fellow alumni considering entrepreneurship, he emphasizes that it is a marathon requiring adaptability, continuous learning, and resilience in the face of uncertainty.
Isaac Sesi’s journey reflects the very essence of KNUST’s legacy — producing engineers who tackle pressing challenges with bold, locally relevant innovations. As he puts it, impactful change happens at the intersection of technology, empathy, and persistence. He encourages the KNUST community to think boldly and use their skills to address Ghana and Africa’s greatest needs.
