Meet the Ghanaian AI Engineer Who Sold His First Start-up at The Age of 18 For Six Figures

 

“Don’t just be an engineer - be an evolving force of innovation, constantly upskilled, or someone more driven will take your place.” - Emmanuel Apetsi

Unassuming, and a budding engineer, Emmanuel Apetsi proves that the biggest punch can come from the smallest frame. While most people are fast asleep, he’s wide awake, grinding through the night, akin to Longfellow’s widely publicized principle of “…toiling upwards in the night”. Forget poetic daydreams - he’s living the hard, honest hustle, smashing through limits that others don’t even see. He taught himself how to code, and by 18, he’d already closed his first six-figure software deal with an international tech company.

Just two years later, he landed another big one after building and launching a social media platform that genuinely stands out; something designed to connect and spark Africa’s brightest minds. When it comes to features and fresh ideas, his platform goes head-to-head with giants like Facebook and LinkedIn.

In the past eight years, Apetsi seamlessly transitioned from a “boy genius” to leading the way as an AI and machine learning engineer. He earned two degrees with honours, secured more than 517 certifications and licenses, including 50+ professional certifications - and built a string of successful startups. The big names? OPENAI4AFRICA, his non-profit focused on AI solutions, and SISU AI.

But he didn’t stop there. He also launched Vibelane, Altera and Kalon. Each one proves just how relentless and driven he is.This isn’t just a young man who talks about revolutionizing the game; he’s out there, smashing through boundaries and flipping the script in real time.

Apetsi captures it perfectly: “I’ve always been drawn to the edge where technology confronts real-world problems. That’s why I dove into AI and machine learning, not just as an engineer but as a leader who actually wants to make a dent in global challenges. I like building things that matter.”

Apetsi’s work in recent years has been defined by two flagship initiatives: Altera and Kalon. Through Altera, he is reshaping education and mentorship by equipping individuals and organizations with advanced, practical AI knowledge across sectors. Altera has trained executives, from CEOs and CTOs to enterprise teams, alongside startups and individuals, helping them apply AI responsibly at scale. Its strength lies in four distinct pathways: the Altera Fellowship, a cohort-based community; the Altera Experience, offering personalized one-on-one mentorship; the Altera Accelerator, providing cohort-based support for startups and growing businesses; and the Altera Academy, a year-long learning ecosystem built on Teaching at the Right Level (TAR), blending structured learning with dedicated coaching.

Running in parallel is Kalon, an ambitious edge-intelligence initiative focused on democratizing access to high-performance AI. Kalon is building privacy-first, locally deployable AI Apps and models that users can access freely, online or offline, across research, programming, and real-time voice interaction, with no internet access required. Designed with data sovereignty at its core, Kalon enables sensitive sectors such as healthcare to use AI without cloud dependency or third-party data exposure. With mobile, desktop, and PC deployments rolling out this year, Kalon represents Apetsi’s vision of an inclusive AI future, powerful, accessible, and built for real-world conditions. He believes “Artificial intelligence is neither good nor bad; it is a neutral reflection of those who imprint it.”

Apetsi currently runs the show at SISU AI as the Executive Director, where the focus has been on “accelerating AI for emerging markets and economies”. He leans on deep learning, neural networks, cybersecurity, and DevOps to push for growth that lasts. It’s not just about the tech - it’s about making sure it sticks and helps.

He sees Africa as the next big leap for tech. With SISU AI and OPENAI4AFRICA, Apetsi is pushing hard to bring AI into essential areas – healthcare (including men’s mental health), climate action, finance, and education. Sometimes he is the CTO, shaping the tech itself. Other times he is in the trenches with agile teams, managing products and making sure what they build actually works in the tough, unpredictable environments of emerging economies.

 What keeps the young AI engineer going is this drive to use tech for good. He believes that technology levels the playing field, and channels his energies towards building AI-powered tools that actually solve real problems, not just in theory, but in people’s everyday lives.In the concluding hours of 2025 (December 31^st, 2025), Apetsi and his team released two cutting-edge AI solutions with professionals and job seekers in mind. These AI-driven softwares are designed to provide AI-driven professional headshots at no fee to users, and to equip job seekers will relevant skill-sets to excel at job interviews (code named, INTERVO), and the likes. Scores of AI-driven solutions are presently in the works, and are set for releases later this year.

 Apetsi’s roots are in AI, blockchain development, and cybersecurity. He cares about building AI that scales up, acts responsibly, and actually helps people. He is always chasing the next chance to collaborate, innovate, and create tech that matters; not just because it’s cool, but because it makes life better for real communities.

 Written by Daniel Dela Dunoo

(Indie Author, Book Editor)

authorddd@gmail.com