After Theseus Development being one of the winners of the African Climate Innovation Challenge in 2023, Gertrude Akosah went on in December to present at the YouSustain Conference by Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) at the University of Ghana.
Reflecting on her journey and our shared enthusiasm for empowering women in STEM as we implement green concrete technologies in ways that truly solve the challenges builders face in developing economies I couldn’t be more proud. I’m incredibly inspired by my friend’s progress, from pitching Theseus Development at the 2025 IMPACT FESTIVAL to winning the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) Audience Award.
Meet our 𝐜𝐨-𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 @theseusdevelop , 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐝𝐞, pitching at the Impact Festival, 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞’𝐬 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 , as a finalist of the 𝐈𝐒𝐂𝟑 Innovation Challenge.
We’re at the Impact Festival and the ISC3 Investor Forum, representing Ghana and pitching our green concrete interlocking blocks. Building the future of affordable, sustainable housing.
As part of our sprints with the 𝐔𝐍 𝐂𝐓𝐂𝐍 & 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 Youth Climate Innovation program, we tested our GreenBond zero-cement concrete at Ghana Standards Authority.
It meets non-load bearing strength, a step toward our upcoming 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐭 projects and certification.
We’re excited to join the Industrial Innovation Cohort of the Third Derivative @Third_Deriv accelerator! 🚀
As 1 of 31 startups tackling decarbonization in steel, cement & chemicals, we look forward to scaling climate innovation globally! 🌍
More info: https://t.co/9Z3JtFdJV0
Back in June, I was selected as one of the top five delegates to represent 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐜𝐢𝐦, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝’𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧��� 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲, through the 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐜𝐢𝐦 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 at the One Young World Summit in Munich.
Grateful for how this reinforces our mission at @theseusdevelop to advance sustainable concrete in developing economies.
Looking forward to how this opportunity opens new paths for collaboration and innovation at 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐬 ��𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.
As finalists of the @isc3centre Innovation Challenge 2025, focused on sustainable chemistry and climate change, we’re using sustainable chemistry to drive green concrete adoption and tackle Africa’s 160M+ housing deficit.
@RockyMtnInst Third Derivative, a global leader in transforming energy systems, highlights our work at @theseusdevelop on the future of sustainable concrete in Africa, and the pathways to scale through decentralization. 🌍
Our team from Ghana 🇬🇭 represents Sub-Saharan Africa as one of four global startups in the Youth Climate Innovation Accelerator by @UNFCCC_CTCN & @Seedstars — pushing sustainable concrete innovation forward.
Is our geopolymer only for construction?
Nope, Arc. Reuben & Venessa (Glassroot Innovators) are using it with recycled glass to craft indoor & outdoor products.
First mix design very successful. Excited to see how this opens new markets, cuts waste, and shows its versatility.
CDKN Ghana hosted the first set of potential awardees for the Climate Innovation Pitch awards, an initiative connecting bold climate entrepreneurs with funders, boosting visibility, and driving solutions that accelerate climate action.
Read more here: https://t.co/PjpvqgcZmz
Our geopolymer innovation, GreenBond, just won the Youth Climate Innovation Programme by @UNFCCC_CTCN & @Seedstars 🌍
From 2,300+ applicants to 8 teams and we came out on top 🏋🏾♂️🇬🇭
Big thanks to Joan, Sheilla & Valentin.
This is just the beginning. 💚 #ClimateAction
✋🏾🙌🏾 A key part of developing #GreenBond, our modular #geopolymer block system is controlling particle size for strength & performance
We’re building in-house mills to process waste into binders.
Cuts emissions by 80%, waste by 70%, & builds faster.
𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 of full immersion, our geopolymer concrete masonry sample recorded just 𝟒.𝟐𝟓% 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
Compared to concrete blocks currently on the market, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝐢𝐬 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝟐× 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫-𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 🏋🏾♂️🏋🏾♂️
😍😍 We can’t wait to see the many many beautiful homes, communities, and inspiring projects you’ll build with our GreenBond geopolymer interlocking blocks from @theseusdevelop !